INTRODUCTION

THE TASK

THE PROCESS

RESOURCES

CONCLUSION

EVALUATION

INTRODUCTION: 
Your parents are having a black-tie dinner party at their favorite hotel.  They need to impress their guests and want entertainment at their party.  Since you are taking a math class, they have asked you to investigate one famous mathematician and talk to their guests about his/her life. This would definitely impress them and the guests at the party.  It is your responsiblity to research an extraordinary mathematician.  Your parents are counting on you.  Don't disappoint them.
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THE TASK:
You must prepare your findings and present evidence to your classmates before you decide to talk about the mathematician at your parents black-tie dinner party. The evidence must prove why you would like to talk about the particular mathematician. 
Concentrate your research on the following questions:

• When was the mathematician born?  When did the mathematician pass away?        
  
• Where did the mathematician live? 
  
• What are the indiviudal's contributions to the field of mathematics?                                
  

Note:  You may also add anything else that you want to in your research report.



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THE PROCESS:
Your mission will entail great strength and endurance.  The success of the mission will depend on the quality of your actions.  Follow the guidelines below to assist you in your journey.

1. Pick a mathematician.  Your mathematician needs to be different than your classmates.
2. Use the websites that are given to you or travel the internet to explore additional information about the mathematician you have chosen.
3. Report information by detailing the individual's contributions to the field of mathematics.
4. Prepare a presentation of your findings to the class through an essay, poster, or other approved format.  You can be creative.
5. Present your findings to the class.

You may choose from the following mathematicians:

• Euclid
• John Napier
• Johames Kepler
• Leonardo de Pisa Fibonacci
• Pythagoras
• Albert Einstein
• Archimedes
• Sonya Kovalevskaya
• Galileo Galilei
• Leonard Euler
• Blaise Pascal
• Georg Riemann
• Rene Descartes
• George Boole
• Gottfried Wilhelm Leibnitz                                                          
  
• Sophia Germain
• Emmy Amalie Noether
• Jacob Bernoulli
• Benjamin Banneker
• Georg Cantor
• Arthur Cayley
• Charles, Babbage
• Pierre de Fermat
• Karl Fredrich Gauss
• Buckminister Fuller
• Pierre Laplace
• Ada Byron Lovelace
• Srinivasa Ramanujan
• George Polya
  

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RESOURCES:
                          

An overview of the history of mathematics:	National Association of Mathematicians:
mathematicians of the 17th and 18th centuries	Syracuse University Library:
The history of mathematics:	Mathematician Trading Cards:
Biographies of  Women Mathematicians:	Index of Biographies:
Biographies of Women Mathematicians:	Mathematician Websites:
Female Mathematicians:	A Chronology of Mathematicians:
Chronological List of Mathematicians:	Encyclopedia Encarta:
Great Mathematicians:	All Math:
Index of Biographies:	Past Notable Women of Mathematicians:

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CONCLUSION:
Studying the works of others will demonstrate the significant impact one individual can have on the world.  Always take advantage of opportunities to make yourself a better person in making the world a better place to live.  While you may not fully appreciate the positive influence you have on others, always doing the best you can may create opportunities that you never knew existed. 

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EVALUATION:
Your hard work will pay off when the famous mathematician is selected.  You will be graded on your project and oral presentation to the class.  Also, each student in the class will take notes when you present your favorite mathematician.   There will be a test on all of the mathematicians that were chosen.