I was in Washington, DC, today to visit with students at the Georgetown Day School. We had a blast, and the kids were among the most knowledgeable Fibonacci fans I’ve ever encountered. And no wonder! It turns out that for the last 13 years, this school has celebrated a Fibonacci Day, where they talk about all things Fibonacci.

Sometimes, they are lucky enough to have a visit from the old Maestro himself, Leonardo Fibonacci, played by a hilariously comic teacher by the name of Reed Thompson. Fibonacci and I riffed on the building of the Leaning Tower of Pisa, which happened when he was a boy. We talked about him taking that exciting trip to Algeria that started him on a lifetime of loving numbers, And we talked about the superiority of Hindu-Arabic numerals over Roman numerals.

It was a dream come true. And then, at the end, the kids and I serenaded Maestro Fibonacci with a song the children had prepared for the occasion.

The song appears here with the kind permission of its author, Georgetown Day School teacher Barbara Buonora. Please do not reprint it without contacting the school for permission. But you are free to belt it out at the top of your lungs!

The song is sung to the tune of “My Darling Clementine.” My thanks to Fibonacci, MaryLou, Rose and everyone else who made it such a memorable day.

The Fibonacci Song

Leonardo Fibonacci

Born in Pisa, Italy—

Most Talented Math’matician

In Middle Ages history!

1, 1, 2, 3,

5, 8, 13, 21, and 34

55 and 89,

One hundred 44!

These are just his infinite sequence—

Patterns found in sunflower,

And in pinecone, shell and pineapple,

Music, art, and even more!

Leonardo loved his numbers

And we love them, too, you see,

For without them, life is boring—

Thank you  Fibonacci!

“The Fibonacci Song,” copyright 2004 by Barbara Buonora, Georgetown Day School. Used with permission. All rights reserved.

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