Stream of Consciousness about an Unschooling Math Experience

We were discussing circles.
I knew there was some magical truth about them, but what was it?
Measure a circle.
Measure its...diameter? Circumference? And then what?
Bo remembered.
He retains so many facts; I retain thoughts and feelings, emotions and memories.
"Measure the circumference of that trampoline," he said.
Kids grabbed the coveted tape measure. They all wanted a chance.
We all held on to a point on the circle, Bo, the Baby, Sweetheart, Monet, Houdin and I, steadying the measuring tape.
"Now measure the diameter," says Bo.
Again, they scramble, eager to get their hands on the measuring tape.
It's cumbersome, but they work it into submission.
We talk about fractions.
We talk about division.
We talk about multiplication.
"How many pieces of candy does each person get?"
We draw circles on paper, divide them, divide them, divide them until they are only hash marks on a page.
1
1/2
1/4
1/8
1/16
1/32
On and on and on.
We measure more circles, this time using the jumprope, measuring its half and multiplying by two.
We divide the circumference by the diameter.
Again and again, the answer is 3.14
A light goes on! And another!
Bo draws a symbol on the board.
"This," he says, "is PI."
BLING! "ARK!"
"What do you want from me?"
"I AM THE PIE!"
Stick figures on the chalkboard
Represent members of the family.
Four girls.
Four boys (counting Papa)
And that's how we discuss ratios.
1 girl for every 1 boy.
A ratio.
1:1
Four boys and four girls become eight people,
And there are more stick figures, this time the four-legged variety.
There are four dogs and eight people.
Each dog wants to walk how many people?
Be fair!
That ratio is 2:1.
And then there are more circles;
On paper with a pencil
On the hardwood floor with chalk,
with a brother in the center holding the rope
and a sister marking the circumference.
Out come the protractors.
Out come the compasses.
Upstairs goes mom, to log this moment.
Bounding up the stairs, a happy nine-year-old boy
And his six-year-old sister.
"I just learned PI," Monet states proudly. "I know what the sign for PI is!"
It's just after twelve a.m.
In this homelearning family,
We have PI at midnight.

Do you have some favorite PI links to share? I do.

Math Humor
Where does PI come from?
A World without Circles Writing Contest Winners from Math Cats