Math Date: Celebrate Pi Day on March 14

That Is 3.14 - Get It?

Each year on March 14th, classrooms break from their usual routines to observe the festivities of "Pi Day" -- so called because the digits in the date correspond with the first three digits of pi (3.14). An added bonus -- Albert Einstein was born on March 14 (in 1879).

Here are some resources to help you get ready for the big day:

Ridiculously Enhanced Pi Page
Pi music, pi links, pi beads -- The Exploratorium in San Francisco offers everything teachers need to start their classroom celebration.
http://www.exploratorium.edu/learning_studio/pi/

A History of Pi
Pi has been around so long its discoverers may be untraceable. In the Egyptian Rhind Papyrus, which is dated about 1650 BC, there is good evidence for 4(8/9)2 = 3.16 as a value for pi. Students and teachers can read up on the history of pi at this Web site.
http://www-groups.dcs.st-and.ac.uk/~history/HistTopics/ Pi_through_the_ages.html

Pi Land
There's a cologne named Pi and a Maryland vanity license plate "Pi is 3." Read up on the other fanciful notions about pi at this site. Which digit occurs most frequently in the first 10,000 digits of pi?
http://www.eveandersson.com/pi/

Einstein and Pi…Sharing an Irrationally Good Day!
For a week of mathematics and science lessons celebrating pi, visit this middle school teacher-designed site.
http://www.evsc.k12.in.us/schoolzone/schools/evans/ pidaypp_files/frame.htm

Eisenhower National Clearing House (ENC) Pi Day
Instructional resources, gathered and compiled by ENC, include connections, Web resources, and activities for grades 6-12. http://www.enc.org/features/calendar/unit/0,1819,34,00.shtm