A three-page Year 4 sheet on Roman numerals, built around a rule box and ten written mistakes. Pupils read the three rules, then correct numerals such as IIII, VV, IC and XXXXX and write each number in digits. Page 2 has three written questions, including why 4 cannot be written IIII and whether XC is bigger or smaller than C. Page 3 is the answer key. It follows England National Curriculum Year 4 number work.
Number - number and place value
“read Roman numerals to 100 (I to C) and know that over time, the numeral system changed to include the concept of zero and place value”
Pupils read ten numerals on page 1 that stand for 4 to 99, and question 3 on page 2 compares XC with C.
A box with three rules: no more than three of the same numeral in a row, V and L never repeated or put before a larger numeral, and I only before V and X, X only before L and C.
A two-part table of ten mistakes, from IIII and VV to IIX. Pupils write the correct numeral and the number in digits for each.
Three questions with writing lines: why 4 cannot be IIII, how to write 49 correctly with the tens and ones shown, and whether XC is bigger or smaller than C.
A table with all ten corrections, such as IC to XCIX (99) and IL to XLIX (49), and short model answers to the three questions.
Warm-up
Write IIII and IC on the board and ask pairs which rule each one breaks before they open the table.
Support
Pupils who need help can start with the repeat mistakes, IIII, VV, XXXX, XXXXX, LL and XIIII, and leave IC, IL, VL and IIX until later.
Exit ticket
Use question 2 at the end of the lesson. Pupils who write XLIX have seen that I cannot sit directly before L.
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