Most kids do not typically look forward to math class, but their perspective changes on one special day each year: Pi Day. Pi Day occurs every year on March 14 because the first three numbers are 3.14. This day is also Albert Einstein’s birthday.

“This year is a special one,” said Kelli Knick, seventh grade math teacher at Charles Henderson Middle School, “because at 9:26 (today), the first eight digits of pi will be represented: 3.1415926. Math is an important core subject that is used every day by all people in all facets of life. If we can use a celebration to increase student interest in math, then celebrating Pi Day is well worth the time and effort.”

Knick wanted to make Pi Day fun by allowing her students to bring round snacks to class that they could measure, then eat once the assignment was over. She provided Oreos, while the students brought in other foods such as cookies, pizza and, of course, pie. The students also had to measure the circumference, radius, diameter and area of a paper plate, then decorate the plate. The plates will be on display in the school hallway.

“It’s really the only math holiday,” Knick said. She said it was the most public day for math people, and she celebrates Pi Day every year in her classroom.

Kristen Messick, an eighth grade teacher at CHMS, also celebrated Pi Day.

“We never party in math,” Messick said. “It’s a good day to learn about the history of math and where pi came from.”

Her students went full party mode with snacks of all shapes, not just round, and drinks.

They also watched a video about pi and did a graphing activity with the number in pi.

“It’s fun to do more than everyday problems,” Messick said.