Quantile Tasks & Resources to Celebrate Pi Day
Rich math tasks are mathematically interesting, engaging, and challenging but accessible to all students. In celebration of Pi Day, we have listed some free math tasks along with the associated Quantile Skill and Concept and Quantile measure.
To learn more about rich math tasks, visit the NRICH Project. These activities can be folded into a teacher’s curriculum and instructional practice in a variety of ways. More advice for getting started can be found in the NRICH Teachers’ Guide to Getting Started.
A student’s Quantile measure indicates his or her readiness to learn math skills and concepts. Mathematics teachers can use a student’s Quantile measures to identify appropriate mathematics tasks that match their students’ abilities. To learn more about how to use Quantile measures to differentiate instruction, view the Guide for Tools and Resources on Quantiles.com.
Happy Pi Day!
Math Tasks for Grades K-2 – Focus on Circles
Water Color Circle Art
Author: www.messforless.net
Where to find: http://www.messforless.net/watercolor-circle-art/#_a5y_p=2204450
Quantile Skill and Concept: QSC 536 (Identify, draw, and name basic shapes such as triangles, squares, rectangles, hexagons, and circles.)
Quantile Measure: EM100Q
Fun with Balls and Hoops
Author: Ellen Booth Church
Where to Find: https://www.scholastic.com/teachers/articles/teaching-content/fun-balls-and-hoops/
Quantile Skill and Concept: QSC 52 (Recognize the 2-dimensional elements of 3-dimensional figures.)
Quantile Measure: 250Q
Fraction Paper Plate Pies
Author: www.piecesbypolly.com
Where to Find: http://www.piecesbypolly.com/2011/03/kindergarten-pi-day-activities.html
Quantile Skill and Concept: QSC 540 (Identify combinations of fractions that make one whole.)
Quantile Measure: 320Q
Math Tasks for Grades 3-5 – Focus on the Numbers of Pi
Make a Math Skyline
Author: www.whatdowedoallday.com
Where to Find: http://www.whatdowedoallday.com/math-art-for-kids-pi/
Quantile Skill and Concept: QSC134 (Organize, display, and interpret information in bar graphs.)
Quantile Measure: 480Q
Pi Day Necklace
Author: craftiments.com
Where to Find: http://www.craftiments.com/2013/03/pi-day-necklace-craft-for-kids.html
Quantile Skill and Concept: QSC 195 (Read, write, and compare numbers with decimal place values to the thousandths place or numbers greater than one million.)
Quantile Measure: 600Q
Math Tasks for Grades 6-8 – Focus on the Meaning of Pi
Stained Glass
Author: Illustrative mathematics
Where to Find: https://www.illustrativemathematics.org/content-standards/tasks/1513
Quantile Skill and Concept: QSC 254 (Investigate and determine the relationship between the diameter and the circumference of a circle and the value of pi; calculate the circumference of a circle), QSC 257 (Calculate the areas of triangles, parallelograms, trapezoids, circles, and composite figures in number and word problems.)
Quantile Measure: 1040Q
Trashketball
Author: Andrew Stadel
Where to Find: http://www.101qs.com/2008
Quantile Skill and Concept: QSC 1052 (Calculate the surface area and volume of a sphere in number and word problems), QSC 320 (Calculate the surface area and volume of a sphere in number and word problems.)
Quantile Measure: 1100Q
Math Tasks for Grades 9-12 – Focus on Estimating and Using Pi
Buffons’ Needle Experiment
Author: www.shodor.org
Where to Find: http://www.shodor.org/interactivate/activities/Buffon/
Quantile Skill and Concept: QSC249 (Determine the probability from experimental results or compare theoretical probabilities and experimental results.)
Quantile Measure: 830Q
Approximation of Pi Using Archimedes’ Method
Author: Dave Ebert for Texas Instruments
Where to Find: https://education.ti.com/en/activity/detail?id=7FCA71169B4644AEA6EF29CD8CE548FB
Quantile Skill and Concept: QSC 528 (Find the area of rhombi and of regular polygons to solve number and word problems.)
Quantile Measure: 1280Q
Two Wheels and a Belt
Author: Illustrative Mathematics
Where to Find: https://www.illustrativemathematics.org/content-standards/tasks/621
Quantile Skill and Concept: QSC457 (Find the area of rhombi and of regular polygons to solve number and word problems.)
Quantile Measure: 1510Q