Lesson Idea

Title: The Importance of Mathematicians

Grade Level: 8th Grade (This is for accelerated 8th grade)
Content: Mathematics
Standard Addressed: MGSE9-12.N.CN.7 Solve quadratic equations with real coefficients that
have complex solutions by (but not limited to) square roots, completing the square, and the
quadratic formula.
Amount of Time: 3 class periods
Technology Standard Addressed: 3 - Knowledge Constructor
SMAR Level: Modification
Essential Question(s): Where would modern day mathematics be without our past
mathematicians? What would math look like? Would we have some of the jobs and careers
that we have today?

Learning Activity
● Introduction: Our past mathematicians paved the way for the mathematics that we see,
use, and learn today. Without them, modern mathematics would be performed, taught,
and learned differently.
● Instruction/Activities: Students will need to be broken into groups of four. Each person
in the group needs to choose a mathematician that they would like to do more research
on. The students should be researching what work this mathematician accomplished
during their time. The students will then write down some brainstorming ideas of what
math would look like without their mathematicians’ discoveries.
Students will use many internet sources for their research of their specific
mathematician. They will find resources that will help them form their own personal
conclusions on where mathematics would be without their mathematicians’ discoveries.
Make sure the student cite the resources that they use.
● Final Product: Students will come together after they have researched their own
mathematicians and create a group PowerPoint. Each group member is responsible for
two slides. One slide introduces their mathematician with a picture and their full name,
and the second slide will include their mathematicians’ discoveries and where
mathematics would be without these discoveries. Once every group member has
created their slides, they will take turns voice recording their slides information. Once
finalized, the PowerPoint can be converted to MP4. Students will present their topic via
the PPTX or the MP4.
 Lesson Idea

● Evaluation or deliverable: The students will present their projects on the last day of the
lesson. While the students are presenting, a rubric will be available for the instructor to
evaluate the presentation, as well as, the PowerPoints information.

Reflective Practice
● Are there any additional activities or tools that would extend or enhance the lesson
idea above?
One thing that could enhance the lesson idea above is to modify the students’
presentation. The students could dress up as their mathematician for their presentation.
They (students) could even choose to change their voices to match what they think their
mathematician would sound like. In my opinion, this would be a huge opportunity to
benefit all learners in the classroom (visual, auditory, etc.).
● Could something be added to the activity to extend into a higher Bloom’s level or
technology level?
In my opinion, this project already has the students participating in the highest level of
Bloom’s Taxonomy - creating. So, I do not believe anything would need to be added to
this project to increase to a higher Bloom’s level or technology level.
● Is the project such that it can be published to share with people outside the
classroom? If so, what additions would you make to the lesson idea to make this
happen?
Yes, this project can be published outside of the classroom due to the PowerPoint being
saved as an MP4. The MP4s could be posted to the classroom website so that parents
and others can view the information.