Math Goodies: Celebrate Pi Day

Details

Activity Description

In this activity, students explore the meaning of Pi and to celebrate Pi Day through online activities. The mathematical constant Pi, sometimes written as Pi, is approximately equal to 3.14159... Each year, Pi Day is celebrated on March 14 by math enthusiasts around the world. Students engage in web-based inquiry to explore the meaning and history of Pi and calculations involving Pi.

Students also explore the history of Pi Day and how it is celebrated. There are several activities to celebrate Pi Day by engaging students in online activities of their own choosing. Links to resources on Pi and Pi Day are provided.

The lesson is divided into 4 steps:

1. Learning About Pi
2. Learning About the Meaning and History of Pi
3. Learning About Pi Day
4. Celebrating Pi Day
All the steps for the lessons are included in the site.

Preparation

1. Make sure that the site is not blocked at your school and that the lesson resources can be viewed or heard.
2. Review the Lesson Process .
3. Determine which activities you want to use
4. Determine the number of computers available and how you will divide students into groups.
5. Create a worksheet for students to record their findings.Be sure to include links to those sites you want students to review.
6. Browse the lessons on circumference and area of circles.
7. Decide if you want to conclude lesson with small pieces of pie for students. If so, you might ask for volunteers to bring pie.

How-To

1. Review circumference and area of circles.
2. Lead into a discussion of Pi, asking students about Pi and what it means, but don't provide answers.
3. Pass out worksheets.
4. Give students to explore given sites to find answers to worksheet questions.
5. Bring group back together to discuss their findings.
6. Give students time to explore given Pi Day activities
7. If possible, conclude the lesson with a small party and pie

Teacher Tips

Pie is nice conclusion to the activity. Please note that pie pieces can be cut very small.

More Ways

Read the resources and evaluation parts. There are interesting ways to involve the students in this lesson including songs, videos, and games. http://www.piday.org/

Program Areas

• ASE: High School Diploma
• ABE: Adult Basic Education

Levels

• Intermediate
• High

Documents

• Math Goodies Pi Day Celebration.png - Screenshot of Math Goodies Pi Day Celebration

Subjects

• Math
  • Geometry

Standards

• Geometry: Geometric Measurement and Dimension
  • G.GMD.3 - Explain volume formulas and use them to solve problems.

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