No matter the age of your kids, Pi Day (aka March 14th) is a fantastic opportunity to explore math concepts! There are so many things to teach and explore related to the number pi, the circumference or diameter of a circle, or some math history related to this fascinating number. I’m always on the lookout for fun Pi Day learning activities, and have already shared this simple Pi Day Sing Along to get kids of all ages in on the fun. Today I’m sharing a hands on Pi Day investigation to help older kids understand the number pi.
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Materials Needed for this Hands On Pi Day Investigation:
- Circular objects
- Measuring tape or ruler
- String (if you’re using a ruler to measure)
To Complete the Investigation:
The student handout included guides students through each step.
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First they will need to measure the circumference and diameter of various circular objects (I like to use fun food such as pie or cookies, but anything circular will work 😉 ).
If students are not familiar with these measurements, take time to go over them before you start.
They then record the answers in their table and calculate the ratio.
Hopefully if students measure accurately, their ratio should be approximately the number pi, and their average should be an even closer approximation.
After completing the table and discussion questions, discuss the results together as a group!
Also included in this download are teaching tips.
And if you like, this lesson would go along perfectly with the book, Sir Cumference and the Dragon of Pi
I hope you have a fantastic Pi Day celebration, and learn all about circles, measurement, pi and irrational numbers! 🙂
{Click HERE to go to my shop to get your copy of the hands on Pi Day investigation!}
Looking for more Pi Day ideas? Check out this ever growing list of videos, lessons and games for Pi Day fun!
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[…] at Math Geek Mama! This FREE Pi Day sing along is a fun way to celebrate for all ages, and the FREE hands-on investigation is the perfect way for older kids to learn where the number pi comes […]