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Susan O'Rourke | March 4, 2024

On March 14th, people across the globe unite to celebrate a shared history and common language: mathematics! 3/14 is celebrated both as “Pi Day” and International Day of Mathematics around the world.  

Celebrating Pi Day/International Day of Mathematics in school creates opportunities to infuse global perspectives into activities across subject areas. Whether by teaching the global history of mathematical studies, bringing global flavors to the culinary classroom celebrations of pi, or even studying how students around the world are commemorating Pi Day/International Day of Mathematics, educators can help bring a slice of the global mathematics community right into their classes. 

The 2024 theme for International Day of Mathematics is “Playing with Math.” Organizers invite students and educators to “celebrate mathematical games, puzzles and other entertaining activities, but also [to play]’ with mathematics itself, [by] exploring, experimenting, and discovering.”  

The organizers also encourage students and educators to take a global perspective in a few ways: 

  1. By “[adding their] 2024 International Day of Mathematics celebration to [a shared] map” for others around the world to see. 
  1. By integrating world language studies and thinking about the theme’s meaning in different languages. Organizers explain that “[in] some languages the verb play means other things, like “performing” and instrument, or “acting” in a theater… [Reflect on what] other ideas….the theme [brings] to people’s minds in your language….when planning activities for your celebration.” 
  1. By participating in the 2024 Creative Challenge: “to add mathematics to an everyday thing or place and share a photo of your creation.” Educators and students can get inspired by checking out mathematical images created by students from around the globe here and the work of “Street Math” artists. 

This day also creates an opportunity for collaboration across subject areas and showcasing how interdisciplinary mathematics can be! Check out some of the opportunities to celebrate Pi Day/International Day of Math in your classrooms!