How Pintu Found Pi

Author: Sarat Talluri Rao is a writer and filmmaker who is rarely bored. He is curious about many things and enjoys learning and trying new ideas. He sees creativity as a way of life and believes that everyone can be creative. He also feels that people are made up of both stories and stardust.

Source: https://storyweaver.org.in/en/users/43819-sarat-talluri-rao

Illustrator: Aratrika Choudhury is an illustrator and research scholar. Her first comic strip appeared in The Obliterary Journal Vol. 2. She has regularly illustrated for the Bengali children’s magazine Sandesh. Her graphic story Zero is being published by HarperCollins in their Long Form annual.

Source: https://storyweaver.org.in/en/users/24991-aratrika-choudhury

Publisher: Pratham Books 

Year: 2019

Reading Level: Level 4

Genre: Mathematical fiction

Synopsis

The story follows Pintu, a boy who feels left out in his new school because he has no friends. One day, he finds comfort in numbers and meets a maths teacher, Mr Ahmed, who introduces him to circles and the concept of pi. Through simple activities like drawing circles and measuring objects, Pintu begins to understand that pi is present in all circles, no matter their size or appearance. Slowly, he gains confidence and starts to see value in himself. The story connects mathematics with everyday life while also exploring feelings of belonging and self-worth.

Theme / Skill

1. Basic geometry (circle, radius, diameter); 
2. Introduction to pi; 
3. Self-confidence and inclusion

Pre-reading

• Ask children if they have ever felt left out in a group. Keep it open and light.
• Show the cover and ask what shape they can see and where they have seen that shape before.
• Ask children to name objects that are circular like coins, plates or wheels.

During reading

• Pause when Pintu feels left out and ask why he is not joining the other children.
• When the teacher introduces the compass, ask children what they think it does before explaining.
• While reading the part about measuring circles, ask children what they notice about different circles.
• Draw attention to examples like wheels, rotis and coins to connect maths with daily life.

Post-reading

• Ask children what pi means in their own words.
• Give children circular objects and ask them to compare sizes and talk about them.
• Ask children how Pintu’s feelings changed during the story and why.
• Activity: draw a circle and mark the centre and radius.

Reflection

I loved how this story connects maths with real life. It does not feel like a lesson. It feels like something the child discovers slowly. The part where Pintu notices circles in things like rotis and coins is very nice because it makes maths feel familiar. I also loved how the story talks about feeling left out. Pintu is not good at making friends but he finds something he enjoys. The teacher also plays an important role. He does not rush. He just guides Pintu step by step.

The idea that a shiny hula hoop and an old tyre both have the same value of pi is wonderful. It shows that things do not have to look perfect to be important. The only thing is that some parts may feel a little heavy if children are not used to maths words like diameter or circumference. So the teacher has to slow down and support that part.

References

Rao, S. T. (2019). How Pintu Found Pi. Pratham Books.