This year's Pi Day activities centered around the theme of "Mathematical Footprints in History," showcasing the charm and depth of mathematical history while also sparking diverse interests in the subject among teachers and students. The vibrant celebrations not only enriched campus vibe but also prompted profound reflections and insights amidst laughter and joy.

Thorough Preparation, Bountiful Results

Since the beginning of the winter break, students have been actively preparing for various explorations related to the theme of Pi Day. The winter vacation assignments included a variety of options, with teachers encouraging students to explore the relationship between mathematics and history independently. Students engaged in research through various forms; some studied significant books in the history of mathematics and created beautiful A3 posters that illustrated the life stories of historical figures and their contributions to the development of mathematics; others wrote academic papers analyzing the background and impact of specific mathematical theories; and some let their imagination flow in designing scripts for historical mathematical plays and creating logos, paying tribute to the history of mathematics through literary and artistic expressions. These efforts laid a solid foundation for this week's Pi Day activities, showcasing the students' multidimensional thinking abilities and creativity.

Activities Launch, Fun Abounds

The series of Pi Day activities kicked off this week. Various clubs (STEMDoge, Math Club, Math Modelling Club, Chess Club) made their appearances, presenting a series of exciting activities. The online treasure hunt captured a significant number of students' attention with its unique format. A specially designed mini-program for Pi Day released fun math questions daily, allowing students to reinforce their math fundamentals while completing additional challenge questions by finding hidden QR codes around campus, enhancing their team spirit and competitive awareness. Meanwhile, offline gaming tournaments demonstrated the perfect combination of math and fun. Competitions in chess, calendar puzzle, Huarong Pass, minesweeper, NASA origami and so on not only enabled students to employ mathematical strategies in fierce competition but also sharpened their logical thinking and calm adaptability. Students experienced the charm of mathematics through these challenges, significantly enhancing their reaction times and spatial imagination. Accompanied by the spirited competition, the venue was filled with laughter, continuously conveying a love for mathematics. Fun competitions like Nine-Square Beanbag Toss, Soccer Goals Challenges, and Bucket Tennis Ball Toss engaged students physically while they exercised their brains. The event emanated a youthful atmosphere, with enthusiastic participation reflecting the perfect combination of "movement" and "stillness."

Big Day on Site, Grand Finale

On March 14th, Pi Day, the High School Math Department organized a series of wonderful in-class activities by grade level, conveying the joy of mathematics and history in unique ways. There were trivia quizzes on mathematical history, where students had to react quickly during a countdown, racing against time to reach the correct option area, creating a tense and lively atmosphere. This was not only a test of knowledge but also a competition of speed and teamwork. The "Minority Game" encouraged groups to brainstorm gaming strategies to choose the least selected option, fostering lively discussions and creative thinking. Interactive performance incorporating mathematical magic tricks demonstrated the wonder and joy of mathematics through students' astonished reactions. In addition to games, teachers and students jointly enjoyed mathematical history drama play written and performed by students, vividly recreating significant milestones in mathematical development. The traces of historical figures flowed quietly through each student, allowing them to feel the close connection between mathematics and history. Notably, Dora, the talented student who designed this year's Pi Day logo, shared her design concept during the in-class activities, allowing everyone to appreciate the fusion of history and mathematics conveyed in her work.

The grade 11 IB students also held a debate on the topic, "Is mathematics invented or discovered?" The affirmative side argued that mathematics is an invention, emphasizing its role as a creative tool for human thought, while the opposing side claimed that mathematics is discovered, revealing the eternal truths of the universe. Principal Ma pointed out that the debate reflected the dialectical unity of invention and discovery, encouraging students to explore mathematics with an open perspective. This debate closely tied into the epistemology taught in the IB curriculum, guiding students to reflect deeply on the nature of mathematics and its relationship with human cognition. Through the debate, students honed their critical thinking skills and gained a deeper understanding of the intrinsic logic and philosophical implications of mathematics, inspiring them to contemplate the essence of mathematics further.

Looking Ahead, Excitement Continues

As this week’s Pi Day celebration come to a successful conclusion, we look forward to the upcoming Math Reading Week. The Pi Day awards ceremony and book sharing event will take place on March 17 from 12:30 to 13:00 in the Reading Room of Zhongxing Building. The event consists of three parts: first, an awards ceremony for the top performers from Pi Day activities, where winners will receive selected mathematics-related extracurricular reading books to inspire further exploration into mathematics. Following that is a mathematics book treasure hunt, where participants will embark on an exciting journey to find hidden math books and answer questions to win prizes. Finally, the event will conclude with a reading sharing and book exchange segment, inviting some participants to share their thoughts and reflections on the books they read, encouraging everyone to engage in a book exchange within a shared atmosphere of learning and discovery. We eagerly anticipate everyone's enthusiastic participation to experience the charm of mathematics and reading together!

This year's Pi Day was not only a celebration of the mathematical holiday but also a deep exploration of the relationship between mathematics and history. Through a variety of engaging activities, students expressed their love for mathematics while continuously realizing the profound connection between mathematical thought and human history. We look forward to seeing students continue to pursue the mathematical footprints in history in their future learning journeys, writing their own brilliant chapters through exploration and creation!

(Written and Pictures by High School Math Department)