The Significance of Valentine's Day to Math Teachers

For a math teacher, Valentine's Day has another meaning. After we finish with the party, candies, cards and romantic dinners, the calendar reminds us of another upcoming event. Valentine's Day, February 14, means that we have just one month until the mathematician's holiday: Pi Day, March 14.

Teachers begin getting ready for this event early. There are a variety of activities and teaching opportunities leading up to this special day. Granted this year's Pi Day is on a weekend, but it can be celebrated a day early just as we are having Valentine's parties today. Of course the significance of Pi Day being on the 14th day of the 3rd month is to help children remember that the value of pi is 3.14.

I like to read the book Sir Cumference and the Dragon of Pi by Cindy Neuschwander. (ISBN-13:978-1-57091-164-4) It is a fairy tale that establishes in a creative way the definition of pi. Other titles in this series include:
Sir Cumference and the First Round Table
Sir Cumference and the Isle of Immeter
Sir Cumference and the Great Knight of Angleland
Sir Cumference and the Sword Cone

Main characters in these books include Sir Cumference, his wife Lady Di of Ameter, and their son Radius who is half as tall as his mother. Children in fifth and sixth grades enjoy these books, but may not fully understand all the concepts. I have read them to seventh and eighth grade classes who enjoyed them as well.

So after all of the mushy lovey stuff of Valentine's Day, it's time to haul out the Pi Day materials and let the real fun begin!