An illustrated scene of an asteroid with a cutout section, a satellite, and a space observatory on a desert-like planet. A computer screen displays density comparisons of ice, water, rock, and metal, analyzing the asteroid's composition.

Pi Day Activities for the Classroom

Pi Day Activities: High School

Use these Pi Day lesson plans, problem sets, and articles to get students in grades 9 through 12 learning about STEM. Lessons and projects are aligned to NGSS and Common Core Math standards. These assignments can be done in any order and in part or in full as schedules allow.

Lesson .

Habitable Hunt: A 'Pi in the Sky' Math Challenge

In this illustrated math problem, students use the mathematical constant pi to find the "habitable zone" around a distant star and determine which of its planets are in that zone.

Math

Grades 11-12

<30 mins

Lesson .

Coral Calculus: A 'Pi in the Sky' Math Challenge

In this illustrated math problem, students use pi to measure the water depth of an area mapped by the CORAL mission.

Math

Grades 9-12

<30 mins

Lesson .

Eclipsing Enigma: A ‘Pi in the Sky’ Math Challenge

In this illustrated math problem, students use pi to figure out how much of the Sun’s disk will be covered by the Moon during an eclipse and whether it’s a total or annular eclipse.

Math

Grades 7, 9-12

<30 mins

Lesson .

Pi in the Sky 8

In this illustrated problem set, students use pi to collect samples from an asteroid, fly a helicopter on Mars for the first time, find efficient ways to talk with distant spacecraft, and study the forces behind Earth's beautiful auroras.

Math

Grades 9-12

30 - 60 mins

Lesson .

Hear Here: A 'Pi in the Sky' Math Challenge

Students use the mathematical constant pi to determine what fraction of a signal from Voyager 1 – the most distant spacecraft – reaches Earth.

Math

Grades 10-12

<30 mins

Lesson .

Orbit Observation: A ‘Pi in the Sky’ Math Challenge

In this illustrated math problem, students use the mathematical constant pi to figure out how much data a spacecraft collects every day.

Math

Grades 7-12

<30 mins

Lesson .

Moon Mappers: A ‘Pi in the Sky’ Math Challenge

In this illustrated math problem, students use the mathematical constant pi to determine how far a team of rovers drive on the Moon.

Math

Grades 9-12

<30 mins

Lesson .

Force Field: A 'Pi in the Sky' Math Challenge

In this illustrated math problem, students use the mathematical constant pi to determine the force observed by a hydrogen ion trapped in Earth's magnetic field.

Math

Grades 9-12

<30 mins

Lesson .

Pi in the Sky 7

In this illustrated problem set, students use pi to compare the sizes of Mars landing areas, calculate the length of a year for a distant solar system object, measure the depth of the ocean from an airplane, and determine the diameter of a debris disk.

Math

Grades 7-12

30 - 60 mins

Lesson .

Whirling Wonder: A 'Pi in the Sky' Math Challenge

In this illustrated math problem, students use the mathematical constant pi to determine how quickly the Ingenuity helicopter's blades must rotate in order for it to fly.

Math

Grades 9-12

<30 mins

Pi Day Activities: High School

Other Pi Day Activity Pages

Grades 4-6

Grades 7-8

Grades 4-6

Grades 7-8