March 14, 2013 Pi Day

Pi Day 3.14

Instructions:
Find a circular item in the room.
Use a string and measure how far around the item is and how far across the item is.
Use a calculator and divide the distance around by the distance across.
We haven't had decimals so we compared inches to money:
    2 quarters = $.50 or 1/2 dollar. So, 1/2 inch = .50.

We discovered that the stool's seat was 39 inches around. The diameter was 12 .5.
39 divided by 12 .5 equals 3.12.

 

We measured other things and discovered that the distance around divided by the distance across is always "about 3."

 

 

 

I heard one group say, "It's really important to measure very accurately!" Profound.

 

We also read some great books about circumference:

Sir Cumference and the First Round Table,

A book about Sir Cumference, Lady Di Ameter and little Radius,

a great children's book about geometric terms.

 

 

The Librarian Who Measured the Earth,

a book about the Greek philosopher and scientist Eratosthenes,

who compiled the first geography book

and accurately measured the globe's circumference around the year 200 BC.

 

We then headed to the computer lab and looked at what 1 million digits of pi looks like.

A great "light bulb" moment.

I did not let them print it out. Go figure!

 

http://www.piday.org/million/

 

And the Navigators always enjoy a few riddles:

Q: What do you get when you take a cow and divide its circumference by its diameter?
A: Cow pi.

Q: What do you get when you take a native Alaskan and divide its circumference by its diameter?
A: Eskimo pi.

Q: What do you get when you take the sun and divide its circumference by its diameter?
A: Pi in the sky.