Fun Pi Day Inspired Homeschool Math and Language Arts Activities

Most writers know that pi is always written lowercase — even at the beginning of a sentence. And pi (π) is more than a quirky grammar rule: it’s one of the most fascinating numbers in all of mathematics. March 14th (3/14) is Pi Day, and it’s the perfect excuse to make math genuinely fun.

Pi represents the ratio of a circle’s circumference to its diameter. It’s irrational, which means its decimal digits go on forever without repeating — 3.14159265358979… and counting. March 14th is also the birthday of Albert Einstein and Apollo 8 Commander Frank Borman, which gives you even more reason to celebrate.

ShillerLearning Curriculum Tie-Ins

Pi Day is a great opportunity to connect your celebration to real lessons. Here are the ShillerLearning lessons that tie directly into circles, geometry, and pi:

Math Kit I
Pre-K – 3rd Grade

View Kit

Math Kit II
4th Grade – Pre-Algebra

View Kit

Pi Day Activities for Your Homeschool

We have creative ideas for all ages — hands-on, literary, artistic, and delicious. Pick a few, or go all in!

• Explore math in literature with Sir Cumference or The Dragon of Pi
• Measure out 3.14 inches or feet of string and compare it to a circle’s diameter
• Practice making the π symbol in a quinoa or sand tracing tray
• String a pi bead necklace: assign each of 10 colors to a digit (0–9), then string beads in the order of pi’s digits
• Sculpt the pi symbol with playdough or clay
• Bake a pie — reading, math, and snack all in one!
• Use a drawing compass to create circles of various sizes and measure their circumferences
• Montessori matching activity using pi digit cards
• Work with fraction circles (the ShillerLearning Fractions Kit is a great option!)
• Have pot pie for dinner — because why not?
• Practice penmanship by writing out the digits of pi
• Read about famous mathematicians — Einstein is a perfect choice since it’s his birthday
• Research how pi got its name (hint: it’s the first letter of the Greek word for “perimeter”)
• Create a pi skyline: draw a bar graph where each bar’s height represents a digit of pi
• Take a field trip to a local pizza place and get a lesson on spinning the perfect pizza pie
• Find pi with circular objects at home — measure the circumference with a tape measure, divide by the diameter, and see how close you get to 3.14159…
• Write a pi wall border: tape strips of paper together and write out the digits of pi as a classroom border
• Host a pi digit memorization contest with family, friends, or your co-op
• Create a pop art–inspired pi wall decoration
• Write a poem, joke, or limerick about pi — an acrostic works great!
• Check out Pi Day Challenge or piday.org for online activities and community celebrations

More Ways to Celebrate: Alternative Pi Days

Pi Day isn’t just March 14th. Here are all the dates pi enthusiasts celebrate throughout the year — challenge your child to find another one!

• March 4 14% of the 3rd month has passed
• April 5 3.14 months of the year have elapsed
• April 26 Earth has traveled two radians of its annual orbit around the sun
• June 28 Tau Day (τ = 2π ≈ 6.28) — celebrated by mathematicians who argue that tau, not pi, is the more natural circle constant
• July 22 22 ÷ 7 = 3.14 — the most common pi approximation
• November 10 The 314th day of the year (November 9 in a leap year)
• Dec 21 at 1:13 pm The 355th day of the year, celebrated at 1:13 for the Chinese approximation 355/113