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Name: denise morrison
Status: N/A
Age: N/A
Location: N/A
Country: N/A
Date: Around 1995
Question:
Can you please share with me a good activity to explain "pi" to children (ages 11-12).

Replies:
Although I have no "math-ed" credentials, how about trying some experimenta- tion like finding some circles or cylinders at home and measuring diameters and circumferences. Require a written response that includes a description of what was used to measure the circumference. Share all data and compare the various values of the ratios that should estimate pi. Ask the group to speculate as to the causes of error (a highly rated experience by me) versus a simple theoretic estimate like 3.14. Hopefully, calculators are readily available and allowed. Find some historical references, if possible, that emphasize the changes in estimates of pi that have occurred over much time even though the geometric idea has not changed. Finally, let individuals or groups (best if they can work) consider their own choices of other geometric shapes for which they might define diameters and explore the constancy of the same kind of ratio.

It could get interesting.

tee


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