A Journey Through Math:

Past, Present, and Algebra


A WebQuest for Middle and High School Math
Designed by Theresa Dudek
tdudek@stlabre.org

Mathematician Picture

Introduction
As you travel through your high school math career, you may often find yourself wondering: "Who made this stuff up?  Were these people crazy?  How did they come up with this stuff?" and other similar questions.  This web quest is intended to help you find some answers to those types of questions in an effort to make what you learn in high school math more meaningful for you. 

Your task in this activity is to work in groups to explore what went into creating the math we study today.  You will start by exploring the general evolution of math through time lines and famous mathematicians.  Then you will focus on the history algebra, which is what most high schoolers spend the majority of their high school math career studying and it is often thought of as the basis for all other math.

Please work through the tasks in order.  We will be taking one class period for each task, one class period at the end for you to finish compiling your group's work (or do the History of Algebra Bonus if your group is done with everything), and one day at the end for you to present your work to the rest of the class.  So if your group needs more time please make arrangements with me to stay with for after school study hall.

You will work in teams of 2 or 3.  Team members should contribute equally to their group's work.  Each group member will present the results of a task to the class, showing your group's work and briefly sharing what you discovered.

We will post your timelines and posters in the high school hallway and we will compile your notes into a binder that we will present in the high school library.

Task 1:  Math History Timeline
Explore these sites and make a timeline of your own on a piece of butcher paper, which you can get from me.  Include at least 10 specific math developments that occured over a broad time range from past to present.  Type up a brief explanation of the math in each event to put on your timeline.  Please sketch out a brief rough draft of your timeline and check it with me before you start on your final timeline.  Be creative, make it colorful, include pictures, make it detailed, ...  Please give your timeline a title and put your names on it.
*** Make sure you cite your sources!!! ***

Task 2:  Famous Mathematicians
Use the websites listed here to
find two famous mathematitions:
  • one from the past
  • one from the present
Bonus:  find a mathematician you
predict will be famous in the future.

Make a poster on the computer for each mathematition providing the following information:
  • name, birth and death date, where they were born, lived, and died
  • what math they are famous for
  • an interesting, wierd, cool, strange, unique, ... tidbit about them and their lives
  • a picture of them or something related to them with a caption explaining your picture
Please let me know which mathematicians you choose to do so each group does different people.
*** Make sure you cite your sources!!! ***

Task 3:  The History of Algebra
1.  Explore the notetaking techniques links.
Each member in your group needs to pick a different technique or organization form to use.
You may use a notetaking technique that you know that is not on one of these sites.
2.  Explore the history of algebra links and take notes on what you learn.
Write neatly so you can turn in your original notes (re-write them if you need to).
Spend the whole class time taking notes -- do not stop early!
3.  As you research, type up a resources page to cite your sources (turn in one page per group).
Notetaking Techniques
History of Algebra Links

Bonus:  Do DiAnn Sones The History of Algebra WebQuest (you may choose your own assignment).

Some More Math History Links

Evaluation

0 points
 1 - 3 points
 4 - 6 points
 7 - 10 points
Group Participation
 No one worked.
 One person did all the work.
 There wasn't an even distribution of labor.
 All team members contributed equally.
Task 1
 No timeline was made.
 An attempt was made to make a complete timeline.
 Timeline is basically complete.
 Timeline is complete, properly labeled, and decorated.
Task 2
 No posters were made. An attempt was made to make one or more poster. Posters are basically done.
 Posters are well-done, complete, and attractive.
Task 3
 No one took notes.
 An attempt was made to take notes.
 Some notes were taken and different styles used.
 Each different style of notes are well done, neat, and complete.
Final Presentation
 No presentation was given
 An attempt was made to present.
 The group gave a basic presentation of their results.
 Each group member gave a complete presentation with displays and a personal touch.

Conclusion
I hope your WebQuest through the past, present, and algebra history of math was meaningful, inspirational, and enjoyable.  You should now have an idea of just how amaizing and fantastic the math that we study really is.  I encourage you to continue to search out the history of the individual math concepts that you study in class.  I challenge you to take it a step farther and discover what jobs and professions use the math concepts you learn and look for applications of them in your daily life and the world around you.

This page was last updated on April 27, 2008.