Saturday, March 14, 2015 is Super Pi Day, a once in 100 year event. Why Super Pi? Most people think of the mathematical Pi as 3.14 because that is what we use in mathematical calculations. Therefore March 14 is referred to as Pi day. This year there are two times during the day where a longer sequence of Pi can be seen. Using the numbers of the date as well as specific times of the day we will see 3.141592653 (3/14/15:9:26:53).
Many schools plan classroom activities for Pi Day and since this particular one is so rare I thought I’d share some easy activities that you can do today.
1. Have students press the Pi key on a calculator so that they can see what the number actually looks like. Then show them how the number that they see will be represented on Saturday through date and time.
2. Have students write a letter to their parents explaining Super Pi Day.
3. Do an internet search to see how many locations around the world will be celebrating Super Pi. (There are an amazing number of them.)
4. Many bakeries are offering special prices and special pies on Saturday. Suggest that the students ask their parents if they can visit a bakery and check it out. On Monday any students who do this can share with the class what they found.
5. If your students are learning about weeks, months, years etc. this would be a good time to introduce the concept of a century.
6. Pi day also happens to be Albert Einstein’s birthday. It’s a good time to introduce a little science into the Pi day activities.
7. Have students make Pi Day posters that they can take home.
8. Read “Sir Circumference and the Dragon of Pi”.
9. Have older students measure different circular objects in the classroom to prove that Pi is the same no matter what size the circle is.
Please leave any other activities that you do in the comments!
