National Mathematics Day

To commemorate the birthday of the Indian mathematical genius Srinivasa Ramanujan, Mathematics Day was celebrated at Dr. Pillai Global Academy on 22nd December, 2015.

The day started with the school assembly being conducted by Grade 9 students, wherein they paid tribute to the great mathematician Srinivasa Ramanujan by discussing his life, struggles and achievements through a Power Point presentation. It was in recognition of his contribution to Mathematics, that the Government of India decided to celebrate Ramanujan’s birthday as the National Mathematics Day every year and to celebrate 2012 as the National Mathematical Year. The objective of the presentation was to create awareness amongst the students about the immense contribution made by this legendary Indian mathematician.

By virtue of a video presentation, these students also tried to underline another important aspect during the school assembly. It highlighted the utility of Mathematics beyond the classroom i.e; Mathematics is found in day to day life and experiences. It emphasized that Mathematics is not an abstract subject. It is really fun-filled and interesting if one links it to everyday life activities. A simple meaningful video supported this idea and conveyed the message to the audience.

After the conclusion of the assembly, interesting activities were planned for various classes. Origami session was conducted for Grades 1 and 2. The teacher demonstrated how a beautiful birthday cap can be made by paper folding. The kids followed the teacher’s instructions and appreciated how a piece of plain paper can be transformed into something useful. The kids enjoyed making and decorating caps using different coloured papers.

A puzzle solving competition was conducted for the students from Grade 3 to 8. A unique feature about this competition was that it was conducted on the school ground in open air. The idea of the competition being held on the ground itself thrilled the students. Age specific puzzles which were both educational and entertaining were designed for each class. Each class was made to sit in a circle. It was a beautiful sight to see the students spread over the entire ground, each one racking his/her brain to finish the set of 3 puzzles in minimum time. The idea underlying this activity was to encourage logical and analytical thinking in students, besides their regular school Mathematics.

The activities planned for Mathematics day were informative, engaging and entertaining. This made the Math day celebration a fruitful experience for the students at Dr. Pillai Global Academy.