Name: ________________________________________ Date: _______________
Pi Day Project
Due Date:
Monday March 14th
ππππππππππππππππππππππππππππππππππππππππππππππππππππππππππππ
March 14 (the date of 3.14) is Pi day! We will be celebrating on Monday, March 14th with the
your presentations. Pi day is a chance to explore some of the mystical and magical aspects of
Pi and of math in general.
Pi is the number of times a diameter of a circle is multiplied to get the circumference of a
circle. It also shows up in some other math equations. It’s a real number, a little more than 3.
It’s usually rounded to 3.14, and represented by the Greek letter Pi, which looks like: π.
The funny thing about π is that we cannot represent it precisely with a decimal or a fraction.
The decimal goes on and on, getting more and more precise, but never exact. Numbers like
these are called IRRATIONAL numbers (can’t be written as a ratio.) Pi is a real value in the
real world, and between 3.1 and 3.2, but computers can keep calculating and calculating, and
there’s always more digits and no pattern to them. If there were a pattern, like the recurring
decimal 0.3333, we’d be able to convert it to an exact fraction (here, 1/3)..
ππππππππππππππππππππππππππππππππππππππππππππππππππππππππππππ
To celebrate Pi Day, you will choose one of the following options:
1. Memorize the digits (see how far you can get!) and recite or write them live from
memory. You will have three chances to get your best recitation. You need to
memorize a minimum of 10 digits, submit the paper from which you did your
memorization, and write three strategies or patterns that you used that helped you
learn digits.
2. Make a creative artistic presentation of Pi that includes:
1. many of its digits
2. the symbol
3. a circle labeled with its radius
4. the calculation of the area and circumference of your circle
You can draw a picture, make a PowerPoint, bake a Pi pie or anything you can come up with,
as long as you include the above 4 items in writing. You may work with one partner.
Pi Day Project Rubric
Memorize the
Digits!!!
Student
Evaluation
Teacher
Evaluation
Possible
Points
Student includes
memorizing tool(s)
with correct digits of pi
Student writes three
strategies or patterns
that helped him/her
memorize digits.
Student challenged self
to do more than the
bare minimum; effort
and preparation were
evident .
This rubric is completed
and handed in on time.
2
Total Points
20
Presentation!!!
(creative, artistic)
6
6
6
Student
Evaluation
Teacher
Evaluation
Possible
Points
Student accurately
represents Pi by
including many of its
digits, the symbol and a
circle.
Students’ area and
circumference of circle
are accurate and formula
is shown.
Student shows creativity
and attention to detail
in his/her presentation.
This rubric is completed
and handed in on time.
2
Total Points
20
6
6
6