It’s time to get excited because Pi Day is rolling around very soon - March 14th (3.14 in America)! Whether you’re a mathematics enthusiast or just love baked goods, this day is a golden opportunity to make your math lessons as tasty as a fresh apple pie.
Pi Day isn’t just about long numbers and mathematical theories; it is about making math engaging and accessible to students of all ages. And what better way to do that than through games, activities, and yes, edible delights! After all, Pi Day falls on Albert Einstein's birthday, so let’s celebrate genius and curiosity together.
What is Pi?
Pi is the mathematical constant representing the ratio of a circle's circumference to its diameter. It was first recognised by ancient Babylonian and Egyptian mathematicians over 4,000 years ago. The Greek mathematician Archimedes of Syracuse (287-212 BC) significantly advanced the understanding of pi by devising a method to approximate its value more accurately through the geometry of inscribed and circumscribed polygons.
This approach laid the groundwork for future mathematicians to explore and calculate pi with ever-greater precision. Throughout the centuries, pi has been computed to increasingly precise figures with the advent of calculus and, more recently, computer algorithms, transforming it into a fundamental element in both pure and applied mathematics.
As pi is an irrational number it goes on forever without repeating and, with modern computer technology, has been calculated up to 31 trillion digits. While I am not expecting anyone to get anything like that far in class, it’s fun to challenge students to memorise as many digits as they can with the first 20 decimal places being: 3.14159265358979323846.
Active Pi Day Games
Energise your students with a pi-digit relay race. Create cards with the digits of pi in double digit sets and place them strategically around your playground. Students work in teams to race and collect the cards in the correct sequence of pi. Each team member grabs a card and sprints back to their team to tag the next runner. This game not only promotes physical activity but also challenges students to remember the sequence of pi under pressure.
Alternatively, you could bring pi to life with hula hoop pi jumping. Lay out several hula hoops on the ground, each representing a digit from pi, and students jump from hoop to hoop in the correct order of the digits, reciting each digit as they land. This physical representation of pi helps reinforce the sequence of numbers through kinaesthetic learning, making it a memorable and active learning experience.
Engaging with Literature
Sir Cumference and the Dragon of Pi by Cindy Neuschwander brings mathematics and literature together. After reading the book, engage your students in a series of themed activities that bring the story's mathematical concepts to life. You could have students act out parts of the book to explore the story's math concepts physically, or have them complete some of the fun activities we have made for the book including code breakers, matching and hands-on measuring activities.
Creative and Edible Math
What is pi day without actual pie? Baking pies offers a delicious way to discuss mathematics, especially measurements and fractions. Allowing students to make their own pies teaches them to follow recipes, measure ingredients, and calculate proportions. It is also a sweet way to round off a fun day of mathematics. So get creative with your classes this pi day, and if you have any great activity and lesson ideas, I would love to hear them!
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