What is Pi Day?
by Julie Diamond
*This blog post will take you 2 minutes to read*
It’s March 14th (3/14) - Happy Pi Day! And no, I’m not talking about delicious pies but rather Pi (π) which is the mathematical constant representing the ratio to calculate a circle's circumference to its diameter.
Pi Day is an annual celebration amongst mathematicians and math lovers to commemorate this mathematical constant π. It provides an opportunity to engage in fun and educational activities centered around math and science.
Piggy-backing on my blog post yesterday about math anxiety, celebrating a math “holiday” like Pi Day is a great way to show children anxious about math how important and relevant math is to our everyday lives and how it can be fun.
What fun and hands-on activities or experiments can we do to teach kids about Pi Day?
There are numerous engaging activities and experiments to teach kids about Pi Day at home and in your classroom:
Pi Chain: Create a paper chain where each link represents a digit of pi. As you make the chain, they can recite the digits they’re adding, reinforcing memory and number recognition skills.
Pi Workout: Make your workout with the numbers of Pi (3.14159…) so 3 jumping jacks, 1 push-up, 4 high knees, and so on.
Circle Art: Create Pi Day-themed artwork using circles. You can use various mediums such as paint, markers, or coloured paper to explore the artistic side of mathematics. Or check out pop artist Michael Albert for inspiration to create a Pi collage.
Pi Song: Check out this song to memorize the first 100 digits of pi (it’s catchy!) and try creating your own song.
Pi Memorization Contest: Challenge students to memorize as many digits of pi as possible. Encourage friendly competition and offer rewards (maybe a ‘pie’?) for whoever can recite the most digits accurately.
Pi Card Game (for 3-4 players): Divide a deck of cards amongst all players. The person who has a 3 lays it down face up then a person with a 1 goes next, then a 4 and so on. The idea is to get as many digits of Pi as possible.
Pi Food: Bake pizzas or pies (any circular foods) and then calculate the area using the formula Area of a circle = π × r2 (radius x radius or radius squared)*
*The radius of a circle is the distance from the center to any point on the boundary of the circle.
These hands-on activities make learning about Pi Day fun and help reinforce key math concepts in interactive ways.
Pi Day offers a unique opportunity to dive into the fascinating world of mathematics.
By promoting interest and appreciation for mathematics, Pi Day fosters a sense of excitement and curiosity among students and enthusiasts alike. Ultimately, Pi Day serves as a reminder of the beauty and significance of mathematics in our everyday experiences, sparking creativity and intellectual curiosity in learners of all ages.