How to Celebrate National Pi Day: 3,14 Fun Activities and Ideas for Everyone!

Every March 14th is Pi Day, and if you’re a math teacher, it’s your special holiday. You see, it’s called Pi Day because the date is 3/14, which matches the first few digits of the number pi, 3.14. It’s a fun way to celebrate that famous number used in geometry.

Pi Day is a fantastic opportunity to add math and excitement to your classroom, no matter what grade or subject you teach. A famous mathematician once said, “Pi is more than just a bunch of numbers; it’s like a journey or an adventure. Unless you see the beauty in Pi, learning about it can be tough.” Explore simple and enjoyable activities, traditions, and tasty treats to make this National Pi Day memorable!

Check out the best Pi Day gifts ideas to express your love

Why Do We Celebrate National Pi Day

I suspect many people will wonder about the existence of this holiday. We celebrate National Pi Day because it’s a fun way to honor the mathematical constant π (pi). Pi is used in geometry to calculate the circumference and area of circles, and it also shows up in many other areas of math and science. 

March 14th (3/14) matches the first few digits of pi (3.14), so people chose this day to celebrate. It’s a chance to appreciate math, have fun, and maybe even enjoy a slice of pie!

Educational Pi Activities

School Pi Parade 

On Pi Day, why stick to a regular parade route from point A to point B when you can go full circle instead? Invite your friends and family to join in, all dressed up in their best “pi” themed attire, holding pi signs, and marching in a circle. 

And, of course, what better way to end the festivities than with a slice of pie? Don’t worry if it feels unusual—embracing the quirkiness is all part of the fun!

Make the “Pie” Graph 

Have your students make a bar graph or a line graph of Pi. They can fill the page with as many Pi numbers as possible. Then, let their imagination run wild as they finish plotting. What do they see? Maybe it looks like a mountain range, city skyline, clouds, or forest. They can color and complete their Pi drawings and then hang them up in the classroom for everyone to enjoy.

Host a Greek Feast 

Let’s celebrate Pi Day by honoring the genius of Archimedes, the Greek mathematician who first calculated π way back in ancient times—before calculators or computers were even a thing! How about celebrating his genius by indulging in some authentic Greek cuisine like pita sandwiches, dolma stuffed grape leaves, eggplant casserole, or souvlaki meat skewers? And for dessert, you can’t go wrong with honey-soaked baklava as a delicious alternative to pie. 

Pi Trivia 

Gather your friends for a fun Pi trivia challenge this National Pi Day! Prepare some easy and interesting questions about pi, like its history and what it’s used for. Split everyone into teams and keep track of points as they try to answer correctly. 

You can even give out small prizes to the winners. Share cool facts about Pi along the way to make it even more fun and educational. It’s a smart way to celebrate Pi Day and learn something new with your friends!

Learn Pilish Language 

Did you know there’s a fascinating language called “Pilish” based on the number pi? In Pilish, the length of words corresponds to the digits of pi. Learning how to write in this unique style is elegant and a must for Pi enthusiasts! Learning this language will help you explore the beauty and intricacy of mathematics through language. If you’re intrigued, you can find resources and guides online to help you master Pilish and impress your mates and teacher with your newfound linguistic skills!

How About Hosting Pi Day Fundraisers?

There are so many fun options to choose from! One idea is to set the price at $3.14 for various activities. You could sell pizza or fruit pies at this special price. Another exciting idea is to organize a pie-throwing event where anyone can pay to throw pies at willing staff members who volunteered for the fun. It’s a creative way to celebrate Pi Day while raising funds for a good cause!

Pi Day Baking and Cooking

“Pi”zza Party 

Kids love pizza, so why not turn it into a fun math lesson? Bring in a pizza or a few different sizes. Have students work in small groups to measure the circumference and diameter of their pizza. While cutting the pizza to share, you can also teach them about fractions! Here’s a tip: check with local pizzerias, as many offer discounts for Pi Day, and some might even be willing to discount a classroom. It’s a tasty way to learn about math!

Pi Cookies 

With this special holiday, round-shaped dishes will be the highlight! This lesson is similar to the pizza activity but with cookies! Each student can have their own because cookies are smaller and less expensive. If you bake the cookies yourself, you can make them in different sizes to show how all sizes of circles still calculate to pi. Just make sure to keep those cookies! Learning math can be both fun and delicious!

Pi Day Games and Puzzles

Pi-Lentines Day

Even though Valentine’s Day is behind us, why not keep the spirit of friendship and kindness alive in your classroom? You can do this by making “Pi-lentines” cards for each other! A cool activity to spread cheer and show appreciation to classmates.

Encourage students to develop their phrases for the cards, or you can suggest ideas like “I hope our friendship goes on forever!” or “Just let them try to divide us!” You could also use phrases like “Irrational and proud of it!” It’s a simple yet meaningful activity that fosters a sense of community and positivity in the classroom.

Pi Card Game 

For this game, you’ll need decks of cards (at least one per team).

1. Put the kids into teams of 4 or 5.
   
2. Deal out all the cards and choose someone to start. You can use numbers to decide who goes first.

3. The play goes either clockwise or counterclockwise. If kids aren’t sure what those mean, explain it to them.

4. The first player lays down a three if they have one. If not, the next player with three plays. Then, players lay down the digits of pi in order until someone runs out of cards.

5. You might want to show the digits of pi on a poster or play this game after another activity where you’ve talked about pi’s digits.

Pi Calculator Game 

Playing a fun game to sharpen your math skills with the number Pi. Mathematicians have been calculating the digits of pi for thousands of years. Before the 1900s, they did it by hand, reaching records in the 500s. With the advent of computers, the number of digits calculated jumped into the thousands, millions, and even trillions. In 2019, 

Google developer Emma Haruka Iwao broke the record by calculating pi to a whopping 31 trillion digits – that’s 31,415,926,535,897 digits precisely.

Pi Scavenger Hunt

The symbol for pi, π, isn’t just found in math textbooks! It represents the relationship between a circle’s circumference and diameter. You can spot examples of perfect circles around you, from things in your home to nature, art, science, and even literature. It’s amazing how much pi influences our everyday lives once you start paying attention!

Pi Memorize Competition 

As of 2022, Google has calculated π to an astounding 100 trillion digits! While that’s way too much for most of us to grasp, you might surprise yourself with how many digits you can memorize. 

In fact, Akira Haraguchi holds the current world record for reciting pi—he memorized a mind-blowing 100,000 digits! If you’re a teacher, consider giving your students about a week to prepare, and then you can hold a competition on Pi Day itself. A game that will help challenge their memory skills and celebrate the wonders of mathematics.

Pi Toss Game 

Centuries before computers, people wondered about the existence of π and how to figure out its value. One way they did this was by using a technique called Buffon’s Needles, which involved tossing toothpicks. You can learn how to play this simple game and learn more about it with a tutorial from the Exploratorium. Learning about Pi and its history through this game is a great way to liven up the classroom.

Watching Life Of Pi (Not That Pi, but It’s a Good Movie :)))

Why not switch gears from math and enjoy a different type of “pi” by watching “Life of Pi,” an award-winning movie? It’s based on a book about a young man who survives a sea disaster and finds himself on an epic adventure with a Bengal tiger. A Pi Day party includes people of all ages, as there’s something in this story for everyone to enjoy and connect with.

Pi Day Crafts and Art Projects

Make a Pi Day Chain 

How about this idea: assign different colors to numbers and cut strips of construction paper. Then, create chains by linking them together following the numbers of Pi. Each colored link represents a decimal place or a digit of Pi. You can do this activity in the classroom or make it a whole-school event. Just imagine the halls filled with hundreds of Pi’s numbers in colorful chains! It’s a fun way to bring math to life and decorate the school at the same time!

DIY Pi Day Bracelets 

Assign a different colored bead to each number, as we did with the Pi Day chain activity. Then, cut bracelet strings to fit students’ wrists, making sure there are different circle sizes within the classroom. Students can then place as many beads as they can on their bracelets. Once they’ve finished and tied the knots, challenge them to calculate the circumference and diameter of their bracelets. From there, they can calculate Pi using their Pi Day bracelets! How cool it is, right?

Wear a Personalized Pi Shirt

Want a fun way to express your love for math and your sense of humor on Pi Day? Try wearing a punny shirt! Some favorites include “Irrational but well-rounded” or a vintage Pi t-shirt. You can also develop your own creative slogan and use fabric markers to design your shirt! If you have your idea, you can head to a customizable store, like Loveable, choose a T-shirt design you like, and start personalizing it with your text. Here are some great quotes you can use to print on your shirt!

• Here’s to being irrational! Happy Pi Day.

• I thought I hated math, but then I found out about pi.

• Cutie Pi 

• It’s Pi Day, Pi Day, gotta get down on Pi Day

• I’m a bit like Pi: irrational but well-rounded

• Happy Pi Day!

• Sweet as 3.14159265359

• Come to the nerd side; we have Pi!

National Pi Day Activities FAQs 

Who invented National Pi Day?

National Pi Day was first established by physicist Larry Shaw at the San Francisco Exploratorium. Shaw, a physicist, organized a celebration with staff and visitors at the museum, including marching around a circular space and eating fruit pies to mark the occasion.

Why is National Pi Day significant?

National Pi Day is significant because it highlights the importance of mathematics and encourages people to appreciate and engage with concepts like Pi. Promoting interest in STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) projects and celebrating the universal language of numbers is also fun.

What are some fun activities to do on National Pi Day?

Some fun activities to do on National Pi Day include baking and eating pies, organizing pi-related trivia contests or games, reciting pi digits, exploring the history and significance of pi, creating art or crafts inspired by pi, and participating in math-related challenges or experiments.

Can National Pi Day be celebrated in schools?

Yes. National Pi Day can be celebrated in schools as a fun and educational way to engage students with mathematics. Teachers can incorporate pi-related lessons, activities, and projects into their curriculum, such as measuring circles, calculating pi, learning about the history of pi, and participating in pi-themed events or competitions.

Final Words From Loveable 

National Pi Day is a great chance for math enthusiasts to celebrate math and the special number π. You can bake pies, do fun activities, and learn new things. Whether you’re studying Pi’s history, playing trivia games, or just eating pie with loved ones, it’s a day to appreciate math in our lives. With us, let’s enjoy the day and remember how cool math can be!