Word Processing &
Internet Research
Overview

Mathematicians and scientists are people too!!!!! Did you know that Sir Isaac Newton was inspired to study mathematics after a fight with a school bully? Leonhard Euler wrote more mathematics than anyone -- even after he became totally blind!!!! Great mathematical or scientific discoveries were made by real people who experienced the same misunderstandings and frustrations that we all do when learning a new concept. The purpose of this activity is for you to research a person who made a math or science discovery happen.

Concepts

• Students will use websites to research a famous mathematician or scientist.
  
  Students will construct a cube or tetrahedron to display their findings.
  
  
• Students will use ClarisWorks processing to write about their mathematician or scientist.
  
  
• Students will use clip art and other art/maps etc. relating to their person from the website, to enhance their display.
  

Indicators

• Completion of a cube or tetrahedron that has a 5 inch edge.
  
  
• Required information includes: Statistics (name picture, birth and death yrs. if available, birth place), Map, Greatest Contribution, Trivia or Interesting Fact, Education, and Biographical Sketch.
  

Precomputer

• Choose mathematician or scientist from given list. (see attachment)
  
  
• Construct polyhedron
  
  
• Discuss possible websites to research
  
  
• Review other non-computer resources of information.
  
  
• Discuss and review responsible Internet behavior.
  
  

On the computer

• Go to Calendar Website to locate a mathematician that has the same birthday as theirs. (There are only a few birthday dates that have no mathematician born on that day. In that case have student select one of “ancient mathematicians whose day of birth is unknown (such as Pythagoras)).
  
  
• Research websites for required information about the selected mathematician.
  
  
• Use ClarisWorks to word processor the information.
  
  
• Find, select and print art and illustrations relating to their research.
  

Postcomputer

• Organize and place information on their polyhedron according to the given directions.
  
  
• Student work will be evaluated by the teacher according to the rubric. ( see attachment)
  
  

Related resources

• Start With :
  

http://dimacs.rutgers.edu/~judyann/calendar/Calendar.html
(mathematician birthdays by the month)
• Other Website Research Sites
- http://www-groups.dcs.st-and.ac.uk./~history/Mathematical_Mactour.html
(has biographies, maps, and other tidbits about mathematicians)
- http://www.siue.edu/~dcollin/mathfame.html
( alpha list with photos, sources given)
- http://www.maths.tcd.ie/pub/HistMath/People/RBallHist.html
(Mathematicians of 17th and 18th century)
- http://www-inst.eecs.berkeley.edu/~jsalas/mathbios.html
(Tidbits of famous mathematicians)
- http://www.scotlan.edu/lriddle/women/women.htm
( Biographies of women mathematicians)
- http://www.math.buffalo.edu/mad/madpeeps.html
( Profiles of mathematicians of the African Diaspora in the 20th Century)
- http://www.twingroves.district96.k12.il.us/Mathematician/Mathematicians.html
( Mathematician links to Library of Congress and other sites)
- http://www.biography.com
(A&E Biography)
- http://www.bpl.org/WWW/KIDS/People.html
(Links to many biographical subject areas)
- http://www.asap.unimelb.edu.au/hstm/hstm_bio.htm
(Biographical sources for history of science, technology & medicine)
- http://www-history.mcs.st-and.as.uk/~history/BiogIndex.html
(Index of biographies)
- http://www.lib.lsu.edu/lib/chem/display/faces.html
(Faces of science: African Americans)

Attachment