Greater Atlanta Christian School celebrates Pi Day creatively

Each year, Greater Atlanta Christian high school students know to arrive hungry on the day their math classes celebrate Pi Day, which is March 14 (or 3/14). Typically there is a lot of blueberry, chocolate, and banana pie to go around for everyone, but Covid health policies have necessitated creative celebrations in lieu of the pie sampling. A variety of costumes and friendly competitions replaced the pie this year, and the fun seems to be multiplied instead of subtracted as a result.

In case you missed it: Mathematicians celebrate Pi Day to recognize the mathematical constant Pi. Pi defines the ratio of a circle’s circumference to its diameter, and its value is approximated as 3.14. The number Pi is irrational and does not end or repeat so it goes on forever.

Michael Washington, GAC high school math teacher, has a reputation for making the subject of math relevant, interesting, and challenging. Without “pie” as an incentive, he encouraged students to create homemade Pi Day accessories. Students met the challenge by donning Pi depictions on hats, sunglasses, shirts, watches, cameras, and ties. Senior Shayan Noorani wanted to decorate something circular for Pi Day and used a sharpie pen to count out 314 decimals of Pi on his tube socks.

Students also had an option to write a poem or song, including at least ten math terms. Sophomore Amir Barrie wrote and performed a parody song of Accountable by Marc Indigo, re-titled as A “count” able by Amir Barrie. “It took me all weekend to create the lyrics and make it sound right. I played the song on an online piano on my keyboard and sung along,” shared Amir afterward.

Mr. Washington summed it up with, “Mathematical equations help students differentiate unique or patterned trends, making judgments along the way. It’s a creative aspect that often challenges various strategies and hypotheses. Pi is endlessly fascinating and applies to geometry, physics, astronomy, and even Giza’s great pyramids. Who wouldn’t want to celebrate Pi?”

Source: GAC release