- Wednesday 13 March 2019
Pi Day, celebrated on March 14 each year, is a celebration of the mathematical understanding of Pi (π)—an irrational number (~3.141592265359) that represents the ratio between any circle’s circumference and its diameter. Pi Day was founded by physicist Larry Shaw in 1988 and is celebrated in many countries around the world to signify the importance of Pi.
Although Pi (π) is a mathematical concept that is not specifically taught until secondary school, here are some activities that you can do in primary classrooms to raise awareness of Pi Day and spark interest in mathematical patterns.
Fun activities to do this Pi Day!
Take the class outside to create a circle using only students and a pre-cut length of rope. Mark a place where the centre of the circle will be. Ask one pupil to stand on this mark and hold one end of the rope. Line the other pupils up and hand the line leader the opposite end of the rope. Pupils take turns holding the rope taut and moving to any position along the hidden circumference before sitting down. As more pupils complete the task, pupils should begin to see a circle forming. Discuss the meaning of diameter and circumference.
Pi and pie are homophones and as such when people hear the word ‘Pi’ they often think of pies instead. Use this opportunity to bake/eat some Pi Day-inspired pies. See recipe ideas here.
Listen to the catchy song Pi song: Expert level—The Pi song with 100 digits on YouTube. Challenge students to learn the first ten digits of Pi (π) or sing along with the video.
