Home›Lesson Plans›Mathematics›Number & Operations in Base Ten · Grade 4

Roman Numerals

Fourth graders learn that long before our digits, the Romans wrote numbers with letters, and discover the handful of symbols and simple rules that turn I, V, and X into any number they need.

Grade 4Roman Numerals50 minutes1 class periodGradual ReleaseExplicit teaching4 StandardsCommon Core
Start the Lesson
Assign or share this lesson
Share to Google Classroom Share to Microsoft Teams

Copy link works with Canvas, Schoology, Moodle and any other LMS — paste it in as a resource or assignment.

Lesson at a Glance

Everything you need before the bell rings

Learning Objectives

Students will be able to…

  • ✓Name the seven symbols.
  • ✓Add letters to build a value.
  • ✓Use the subtraction rule.
  • ✓Read a Roman numeral.
Essential Question

A clock reads XII and a movie ends with MMXXV. Those letters are really numbers. What do the symbols mean, and how do the rules build any value?

0
Lesson Phases
0
Vocabulary Terms
0
Standards Aligned
0
Interactive Task
Explore Roman Numerals · Interactive

Explore Roman Numerals

Project this and open each card to explore the Roman numeral symbols and the rules that build any number.

🏛️ Explore how Roman numerals workTry it

The Lesson · Gradual Release (I Do · We Do · You Do)

50 minutes, five moves

Tap any phase to open the teacher moves and student actions.

1

Hook — Letters That Count

5 min

A clock face reads XII at the top and a movie ends with MMXXV. Those are not words, they are numbers written with letters. How does the Roman system work?

👩‍🏫 Teacher Moves

  • Show a clock with Roman numerals.
  • Ask what the letters mean.
  • Set the goal.

🎒 Student Actions

  • Think.
  • Share.
  • Get ready.
2

Use — Explore Roman Numerals

12 min

Students explore the symbols and rules of Roman numerals.

👩‍🏫 Teacher Moves

  • Send students to Explore Roman Numerals.
  • Open each card.
  • Note the rule.

🎒 Student Actions

  • Explore.
  • Read.
  • Note it.
3

Modify — Build a Number

13 min

Students write numbers as Roman numerals.

👩‍🏫 Teacher Moves

  • Pick a number to 100.
  • Build it from the largest symbol down.
  • Check with a partner.

🎒 Student Actions

  • Pick.
  • Build.
  • Check.
4

Create — My Roman Numeral Chart

15 min

Students make a conversion chart.

👩‍🏫 Teacher Moves

  • List the numbers 1 to 20.
  • Write each in Roman numerals.
  • Add a real place you see them.

🎒 Student Actions

  • List.
  • Write.
  • Add.
5

Reflect — An Older Way to Count

5 min

Students reflect on Roman numerals.

👩‍🏫 Teacher Moves

  • What are the seven Roman numeral symbols?
  • When do you subtract a letter?
  • Complete the exit ticket.

🎒 Student Actions

  • Say it.
  • Say it.
  • Complete the exit ticket.
Standards Alignment

Built to the standards you report on

Aligned to the Common Core State Standards for Mathematics.

CCSS
4.NBT.A.2

Read and write multi-digit whole numbers using numerals, number names, and expanded form.

CCSS
2.NBT.A.3

Read and write numbers using base-ten numerals, number names, and other representations.

CCSS
MP.7

Look for and make use of structure.

CCSS
MP.2

Reason abstractly and quantitatively.

Differentiation

One lesson, every learner

Multilingual Learners

ELL / EMERGING READERS
  • Symbol value cards.
  • Sentence frame: “___ stands for ___ .”
  • Explore one symbol at a time.

Support & Access

IEP / 504
  • Start with I, V, and X only.
  • Build numbers to 12 like a clock.
  • Learn one rule before the next.

Stretch & Extend

GIFTED / EARLY FINISHERS
  • Write numbers past 100 with C and M.
  • Explain why IV beats IIII.
  • Convert a year, like your birth year, to Roman numerals.
Materials

What to gather

  • 📽️Projector / board
  • 🕐A clock with Roman numerals
  • 💻Explore Roman Numerals
  • 🔤Symbol value cards
  • ✏️Pencils
  • 🎫Exit-ticket slips
Vocabulary

Key terms — hover for a quick definition

Roman numerala number written with letters from the ancient Roman systemsymbola letter that stands for a number, like X for 10Ithe symbol for 1Vthe symbol for 5Xthe symbol for 10L, C, D, Mthe symbols for 50, 100, 500, and 1,000subtraction ruleputting a smaller symbol before a larger one to subtract, like IV for 4convertto change a number from one form to another
Evaluate

Exit Ticket

Preview the three formative checks. Tap “Sample answer” to see what mastery looks like — hide them before you print for students.

QUESTION 1
What are the seven Roman numeral symbols and their values?
I is 1, V is 5, X is 10, L is 50, C is 100, D is 500, and M is 1,000.
QUESTION 2
What number is XIV, and how do you know?
14: X is 10, and IV is 5 − 1 = 4, so 10 + 4 = 14.
QUESTION 3
When do you subtract a letter instead of adding it?
When a smaller symbol comes before a larger one, like I before V (IV = 4) or I before X (IX = 9).

Create: my Roman numeral chart.

Have students list 1 to 20, write each in Roman numerals, and name a real place they appear, so the system connects to the world around them. A printable Roman-numerals worksheet is in the Mathematics library.

Study · Flashcards

Study the key terms

Tap a card to flip it, then rate whether you knew it. Built from this lesson’s vocabulary.

🃏 Roman NumeralsFlip
Card 1
Term
Tap to flip →
Meaning
0

Nice work!

Practice · Quiz

Check your understanding

A quick self-check with instant feedback, drawn from this lesson’s key terms.

📝 Roman NumeralsQuiz
Score: 0
1 / 6
Question 1
0%

Nice work!

Practice · Worksheet

Printable worksheet

A print-and-go review sheet with a built-in answer key. Tap “Show answer key” to reveal answers, or print the clean version for students.

🖨️ Roman NumeralsPrint
Name: ________________________
Date: ____________

Part A · Write the word that matches each meaning

Word bank: convert, I, L, C, D, M, Roman numeral, subtraction rule, symbol, V, X
  1. the symbol for 5
  2. the symbol for 10
  3. putting a smaller symbol before a larger one to subtract, like IV for 4
  4. to change a number from one form to another
  5. the symbol for 1
  6. the symbols for 50, 100, 500, and 1,000
  7. a number written with letters from the ancient Roman system
  8. a letter that stands for a number, like X for 10

Part B · Show what you learned

  1. What are the seven Roman numeral symbols and their values?
  2. What number is XIV, and how do you know?
  3. When do you subtract a letter instead of adding it?
Answer key — Part A: 1) V · 2) X · 3) subtraction rule · 4) convert · 5) I · 6) L, C, D, M · 7) Roman numeral · 8) symbol
Part B: 1) I is 1, V is 5, X is 10, L is 50, C is 100, D is 500, and M is 1,000. 2) 14: X is 10, and IV is 5 − 1 = 4, so 10 + 4 = 14. 3) When a smaller symbol comes before a larger one, like I before V (IV = 4) or I before X (IX = 9).