Math. It’s a simple and harmless word. Why then does it cause such dread for so many students? More importantly, since it’s such a critical tool in school and business, how can you as a parent get your child to embrace math? Make it fun, that’s how.
If you’re looking for a fun way to get your children excited about math, try some pi. No, not apple, cherry or pumpkin, but the mathematical constant whose value is the ratio of any circle’s circumference to its diameter. You know, 3.141593.
Given that yesterday was March 14, or 3-14, why not celebrate Pi Day at home one day this week or next by participating in a variety of activities related to Pi. Courtesy of www.TeachPi.org, following is a list of ways to make Pi Day entertaining, educational and tasty for your children.
- Eat some Pi – Bake cakes, cookies and pies, of course, with a Pi Day theme.
- Memorize Pi – Sure we all associate Pi with 3.14, but the numbers go on forever. Hold a competition with your children to see who can recite the most digits from memory. Do this once a day for a few days to see who can get the farthest. Then celebrate with a slice of pie.
- Ode to Pi – Have your children compose an original song, poem or piece of art about Pi Day.
- Accessorize with Pi – Sure it’s a funky symbol, but that’s what makes it cool. So go ahead and decorate some of your children’s older clothing with the Pi symbol. Perhaps the new fashion statement will catch on.
- Pi Toss – Not afraid to get messy? Then have a good, old fashioned pie fight with your children. Toss cream pies at each other to see who has the best aim.
- Hula Pi – They’re circular. They’re fun. And they’re good exercise. Break out the hula-hoop and hold a contest with your kids. It’s not as easy as it looks.
When you’ve had your fill of Pi, find other fun activities to increase your child’s understanding and appreciation for math. For more information or for other helpful tips on making math more enjoyable for your child, do not hesitate to speak to your child’s teacher or visit www.familyeducation.com.
