Purpose– Students will be able to discover the meaning of pi, and how it is related to circles.
Materials-
- 10 circular objects per table group (Cans work best, or glass jars, plates, Frisbees, cups, etc.)
- White String
- Rulers
- Measurement Activity Worksheet
Directions-
- Place students in groups of four.
- Place the ten circular objects in the center of each table group.
- Give each student a piece of white string (long enough to measure the circumference), and a ruler or meter stick.
- Hand out a measurement sheet to each student.
- Review vocabulary of circles, such as circumference, diameter, radius, and proportion.
- Tell students they will be filling out the first two columns on the table only for now.
- Demonstrate to students how to use the string to measure the circumference of the circle using the string, and then placing it across the ruler in order to get a measurement. Also demonstrate how they can measure the diameter.
- Have students share objects, but tell them they each need to measure all ten.
- Once students have completed their measurements, have the students perform the calculations of dividing the circumference by the diameter.
- The students should see that the number is always 3.14 or close to it.
- Work with the students to answer the questions that are below the table.