Pi Puzzle for Pi Day
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This pi puzzle is the perfect quick activity to add to any Pi Day Celebration to instantly make it more fun and festive! Can you arrange the 9 squares into a 3×3 grid so that the puzzle pieces match along each edge?
The puzzle pieces include images of both pi symbols and slices of pie for some Pi Day fun!
My school is on Spring Break when Pi Day occurs, so I am making sure to fit in all my fun Pi Day activities this week.
Instructions
Cut apart the provided nine pieces and assemble them into a 3×3 grid so that the puzzle pieces match along each edge.
The puzzle grid is already pre-scrambled, so you can give the puzzle to students to cut apart if you wish.
Puzzle Inspiration and Similar Puzzles
This pi day puzzle was inspired by the classic 9-piece scramble squares puzzles which can be purchased with different themes. The goal of these puzzles is to assemble the pieces in a 3×3 square by correctly matching the edges of each puzzle piece.
Previously, I created a similar Valentine’s Day square edge matching puzzle with a fun math theme. This Pi Puzzle is much easier than the Valentine’s Day puzzle because the images have been placed at different angles along the edges.
Students should be able to solve the puzzle in a few minutes.
Prepping the Activity
As I mentioned earlier, the puzzle pieces have been pre-scrambled. If you would like each student to have their own copy of the pi puzzle, you could print a copy for each student and have them cut out their own set of puzzle pieces.
I am posting my pi puzzle on the dry erase board for students to work on during extra class time, so I decided to print and laminate 5 different sets for students to grab and take back to their tables.
I don’t know what I would do without my laminator!
MATH = LOVE RECOMMENDS…
A laminator is a MUST-HAVE for me as a math teacher! I spent my first six years as a teacher at a school with a broken laminator, so I had to find a way to laminate things myself.
I’ve had several laminators over the years. I currently use a Scotch laminator at home and a Swingline laminator at school.
I highly recommend splurging a bit on the actual laminator and buying the cheapest laminating pouches you can find!
Here’s my puzzle set-up. I put the instructions up with magnetic clips. Then, I put the bags of puzzle pieces in one of my handy dandy magnetic pockets.
I posted a copy of the puzzle instructions to hopefully catch the eye of my students when they come in my classroom tomorrow. I’ve also posted the Pi Day Pentominoes Puzzle, the Square Pi Puzzle, and a yet-to-be-shared Pi Day Number Challenge for students to tackle.
Originally, I planned to hang up a poster with the puzzle’s instructions next to the magnetic pocket, but the copy machine at school died today before I was able to get it printed.
I have still included the file for this puzzle instruction poster at the bottom of this post, though.
Jumbo Version of Pi Puzzle
When I shared this puzzle on Instagram, someone commented to ask if I had created jumbo puzzle pieces for it. They wanted to use it as a magnetic puzzle.
Why didn’t I think of that?
I created a jumbo downloadable version of the pi puzzle that would be perfect for putting magnets on the back (I recommend these ceramic disc magnets from Amazon!) or for putting out on a table for a group to work on.
The puzzle pieces print on letter sized paper and will be 7.5 inch squares. Alternatively, you could print them two to a page for slightly smaller squares. (They will still be larger than the squares in the original printable version!)
Free Download of Pi Puzzle
Pi Puzzle (PDF) (4257 downloads )
Pi Puzzle Poster with Instructions (PDF) (2144 downloads )
Pi Puzzle (Editable Publisher Files ZIP) (1181 downloads )
Jumbo Version of Pi Puzzle (PDF) (1781 downloads )
Jumbo Version of Pi Puzzle (Editable Publisher File ZIP) (1061 downloads )
Puzzle Solutions
I intentionally do not make answers to the printable math puzzles I share on my blog available online because I strive to provide learning experiences for my students that are non-google-able. I would like other teachers to be able to use these puzzles in their classrooms as well without the solutions being easily found on the Internet.
However, I do recognize that us teachers are busy people and sometimes need to quickly reference an answer key to see if a student has solved a puzzle correctly or to see if they have interpreted the instructions properly.
If you are a teacher who is using these puzzles in your classroom, please send me an email at sarah@mathequalslove.net with information about what you teach and where you teach. I will be happy to forward an answer key to you.
Not a teacher? Go ahead and send me an email as well. Just let me know what you are using the puzzles for. I am continually in awe of how many people are using these puzzles with scouting groups, with senior adults battling dementia, as fun activities in their workplace, or as a birthday party escape room.
More Pi Day Activities
- Pi Day Word Search
- 3-1-4 Pi Day Number Challenge
- Pi Puzzle for Pi Day
- Pentominoes Pi Symbol Puzzle
- Pi ku Poetry: Writing Pi Day Poems
- Pi Day Dice Challenge
- Ultimate Guide to Celebrating Pi Day
- Square Pi Puzzle
- Square Pi Day Puzzle
- Pi Clock Poster
- Pi Day Videos
- Seeing Pi Activity
- Pi Birthday Search Activity
- Pi Day Songs
- Tossing Pi Activity
- Cutting Pi Discovery Activity
- Pi Memorization Contest