Sunday, March 10, 2013

Lesson Idea of the Week? "Pi" Day!!

     Thursday is March 14, which to all math teachers means "Pi" Day!  A day to celebrate the constant that keeps computers buzzing trying to find its last digit.  Are you looking for ideas to help your class celebrate?  Try a few of the ideas below.  Most of them are on my list of planned activities.

  • "Is it a coincidence?"  Bring several circular items and tape measures.  Have students measure the circumference and diameter of each circle and divide circumference by the diameter.  Share results with the rest of the class.  No matter the age, students are amazed that all answers are close to being the same.
  • "Sir Cumference and the Dragon of Pi"  A great way to bring literature into the math classroom.  This is a great book that references many math vocabulary words.
  • "Pi Music"  I play a few videos for my students that they enjoy.
  • "Pi"e!  I bring in pie or pi shaped cookies to enjoy with our festivities!
  • "Pi pencils" This year I ordered pencils with the first 50 digits of pi.
Whatever you choose to do, I hope your Pi Day is "PI"TASTIC!  Please feel free to share your ideas!

**Bonus:  Pi Day is also Albert Einstein's Birthday!

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2 comments:

  1. AnonymousMarch 17, 2013 at 7:00 PM

    Cheri

    I think you have some fabulous "Pi" day activities here! I spoke with some of the 5th grade teachers in my building about how they celebrated PI day last week. Unfortunately, it doesn't really land in the third grade curriculum anywhere, so I can not celebrate it. My only question for you is do you have a pressing pacing schedule to keep up with? In my district, we must abide by a nearly impossible pacing schedule in order to prepare our students for all of the eligible content on state assessments. It would make a "fun day" like this nearly impossible even if it were in my curriculum. Do you find yourself in this situation where you teach?

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  2. AnonymousMarch 17, 2013 at 7:16 PM

    Cheri
    I've done some more thinking about the concern I mentioned earlier and had this thought. If the pi day activities could be incorporated directly into the prescribed curricular program without slowing down the pacing structure I mentioned above, it would work great, even in my district. I realize this may not present an issue for you, but forcing myself to reflect upon this helps me think of ways to enhance my own program (and maybe yours?).
    -Ryan

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