Unique Ideas for Pi Day: Options & Activities for Math Classes

Looking for ways to make Pi Day unique and memorable?  Every math teacher (and student) I know looks forward to an awesome Pi Day.  It’s the highlight of our math year! 
 
It can be tricky to find new, unique ideas, especially when the internet is filled with the same ideas, like allowing students to eat pie while memorizing digits of Pi. 
 
While there’s nothing wrong with this, I think it can be fun to switch it up a bit!  Plus, since these are pretty unique ideas, it’s unlikely your students will have ever done these before.  
 
I’ve gathered some different ideas that students will surely love and talk about for years to come!

Video
 
Have your students watch this video first to get the basics they'll need to work through the other activities below.
 

Pi Doodle Notes
 
Next, choose either doodle notes or stations (see below). Either option gets kids engaged with the actual math behind Pi Day!

If you’ve tried doodle notes, you already know kids love them!  They are the perfect blend of creativity and rigor; doodle notes activate the left and right sides of the brain, which improves memory and retention.  To read more about the many benefits of doodle notes, go here!
 
These Pi Doodle Notes are perfect for Pi Day or anytime! Here’s what it includes:- approximations of Pi
- definition of "irrational"
- meaning / utility of the number pi
- room for a history fact about Pi
- room for a formula that includes Pi
- background of Euler using the greek letter to represent it
- circumference and diameter
- why we can't know or recite ALL digits of pi

You can choose one of the two sheets, or use both.

Students get to creatively fill the doodle note sheets out with the information, and can color and embellish them in any extra time!

Pi Day Stations
 
My favorite way to set up class on Pi Day is by implementing Pi Day Stations.

One way to do this is with the "Delicious Pi Problems" as work stations, and the other way is with hands-on variety stations.

The Delicious Pi Problems offer practice with circumference and area of circles (and volume of cylinders in the challenge level) using yummy foods! These word problems include circle formulas with pi and it doubles as a coloring book!

The Pi Day Stations are another great option, and include a hands-on exploration, a creative challenge, a wordsearch, and other fun learning centers that you can print and set up for your class to go through.

Mini Pies
 
Most students, if asked their favorite part of Pi Day will be quick to answer with, “The food!”  After all, they probably don’t normally get the chance to eat anything in class, let alone sweet treats.
 

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An easy option is individual pies. This way, you don't have the mess and wasted time of cutting and serving full-size pies. Students can measure the circumference and diameter if you have not done that already with other circles in the stations.

Switching to mini pies makes the class period go MUCH smoother. It's well worth the 50 cents per pie. You can have volunteers bring in stacks of mini pies to help cover the cost.

 
Get Students Laughing with Pi Jokes
 
It’s always a good idea to begin class with some smiles and laughter!  Break out a few of these hilarious and dorky Pi jokes throughout the class period, and set the mood for the class period.  Here are some favorites:

https://www.buzzfeed.com/generalelectric/18-ridiculously-geeky-pi-jokes?utm_term=.tggOem29b#.gyROq85Gr
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Grab the Pi Day Bundle 

If you want to be all set for Pi Day with everything you need for all the grade levels and courses you teach, this Pi Day pack will be all you need to be all set for ALL or your Pi Days... FOREVERMORE.

The discounted bundle contains plenty of options that you can print and use, including pi practice problems, the pi doodle notes, Pi Day learning stations to choose from, and even pi infographics that you can hand out as bookmarks.

What's included in the Bundle:

• Pi Day Activity Stations for exploring the meaning of the number pi, getting creative, practicing, and having a little fun
• Delicious Pi Problems for practice with circumference and area of circles (and volume of cylinders in the challenge level) using yummy foods!
• Pi Infographics with some basic information (great to distribute as bookmarks)
• Doodle notes all about pi that students can fill out and then get creative with by coloring / embellishing the sheets in any extra time!

Get the downloadable bundle of Pi Day materials here.


​I hope you try one or more of these ideas!  Don’t forget to plan your Pi Day the right way- Check out Perfecting Pi Day for my tips and tricks for planning the perfect day and avoiding my previous mistakes!
 
Do you have anything awesome planned for Pi Day?  We’d love to hear in the comments below!
 
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