Pi and Poetry: introducting students to pilish

March 14th is the annual celebration of everyone's favorite irrational number. While doing some research on pi, I learned about pilish, writing based on the pi's digits. I was immediately intrigued. The key to pilish is matching the words to specific digits. There are special rules for 0 and repeating digits. During a meeting with one of my fellow teachers from the ELA team, I mentioned pilish and offered my first attempt:

Now I fret
A dream abandoned me
Sacred sleep hex

Thankfully, my fellow teacher didn't judge my poetry, but did think it would be a great supplement to the poetry unit. While I reviewed circumference, radius, and diameter, she completed a lesson on pilish poetry. Students had to write a poem that was a minimum of 10 words long. The results: impressive. The kids found it challenging and many rose to meet it. They even added decorations beyond the original assignment.

 

In a follow up meeting regarding the lesson, we agreed that students wouldn't soon forget those pi digits.

Of course, I am by no means an expert on pilish, but it's something I want to use again next year (leading up to pi day this time). The Guardian has a very interesting article on pi haiku. This week's challenge: write some more pilish!

Hooked on Hulas - Using Hula Hoops to Teach GCF and LCM

GCF and LCM are two of the more challenging topics we cover in math. Now that it's time for reviewing concepts for the upcoming standardized tests, I've decided to dust off one of my more popular math-tivities - Hooked on Hulas. I originally purchased a set of 6 hula hoops from the dollar store for a lesson on measuring circumference. While prepping the circumference lesson, I thought about other ways I could use the hula hoops. "Hey," I thought. "If I overlap these hula hoops, I'll have a Venn Diagram."

Using the hula hoops for a math-tivity on GCF and LCM is fairly simple. Add some note cards (I laminate note cards for repeated use), markers, dry erase boards and numbers, and you're ready to go!

Prepare pairs of numbers for students. Before beginning the activity, review factors, multiples, and prime factorization. Then, show students how to find the GCF and LCM using the hula hoop Venn Diagram.

After my first success with this activity, I borrowed more hula hoops so students could work in pairs. As an added bonus, I told students that they would be able to have a hula hoop contest at the end of class if they successfully completed their GCF and LCM assignment. Kids were happy. The lesson was a blast. They left the class telling others that "Math was fun!" It really paid off in their assessment on the topics. The activity has resulted in higher scores and retention of information.

Grab some hula hoops and have some math fun. Who knows, you and your students just may get hooked too!!!

Four-Leaf Factors: A Quick Review Math-tivity

I must admit that I spent WAY too much money at the dollar store today. With St. Patrick's Day and Spring coming, there are a multitude of inexpensive products available to help kiddos better understand math concepts. Luckily, the dollar store had a wide variety of shamrocks available in packs of 12 and 24. I think the clovers are a great way to do a quick factor review in mathematics.

Four-leaf factors in interactive math journal

The clovers are really easy to make. First, you need at least   1-3 clovers. It really depends on how many numbers you choose. You also need seven circular labels that are 3/4" in diameter. Press six circular labels on the ends of the petals and one label in the middle.

Using a marker or gel pen, write a number with a factor of 4 in the middle of each clover. Next, write the factor pairs of the number on the remaining blank labels. Time from start to finish is less than 10 minutes depending on how many numbers you choose.

Finally, attach the clovers to an interactive math journal or notebook with tape. Include a definition of factors. Cost for complete Four-Leaf Factors for a class of 24: $2-3!!!

Pi Day - Preparing for Review of Radius, Diameter, and Circumference

Somewhere in the world, the tau supporters are shaking their heads. Today, March 14th, is the official Pi Day: a celebration of all things 3.14. I am fascinated by one of the world's most famous irrational numbers. When teaching students about pi and its connection to circumference, its easy to slice and dice circles into a shape almost everyone knows: a piece of pie. That being said, students still struggle with understanding some of the nuances of pi and circumference, particularly when it comes to finding radius or diameter when given pi. As we prepare to begin review for state standardized testing, I use short review sheets students can glue into their math interactive notebooks. They use the review sheet as a guide when we complete problems or use math stations in class. I create them even though students have previously taken notes on the subject. They seem to connect with seeing the material in a different format, and it helps them focus on the review and retain aspects so crucial to test preparation. I'm curious about how other educators get students ready during testing season.

An image of the circumference review sheets