Activity Overview
In this activity, students explore the relationship between a circles' circumference and its diameter which leads them to their own "discovery" of a value for pi. NCTM Geometry Standard covered: Analyze characteristics and properties of 2- and 3-dimensional geometric shapes and develop mathematical arguments about geometric relationships.
Before the Activity
Install the Cabri™ Jr. App on the students' graphing calculators using TI Connect™, a TI Connectivity Cable, and the Unit-to-Unit Link Cable
See the attached PDF file for detailed instructions for this activity
Print pages 21-22 from the attached PDF file for your class
During the Activity
Distribute the pages to your class.
Follow the Activity procedures:
Draw a circle
Measure the diameter of the drawn circle
Measure the circumference of the circle
Calculate the ratio of the circumference to the diameter
Alter the circle and calculate the ratio again
After the Activity
Review student results:
As a class, discuss questions that appeared to be more challenging
Re-teach concepts as necessary