As a dad, I love any excuse to celebrate with my kids—especially when it involves learning and eating pie at the same time! Pi Day (March 14th, or 3.14) is the perfect opportunity to mix math, fun, and food into a day of hands-on activities that help kids appreciate numbers in a creative way. With four kids (ages 5, 7, 9, and 11), I know that not every activity works for every age, so I’ve rounded up some great Pi Day math activities tailored for different levels.
Whether your kids are just learning their numbers or already diving into fractions and geometry, there’s a fun Pi Day activity for everyone. So, grab a slice of your favorite pie (because let’s be real—food makes math better) and let’s make learning 3.14 times more fun!
Pi Day Activities for Younger Kids (Ages 5-7)
1. Circle Hunt
- Since Pi (π) is all about circles, send your younger kids on a circle scavenger hunt around the house.
- Have them find different-sized circles (plates, clocks, cups, wheels) and count how many they can spot.
- Take it up a notch by measuring the circles and introducing the words diameter and radius.
2. Play Dough Pi
- Give them play dough or cookie dough and let them roll out different-sized circles.
- Introduce the concept of pi = 3.14 by showing them how a circle’s circumference is always a little more than three times its diameter.
- Bonus: Bake cookie pies in different sizes and measure before eating.
Pi Day Activities for Elementary Kids (Ages 8-9)
3. Pi Paper Chains
- Create a colorful paper chain where each color represents a digit of pi (3, 1, 4, 1, 5, etc.).
- Let them try to memorize as many digits of pi as possible while creating a long, winding chain.
- Hang it up for a festive Pi Day decoration!
4. Pizza Fractions
- Order or make a pizza (because what’s a better Pi Day circle than a pizza?).
- Have your kids practice fractions by cutting the pizza into halves, quarters, and eighths.
- Ask questions like, “If you eat 3 out of 8 slices, what fraction of the pizza is left?”
- Bonus: Let them calculate how much of the pizza each family member gets based on how many slices everyone eats.
Pi Day Activities for Older Kids (Ages 10-11)
5. Measure Pi with String
- Give them a variety of round objects (lids, cans, Frisbees).
- Have them measure the circumference with a piece of string, then measure the diameter with a ruler.
- Divide the circumference by the diameter and see how close they can get to 3.14!
6. Pi City Skylines
- Get graph paper and have your kids draw a city skyline using the digits of pi (each digit represents the height of a building).
- For example, a building labeled “3” is three squares tall, “1” is one square, and “4” is four squares.
- The result? A cool skyline based on pi!
Bonus: Family Pi Day Challenge
- See who can memorize the most digits of pi—the winner gets an extra slice of pie!
- Let your kids design a Pi Day T-shirt with cool math graphics.
- Watch a Pi Day video or read a math-themed book together to reinforce the fun behind numbers.
Final Thoughts: Make Math Fun!
Pi Day is the perfect opportunity to show kids that math isn’t just about numbers on a worksheet—it’s everywhere! Whether you’re baking, measuring, or crafting, these hands-on activities will make March 14th a memorable day.
And if all else fails, just eat some pie and call it a win. 🍰 (Okay, no emojis… but you get the idea.)
Happy Pi Day!
