A Mathematician Webquest

Adapted by Mrs. Stephens

Introduction Task Process Resources Evaluation

The mathematics that we use and study today has evolved and developed since the beginning of time. The men and women who have worked in and studied the discipline of mathematics have led interesting and sometimes unusual lives. In this web quest, you will research some of the men and women who have made contributions to the study and development of mathematics. You will also see how other historical happenings have played an important role in the study and development of mathematics.

The Task

Each student will develop an Information Page on a mathematician showing their references. Students will work in pairs, using this information to prepare a Classroom Presentation in the form of a poster, a typed report, or a power point slide show. As these presentations are submitted, a class time-line will be built for the historical development of mathematics. Information/Reference Sheet must also be submitted by both students.

Process

Each student will pick a mathematician in class. Only 2 students per mathematician. We will have a day of research in the classroom using books from our Media Center. We will have two days in the computer lab for research on the Internet. The students will fill out their Information Sheet on their mathematician, noting their references. This information will be used for their Classroom Presentation, especially highlighting the mathematician’s accomplishments in the field of mathematics.

Include in your presentation

*	Dates of his/her life
*	Picture / Famous Quote
*	Where the mathematician lived
*	Description of the type of mathematics studied
*	Other mathematicians that may have worked with or have been a resource to the mathematician you are writing about.
*	Occupation
*	How they were educated
* * *	Significant contributions to mathematics How this contribution is used today How they died Other interesting facts…

3.	Post the name and mathematical research of your mathematician on a 3 x 5 card. Include the date they were born and died for the classroom time-line.

Resources

http://www.ncsa.uiuc.edu/edu/RSE/RSEorange/buttons.html

http://www.scottlan.edu/lriddle/women/women.htm

· Mathematicians: http://www-groups.dcs.st-and.ac.uk/~history/

· Women: http://www.agnesscott.edu/lriddle/women/women.htm

· Math Facts and Fun: http://www.windham.k12.me.us/thirdgrd/math.htm

· Math Quotations: http://math.furman.edu/~mwoodard/mquot.html

· Math Forum: http://forum.swarthmore.edu

· WomenII: http://www.cs.yale.edu/HTML/YALE/CS/HyPlans/tap/past-women.html