Education Technology

3.1415… Ways to Celebrate Pi Day

Posted 03/10/2023 by TI Staff

Any day is a better day with a little π (pi). Let’s celebrate Pi Day with some fun, meaningful activities that show students how the mathematical constant shows up in real life.

1: Happy Pi Day Activity Worksheets

Happy Pi Day Activity Worksheets

Choose from two quick-start activities; Ready-made Pi or Homemade Pi.

In these activities, students learn how to gather and input the data of circular objects. Students will plot the circumference versus diameter on a graph, then calculate the slope of the data points. What will they observe about the slope?

The Ready-made Pi activity is great if class/prep time is short. Or, let students experiment with the Homemade Pi activity with objects (or treats!) brought from home.

Either way, the included calculator keypress quick tips sheet will keep students moving forward!

Download the worksheets

2: Have your pi and eat it, too!

Have you heard of the Buffon’s needle problem? This problem approximates pi by dropping needles. Well, wouldn’t it be safer and tastier to use breadsticks? Yum! Watch this how-to video:



3: Everybody loves Pi and coloring!

Everybody loves Pi and coloring!

These Pi themed coloring pages are a great activity for when students (or you) need a mental break or have some downtime. Even better if coloring with a slice of pie!

Download the coloring pages

.1415926 ... There’s more pi where that came from

We have plenty of Pi Day activities using your TI graphing calculator. Here are two of our favorites:

Comparing Pi and Roots

In this middle school math activity, students explore how the Pythagorean (or, should it be “pi-thagorean”?) Theorem and the circumference of a circle can be related. It’s as easy as pi!

Why Bigger Is Not Necessarily Better

Did you know that the tiny little biological cells that make you are tiny for a reason? Explore this biology activity that uses pi to calculate the volume of these tiny little bundles of life. Find out why bigger is not necessarily better when it comes to your cells.

And, don't forget to check out the new “P³ — Puppies, Probability and Pi” "World of Pi" webinar for additional ways TI technology can be used to explore pi in relatable way for students! Another few helpful resource to check out for activity ideas is the "Mathtastic Pi Day Activities" webinar and the "World of Pi" webinar. Any day is better with a little (or a lot of) pi.

Happy Pi Day!