Pi Day Activities: Middle School

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.

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.

Lesson .

Rad Reflection: A ‘Pi in the Sky’ Math Challenge

In this illustrated math problem, students use pi to compare the area of the Hubble Space Telescope and Webb Telescope’s primary mirror.

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.

Lesson .

Dam Deduction: A 'Pi in the Sky' Math Challenge

In this illustrated math problem, students use the mathematical constant pi to determine the water output of a dam to assess its potential environmental impact.

Lesson .

Metal Math: A ‘Pi in the Sky’ Math Challenge

In this illustrated math problem, students use pi to calculate the approximate density of the asteroid (16) Psyche and compare that to the density of known terrestrial materials.

Lesson .

Lunar Logic: A 'Pi in the Sky' Math Challenge

In this illustrated math problem, students use the mathematical constant pi to calculate the area covered by a laser used to detect frost on the Moon's surface.

Lesson .

Tubular Tally: A ‘Pi in the Sky’ Math Challenge

In this illustrated math problem, students use pi to determine the volume of a rock core collected by the Perseverance Mars rover.

Lesson .

Deadly Dust: A 'Pi in the Sky' Math Challenge

In this illustrated math problem, students use pi and data from Mars orbiters to calculate how much of Mars was covered by a giant dust storm.

Lesson .

Sample Science: A 'Pi in the Sky' Math Challenge

In this illustrated math problem, students use the mathematical constant pi to determine how many spacecraft contact pads need to touch the surface of asteroid Bennu to meet mission sample collection requirements.