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G1-5: π Day Celebration

March 15, 2023

March 14th is π day. It is not only a day to commemorate the ancient Chinese mathematician Zu Chongzhi calculating π to 7 decimal places, but also the International Day of Mathematics. Just as math lovers all over the world, G1-5 students of all campuses in SHSID also held various activities to celebrate this special day.

For the first graders, it is their first time to celebrate π Day! This time the fantasy adventure begins with making a necklace. Students need to arrange the beads of different colors according to the numerical order of Pi, hide the π in the beads of various colors through thin lines, and wait for others who also love mathematics to solve the puzzle. Three green beads, one blue bead, four yellow beads, one blue bead, five pink beads... The students carefully string the beads while comparing Pi. The mystery of mathematics is hidden in this thread and string process. On this special day, students hold thin wires in their hands to connect the mathematical world and the real world, and these beads carry their dreams and float to the future.

The second-grade students turned into "detectives", and the iPad in their hands turned into a magnifying glass in Sherlock Holmes' hand to find the hidden π. Round clocks, round lampshade edges, round cup lids, round pizzas... Students haven’t noticed that there are so many round objects around them, which helps them recognize this magical symbol: π. They were pleasantly surprised and couldn't help but share using the iPad. It turned out that the symbol that looked so mysterious was so familiar in real life!

The third-grade students completed an art rafting with discs of different colors. They put discs of different sizes together according to 3.1415926... The order is arranged in various patterns, including swirling, wavy, star-shaped, etc. Discs of different sizes and colors make the original monotonous shape full of artistic sense. The third-grade students would also explore deeper secrets of π through the diameter and circumference of each disc. A mathematical abstract concept has been quietly understood and deepened in many practices.

Fourth graders got prepared early. Each of them has been assigned a decimal place of π to draw a pattern to represent the digit. All their drawings were connected to make our corridor a digital ribbon of π. Students also celebrated the day in their own special ways. Some students baked delicious pies at home, some played the melody of π by converting the digits of π into notes, some imaginatively incorporate elements of π into their artwork, some have written beautiful poems on the theme of π, and others have completed sudoku in the shape of π...

Fifth graders started the celebration of π Day by learning about stories of famous mathematicians and meaning of π in nature. They made posters to show what they have learned about π. More excitingly, students carried out a measurement experiment in which they measured the circumference and diameter of different round objects and calculated the ratio of the two to see if it was closer to the value of π. The climax of the celebration is undoubtedly the final STEM mission -- the "Crazy" wheel. Students worked in groups to draw models, built a roller out of coloured clay and bamboo sticks, and finally tested the wheel to see if it was able to get rolling for more than 3.14 meters. To get to the success, students repeatedly adjusted the structure of the wheel, the proportion of materials and the angle of the roll. Cheers of excitement rang out from the hallway of the fifth grade.

The end of π Day is not the dawn of the exploration of mathematics, but the opening of a new phase of math learning. We believe that all G1-5 students will continue their passion in math learning, singing the songs of numbers, playing the melody of digits, and working out the beauty of mathematics!

Written by Yuanxin Wang, Chen Xi, Jenny Zhang, Yang, Qingjia

Pictures by Primary School Teachers, Li Siying, Xu Chunai

Edited by Serene Yang, Niall Keenan