This activity would be done at the end of the school year in a pre-algebra class. It is a way to introduce algebra and its history, putting some personality into the abstractness of the subject by researching the individuals behind algebraic concepts.
It was initially found on the following site five years ago when I first did it with my classes:
http://teacherexchange.mde.k12.ms.us/teachnett/history-of-algebra.htm
It has since disappeared, however, so the specific modifications I made at the time are fuzzy at best, but I have made recent adjustments to every portion.

Introduction:

Algebra, what does it mean? Where did it come from? Who thought up this stuff? Have you ever wondered what the word algebra means or when and where algebra was developed or who developed algebraic concepts? In this project your group will go on a journey through time and the history of mathematics to discover the answers to these questions.

Task:

Each group will go on a quest to find the mathematicians’ histories that have named as being the fathers or founders of algebra. On this journey your group will collect information about the mathematician responsible for developing the algebraic concept assigned to your group, create a timeline to show when the concept was developed in relation to other significant events in history, and find examples of the algebraic concept. Each group will prepare a Powerpoint to present the information to the class.

Group I The Father of Algebra (Algebraic thought and equations)

Group II Founder of Cartesian Plane and Graphing Equations

Group III Developer of Polynomials

Group IV Set Notation and Venn Diagrams Designer

Each group will need a Researcher, Recorder, Mathematician, and a Reporter.

Researcher - Using the resources below, work with the Recorder to find and record needed information for your topic.

Recorder - Record information on your topic and citation for where the information was found. Work with the Researcher and the Reporter to prepare a report of the findings of your group.

Mathematician - Work with the Researcher and the Recorder to find examples of mathematical problems from your assigned topic. Choose two examples that you can share, with which you can demonstrate the topic for the class.

Reporter - Work with the other members of your group to create a presentation, using PowerPoint, which you will present to the class.