On March 14, 2025, the courtyard at Miami Northwestern Senior High School transformed into a vibrant hub of curiosity, creativity, and community during the Pi Day Math Playground—a student-led celebration of math and joy supported by the Bob Moses Research Center for Math Literacy through Public Education at Florida International University.
The event unfolded across two lunch periods and brought together more than 150 students for a hands-on exploration of math through games, challenges, and collaborative learning. At the center of it all were 20 student facilitators, including members of the school’s Math Honor Society—guided by math teacher Dr. Tysheika Etheridge—and students who regularly participate in the Lunch Time Math Help Desk. These young leaders not only ran the event but planned it from the ground up, designing an experience where math was both social and empowering.
Their inspiration came from an earlier experience at the Counted Out screening, co-hosted by the Moses Center and the Black Archives and Historic Lyric Theater. There, students encountered a Math Playground for the first time and returned to school determined to recreate the energy and engagement they had witnessed. With the mentorship of Sara Weinberg, a math interventionist and longtime Algebra Project collaborator, they took ownership of every element—selecting games, recruiting peers, and transforming the school courtyard into a joyful space for peer-led math learning.
The lineup of activities included Trip Cards, Rock Paper Scissors Multiply, The Winding Game, Math Tic-Tac-Toe, and a Pi-Memorization Relay Race—many adapted from the pedagogical legacy of the Algebra Project and the Young People’s Project (YPP). Throughout the day, the courtyard buzzed with excitement as students challenged one another, cheered each other on, and showcased the brilliance that emerges when young people lead the way.
Sara Weinberg reflected on the experience: "I am grateful for the support of the Bob Moses Research Center which continues to provide my students with opportunities to showcase their learning and take on paid leadership positions as Math Literacy Workers in training. These opportunities continue to generate student-driven engagement and ownership of their learning; in turn, I have witnessed a positive shift in many of my student’s math identities, voice, and agency. The Moses Center allows a spectrum of learners to engage in math together without a sense of hierarchy. Their voices and ideas hold equal value to be explored, critiqued, and developed."
The Bob Moses Research Center provided logistical coordination, Pi Day-themed prizes, and t-shirts for student leaders—support made possible through the generous backing of the Harry Kramer Memorial Fund. Pies, donated by the school’s math department and administration, added a festive (and delicious) touch to the celebration.
“This event showed what’s possible when students are given the chance to lead and to shape how math lives in their school. It wasn’t just about Pi—it was about power, pride, and joy,” said Dr. Brian Williams, Executive Director of the Bob Moses Research Center.
The Pi Day Math Playground stands as a testament to what happens when young people are trusted to drive change. It also reflects the enduring vision of Bob Moses, who believed that math literacy is not just an academic skill, but a gateway to full participation in society—and that students themselves must be at the center of this movement.