Bracelets for Pi Day
As you know, on March 14, mathematics teachers around the world celebrate Pi Day! (3/14)
Here’s an activity I located and have used for two years in my classroom.
Materials:
- pipe cleaners (or some other material that can be thread and used as the bracelet),
- beads in 10 colors, and
- large beads (I found ones like fish, teddy bears, etc.) to represent the “3.”
Instructions:
In my class, the first thing we do is calculate the value of pi using several circles and finding the circumference divided by the diameter. After deciding on what “looks” to be pi, we use one of the many websites on which many, many values of pi are listed. Depending on the number of beads you want to use and the length of your pipe cleaner, determine a set number of places to which you will make your pi bracelet.
To make the bracelet, each student decides what color he wants each of the digits to represent. For example, blue could represent 1s, green could represent 2s, yellow could represent 3s, etc. The students choose one of the larger beads to represent the 3 (of 3.14), and then they begin threading their beads with their color keys to match the rest of the digits.
In the past, we have gone to 20 or 25 digits. I require the students to wear their pi bracelets during pi day — at least. In the past, when pi day was over, some students continued to carry their bracelets on their badges. It is just a fun activity which makes the students understand a little better that pi is an irrational number and where it comes from.
- Course/suggested grade level: Any level of students that has been introduced to Pi could use this activity
- Contributor: Patty Toepke, Aiken High School
- Contact: e-mail