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People have been counting ever since they have had fingers!  The ancient Sumerians (3000 B.C) who inhabited Mesopotamia invented a system of writing and numbers to keep track of business transactions.

As time passed and civilizations became more complex (think about building pyramids) more complex mathematics developed.  The Greeks desire to bring order to a disordered world became the first to look at geometric patterns. 

This treasure hunt will allow you to take a brief look at some of the contributions that each of these civilization made to the history of mathematics.  Keep in mind that the the actual contributions of these societies was much greater than is shown here.  This treasure hunt should at least let you know that math was not invented to give middle schoolers a headache but it was developed based on a need and natural human curiosity to understand the world. 

Instructions:  First, click here to print worksheet. Project Worksheet.doc

Then, click here  to begin the Treasure Hunt!

(Teachers:  For a detailed summary of this lesson, Click Here.)

Maintained according to Mohonasen Central School District Web Publishing Regulations 
by Kristi Dannehy,  Grade 6, Math Teacher; and Scott Hays, Grade 6 Social Studies Teacher
Draper Middle School, 2072 Curry Road, Schenectady, NY 12303, (518) 356-8350
@2001 Mohonasen Central School District-All rights reserved.
Last modified on August 14, 2002