Pi Day

Created Feb. 7, 2024 by Amy Goings

Pi Day

Grade Level: 6

Subject: Math: The number pi

Duration: 90 minutes

DOK Level: 1

SAMR Level: Substitution

Indiana Standard:  In preparation for...

7.NS.3: Know there are rational and irrational numbers. Identify, compare, and order rational and common irrational numbers (√2, √3, √5, ∏) and plot them on a number line.

Objective:

  1. Students will understand that pi is a number that goes on and on forever.
  2. Students will understand that we use estimations of the number pi in math in order to make it more manageable to work with.
  3. Students will understand that mathematicians like to celebrate the number pi on or near March 14 or 3/14. Some activities may or may not actually have to do with math, but it is fun nonetheless- after all, who doesn’t like to eat pie on Pi Day?

Procedure: On or near March 14, the teacher will deliver the Google document titled Pi Day to students. The students will (take notes in their spiral notebooks) and...

  1. Listen to a song and list as many circular objects as they can!
  2. Watch the video of the reading of the book Sir Cumference and the Knights of the Round Table. Summarize the book using the sentence template provided.
  3. Listen to the book Sir Cumference and the Dragon of Pi to explore the concepts of circle, diameter, radius and pi. Summarize the book using a sentence template provided.
  4. Watch a video/song about the number pi. Write down several digits in order to memorize them for a contest.
  5. Work to memorize some pi digits (10 min.) and then practice some skills on online games (15 min.).
  6. Click on a link to find and write down 7 definitions.
  7. Work on IXL standards listed for at least 15 minutes.

Product or Assessment: a spiral notebook page of notes

Accommodations: The teacher could do the document (or parts of it) as a whole class activity rather than delivering it individually to students.

Enrichment:

  1. On the following class day, hold a contest to see who has memorized the most pi digits! Be sure to announce this contest on Pi Day so that students can study. Students can be called upon to come to the teacher’s desk alone in order to either say or write the digits down on paper. You will be amazed by how many students memorized 20-30 digits!
  2. Throughout the day hold a hula hoop contest. (Hula hoops are circles!) See who can hula hoop for the longest period of time. Challenge other classes to this contest if you feel competitive. You can do an individual contest and/or add up the class’ total times. Be prepared to have some students that can go on and on and on forever! (Decide what time you will list for them in advance and announce it.)
  3. I always announce several days in advance that students are allowed to bring a snack to class on Pi Day. Of course it has to be a round, circular or cylindrical snack.  I also allow them to bring in a drink (besides water that we always allow anyway).
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