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Middle School Section｜Pi Day

March 19, 2024

On March 14th, the long-awaited Pi Day carnival arrived at SHSID middle school! The theme for this years’ Pi Day was 'Mathematics, Philosophy, Life', in hopes of sharing the ideology that mathematics is not just a subject, but an observation angle for the world. The diverse range of activities aim to guide students in discovering the beauty of mathematics in everyday life. Teachers paid careful attention in designing and arranging interesting games. There were games about calculation, such as the classic 2048, 24 points, searching patterns, and Sudoku, which is popular among students. There were also games that encouraged the students to think deeply and critically, such as matchstick arrangement, watersort puzzles, remembering “n”, maze searching, and the famous Burr puzzle. In addition, there were some multiplayer games, like Hop Ching Checker Game, Rummikub, and Tic-Tac-Toe and Connect Five which tested the students’ strategy and thinking.

After understanding the rules in advance, the students were fully prepared to meet the challenge. The sixth and seventh-grade students in Zhongxing Building moved in and out of different classrooms and participated in different games. Each student had their own passport, and they could earn a corresponding number of stamps after successfully completing each game. The top eight students with the most stamps from each class recieved a grand prize! The prizes were carefully prepared by the mathematics department's teachers. Prize or not, all of the students positively participated in games, applying various interesting arithmetic methods in the process.

In Zhentao Building, the eighth-grade students also excitedly wove in between classrooms in order to explore game solutions and encourage each other. Some "Math Mentor" students stayed in their classrooms to teach rules and patiently give tips to other students. These “mentors” shared their wisdom through both mathematical logic and everyday life details as examples. All of the students enjoyed themselves thoroughly, collectively exploring the joy of mathematics. Sometimes, the teachers also joined in the games with students, working together to conquer the puzzle, and enjoying the happiness of solving head-scratching challenges.

This year, we also added a special "π" collage activity. The teachers instructed each student to find a quote from a book or movie in advance, write it down on a piece of paper, and design it into an icon resembling a flying dragon. Together, the teachers and students arranged these icons as scales on a giant "π" pattern in front of the Zhongxing Building. This "π" composed of dragons embodies not only mathematical significance but also reflects the understanding of the beauty of life's mathematical principles by both teachers and students. This "π" made up of miniature dragons was rich in color, unique in design and full of creativity, and showcased the students' innovative creativity.

Pi Day concluded with the bell. Though the day is over, the lessons will be long-lasting: the students cultivated patience, observational skills, and logical thinking abilities while solving problems. They learned to break conventional thinking, help each other, and apply creative ideas to solve problems. The “π” collage activity also showcased the students’ imagination and creativity.

Through exploring the mysteries of mathematics and becoming independent thinkers and learners, the students gained a wonderful learning experience on this celebratory day!

Written by 8-11 Maggie，Zhang Xinyi

Supervised by Zhang Xinyi

Pictures by Teachers of Middle School Section

Edited by Cong Luo, Bianca Noguera