March 14 or 3-14 is also known as Pi Day in lots of Math
Classes!
Pi Day is sort of a Math Holiday and often is
celebrated with real PIE. Do you prefer Pizza Pie, Dessert Pie, or another
type of Pie?
Here
are 2 different math (geometry) activities to try with your math classes (mostly for middle
school but the 2nd one can be done with younger kids.)
Then I'll give you some
awesome links to get LOTS more activities to celebrate PI Day on March 14 (or
any day that you want to work on diameter and circumference of circles for
middle school kids plus other FUN math activities for younger kids {kindergarten and elementary grades} and ALL
ages.)
Activity 1- Learning about
PI
Materials
- (3) different size circles or cylinders for each pair or small group of
students
- yarn or string
- scissors
- rulers or tape measures
- calculators (optional)
- paper and pencils
Directions
- Divide the students into pairs or groups.
- Discuss/Review diameter and circumference of a circle.
- Have students measure the diameter of the 1st circle with a ruler or tape
measure and write it down.
- Ask students how they should measure the circumference of circle 1. Elicit
from the students that they should use string, then cut and measure the string.
- Have students measure the circumference of the 1st circle (outside edge of
the circle) with the string or yarn, then remove the string from the circle and
measure the string with their ruler or tape measure. They need to write down the
measurement of the circle (the circumference).
- Have students divide the circumference by the diameter.
- Continue with the same procedure to measure circle or cylinder 2 and 3.
- In each case, when the students divide the circumference by the diameter,
they should get 3.14 or 3 1/7.
- Discuss with students how this happens with ALL circles.
Activity2-Learning about
PI
- Repeat steps 1 and 2 from above.
- Have students wrap the string around the circumference of their circle or
cylinder, then cut the string.
- Next have students stretch the string across the diameter of circle 1 or
cylinder 1.
- Have the students cut as many diameters as possible from the string.
- They should get 3 diameters plus a small piece (1/7 or 0.14).
- Repeat for circles or cylinders 2 and 3.
- Have students explain PI based on the activity they just completed.
Here are some great links with lots of great ideas and
videos to celebrate PI.
Elementary Grades
http://mathmomblog.wordpress.com/2008/03/10/elementary-level-pi-day-ideas/
Kindergarten Activities
http://helpinglittlehands.blogspot.com/2011/03/kindergarten-pi-day-activities.html
http://www.piday.org/learn.php
http://www.exploratorium.edu/pi/
Have lots of fun with math !!!!
Happy Pi Day!
