History of Mathematics Bundle

British Columbia's grade 11 History of Mathematics course was created in 2018 for senior high math students as an alternative to the traditional (and difficult!) courses of trigonometry and calculus. While mathematical concepts such as patterns & algebra, number systems, geometry and probability & statistics are covered, the focus is more on their use in historical times, and how the past relates to today. In addition to the six concepts covered in the BC curriculum, I've created three additional/optional studies, to round out the study of the topic. If you're a BC senior high math teacher, please have a look at my product - you may find that it's something you want to offer! (There's a reason I became a teacher-librarian, but in doing the research, I found all these topics quite fascinating!)

1. Cryptography in History - Cryptography may conjure up images of spies, intigue and danger - not the usual connections we make with MATH, right? But while this branch of mathematical science has to do with logic and algorithms, that's not to say it's inconsequential; where would we be today, if not for Alan Turing and the whole host of mathematicians who, together, broke the Enigma code? This product introduces your students to them and to the mathematicians of history who created a variety of ingenious methods of encrypting and decrypting messages, before giving them four opportunities to do some work of their own with cryptography.

2. Famous Mathematicians in History - In the last decade or so two films, Hidden Figures and The Imitation Game, have introduced us to some of the more outstanding mathematicians of the 20th century: Americans Katherine Johnson, Dorothy Vaughn and Mary Jackson and Alan Turing of England, respectively. Not only did we learn about their truly awesome mathematical abilities but also the prejudices they had to endure, despite their near-genius talents. This product gives your students the opportunity to profile other notable mathematicians (some historical, some contemporary) to learn about the obstacles they had to overcome in order to share their unique abilities with the world.

3. Geometry in History - Geometry is not one of those really beloved math topics (are there any?), but this product aims to help your students see the beauty (in the sense of its logical organization) and utility of geometry. Your students will discover the truth of the saying 'Great minds think alike' when they see that mathematicians in other ancient civilizations also came to the same realizations as the Greeks' Pythagoras, who, nevertheless, gets the credit for his theorem. Everyday examples of the need to understand and use the basic principles of geometry are presented, including in the three assignment options given. Also provided, for you, is a 2-page PDF called 'Geometric Constructions: What, Why and Bits of History'.

4. History of Math Inquiry Study - The history of math is a fascinating study, made up of truly great mathematicians of ancient days and their mathematical discoveries and/or inventions which changed the world and are responsible for our world today. This product challenges your students, in small groups, to investigate 8 math-related inquiry projects, ranging from '11 Great Moments in Math History' to 'What the History of Math Can Teach Us About the Future of AI'; each slide in the presentation provides a focal inquiry question - except for one, which challenges your students to devise their own question. A list of links to the sites from which each inquiry project's image is taken is provided; for the AI-related project there's also a 4-page article from Scientific American. These inquiry studies will require your students to engage in critical thinking and, possibly, divergent thinking - always a bonus, IMHO!

5. Math in Ancient Times - Of course we know that math has been around since the earliest days of humankind; this product will give your students the opportunity to look closely at 9 ancient civilizations for evidence of their discoveries and uses of mathematics. They'll work in groups to create audio-visual presentations to share with their classmates and you.

6. Math Tools and Technology in History - In our ultra-techy, computerized world we sometimes tend to forget that mankind has been keeping track of data for a very long time; for instance, have you ever heard of the Ishango Bone (at 20,000 to 25,000 years old, possibly the oldest mathematical artifact in existence, according to the Mathematical Association of America)? Me neither, until I started researching this topic. But with this product, your students will learn about it and other historical mathematical tools and older forms of math technology, before they trace the history of one of several suggested forms of measurement. Included in this product is a 3-page handout with some detailed information about 14 selected machines invented for the purposes of calculation.

7. Numbers and Number Systems in History - This product looks at the development and use of several aspects of numbers and number systems, including Arabic and Roman numerals, the concepts of zero, pi and prime numbers, and historical information related to several ancient civilizations. The presentation concludes with the (likely) new information for your students about the rich history of mathematics in India, where it is so valued, in fact, that they have a national 'day' to celebrate the achievements of Indian mathematicians! Your students' assignment focuses on 6 aspects of Indians' studies and discoveries in math, providing them with posters from the India Science, Technology and Innovation branch of their federal government, which are meant to serve as starting points for their further research.

8. Patterns and Algebra - Patterns are one of nature's beautiful mysteries. Patterns are present in math, if one knows how and where to look. A British mathematician has been quoted as saying, "Mathematics is the science of patterns, and nature exploits just about every pattern there is." The beauty of patterns translates to the science of math in the form of algebra; looking for a pattern in a set of numbers presented in a problem, such as the number of matchsticks in a set of houses, is described, along with historical and modern examples of algebra's uses. Your students are given 3 assignments to practice what they've seen and absorbed from this product.

9. Probability and Statistics - Probability and statistics are all around us in the world, in our everday lives. This product does NOT go into a lot of detail about their mathematical constructs, however; Pascal's Triangle is covered in a video with everyday examples, and a second video provides an introductory overview of the everyday applications. The main part of this product gives your students a run through history of 67 'signposts' related to the two concepts. Two assignments, related to PT and historical highlights, both ask them to relate what they've learned to the present.