The Following Poem Was Written by Judy Digregorio, an 8Th Grade Mathematics Teacher At

ENGLISH ACTIVITY The following poem was written by Judy DiGregorio, an 8th grade mathematics teacher at Smithtown Middle School in St. James, NY in March of 1998. While trying to encourage her students to bring in a poem or recipe that involved pi or something round, her students exclaimed “How can you write a poem about something mathematical?” Undaunted, she penned the following original poem on the spot on the back of a 4 by 6 index card. It was certainly creative. Feel free to borrow her poem for your own activities, but please retain the author’s title WITH all copies of the poem as you distribute it so this isn’t later written by “Anonymous”.

The Poem by Judy DiGregorio Smithtown Middle School St. James, New York

The Poem By Thursday I need that poem about pi I feel so bewildered - I just want to cry Did she mean pumpkin or apple or Greek And where can I go, whose help can I seek

I’ll find a math genius, a scholar, a brain We’ll research this project - it will be a strain A pi nerd named Will or Howe or Salemi, Or maybe go on line - or eat some spaghetti

Someone who knows circles - radii and such Diameters and chords - oh that’s way too much Maybe the pi can be eaten not factored Just cut into eighths - that’s all that has mattered

Unlike the food pie the number’s unending It goes on forever - that’s the message I’m sending This poem is now over and pi day is nigh See poetry is easy…. 3.1415

by Judy DiGregorio