We describe a teaching experience, carried out in the years 2005/2006 and 2006/2007 in a scientific-oriented high school in Trieste (Italy) by a working group formed by secondary school teachers and an university professor, with high level groups of volunteer students (16–19 aged). The working group planned a laboratory for the students by choosing some fundamental topics concerning the historical development of the methods for calculating areas and volumes. We evaluate the activity by considering the direct observation made during the working session, the analysis of students’ works, questionnaires, interviews, and discussions.
