This hands-on activity will see your learners using string and a ruler to measure the circumference and diameter of different sized circles in mm and using these values to ‘discover’ the value of pi. Finding the approximate value of pi through dividing circumference by diameter provides students with an understanding of pi as a constant value that applies to all circles.
Students will engage in an investigative process in section B, as they are asked to make some predictions about circles when they are given the circumference or diameter. This leads to learners forming formulae for both the circumference and diameter of circles.
This activity can be completed alongside your scheme of work and learning about circles or makes a perfect pi day activity; offering an insight into how ancient mathematicians discovered pi and highlighting the significance of this irrational number.
