www.roanoke.com

When is it acceptable for fifth-grade students to nosh on pie before 9 a.m.?

Only a special occasion, such as Pi Day, of course.

Lynda Graves' math class at Clearbrook Elementary School in Roanoke County used the circular desserts to reinforce a lesson on pi -- the Greek letter that symbolizes the ratio of the circumference of a circle to its diameter.

Pi Day generally is observed on March 14 (to match the first three digits of the never-ending number with the calendar). Because it fell on Sunday this year, Graves' class celebrated Monday.

"Some of my students often say they don't like math or whine that math is boring," Graves wrote in an e-mail. "It's hard to compete with science and its experiments, and reading with all the creativity it allows."

Graves said she hoped Pi Day would show her students that math is not always dry.

Students brought in pies of all flavors Monday. From the freezer section, there were chocolate satin and turtle pies; from the bakery, blueberry and cherry.

One student's mother baked an apple pie that morning; the dish was still warm. The only thing missing was ice cream.

Isabella Lerch, 10, baked a s'more pie with the help of her older sister. The graham cracker, marshmallow and chocolate pie was garnished with miniature marshmallows in the shape of the Greek letter pi.

"It's a pi pie," Isabella explained.

Graves didn't simply hand over the sweet stuff to the students.

"To get a plate, you have to figure out the circumference," Graves said.

The pupils had to calculate the diameter and the circumference of a pie to receive a slice.

Sam Doyen, 11, had trouble making up his mind which pie to go for.

"It is [a tough decision]," he said. "There's so many different types."

Jon Rowe, also 11, said he took the early morning snack into consideration when he sat down for breakfast.

"I knew it was coming, so I ate a small one," Rowe said.

Before Graves finished slicing the pies and serving the 21 boys and girls, there were requests for seconds.

"How about you come back after lunchtime?" Graves suggested firmly.