Humanizing the Equation

Who are the brilliant minds behind the math we use every day? Sixth graders ended the winter term by focusing on that question, diving into historical research to explore the fascinating journeys and groundbreaking achievements of the world's greatest mathematicians. 

Each student selected a famous mathematician to research, learning about their lives, including childhood and family, accomplishments and hobbies, mathematical achievements, and what was happening in the world at the time they did their most important work. Students shared a 4-7 minute presentation with the class, supported by a Google Doc, Google Slides, a poster board, or a video interview. While students were fascinated to learn about Emmy Noether’s contributions to modern Algebra and Kurt Gödel's incompleteness theorems, what truly resonated with the students were the human stories behind the genius. Students were inspired to learn that Noether, born in 1880 when few women were empowered to pursue mathematics, leveraged her family’s mathematical background to defy convention. Similarly, they connected with Gödel, a man whose insatiable childhood curiosity earned him the nickname “Mr. Why.” Learning that Gödel was admired by Albert Einstein but struggled with severe mental health issues helped students see these historical figures as complex, real people who overcame circumstances and persevered to make lasting contributions to their fields. 

Math teacher Nathan Chase challenges his students to deliver their presentations without a script. This prevents students from just reading the words and encourages them to engage the audience with compelling, clear storytelling. Having facilitated a version of this project for 18 years, Nathan knows that sixth grade is the perfect developmental milestone to learn about mathematicians who made history with their creative problem-solving skills. “Sixth graders are moving from the concrete into that abstract world,” he explains. “It’s no longer about what three plus three is. Instead, the question is, tell me about six and all the things that could be six. As mathematicians, they have to be thinking outside the box.”