Learning How to Read the Roman Numerals – A Lesson Plan for Years 3/4


Summary of Lesson Plan:

In this lesson, students will learn how to read the Roman numerals.

Australian Curriculum Links:

  • ACLITU038 | Content description | Years 3 and 4 | Italian | Years F–10 Sequence | Understanding | Role of language and culture.


Lesson Plan Sequence:

Orientation: 2 minutes

Focus: Students attention at the smart board showing the Visual Roman Numeral Converter.

Engage: Tell students today we will learn how to read and convert the Roman Numerals to Arabic numbers and vice versa through the use of a visual Roman Numeral Converter. Share with students that you’re going to give them the secret tricks on how to read the Roman numerals easily.

Introduction: 10 minutes

What Symbols are used for Roman Numerals? Roman numerals, as used today, are based on these seven symbols.

  • 1 in Roman Numerals is I
  • 5 in Roman Numerals is V
  • 10 in Roman Numerals is X
  • 50 in Roman Numerals is L
  • 100 in Roman Numerals is C
  • 500 in Roman Numerals is D
  • 1000 in Roman Numerals is M


Body of Lesson: 20 minutes

Remember these 3 steps on how to read the Roman Numerals:

  1. Memorize the basic Roman numeral symbols and their values.
  2. Start reading the symbols from left to right, adding the value of the current symbol to the total, except…
  3. If the value of the current symbol is less than the next one, subtract the current symbol’s value from the next symbol’s value and add the result to the total.

Now, let’s use the converter while learning the basics of Roman numeral system. Input the numbers in the converter while discussing the lesson.

  • C  – C means 100. The subtraction rule means 90 is written as XC. Like the X’s and L’s, the C’s are tacked on to the beginning of numbers to indicate how many hundreds there are: CCCXXIX is 329.
  • D – D stands for 500. As you can probably guess by this time, CD means 400. So CDXXXV is 435.
  • M  – M is 1,000. You see a lot of Ms because Roman numerals are used a lot to indicate dates. For instance, how do you write 1979 in Roman numeral form? Input “1979” in the number box of the converter. You will see that 1979 is MCMLXXIX.


*** The third step is what makes reading Roman numerals confusing at times ***

  • Input the number “4” in the number box of the converter.
  • Tell the class to look at the example showing how roman numeral 4 (IV) is broken down by the Roman Numeral converter…



  • What the the converter is showing is how the number 4 (IV) is expressed in Roman numerals as 5 minus 1. The value of the ‘I’ preceding the ‘V’ is what triggers that last rule, where when you read the symbols from left-to-right, if you encounter a symbol with a larger value you need to subtract.
  • Input the number “44” in the number box of the converter.


Here’s another example of the Roman Numeral converter’s visual representation of the number 44…


  • The number 44 (XLIV) is expressed in Roman numerals as 40 plus 4, where 40 is expressed as 50 minus 10 and 4 is expressed as 4 minus 1.


Exploration: 15 mins

  • Get certain students to try the Roman Numeral Converter and let them ask questions about it.
  • Distribute Roman numeral worksheets and let the students answer them.


Assessment Ideas:

  • Collect answered worksheets.
  • Use the Roman Numeral converter to check the worksheets.



Download all of the lesson-related resources below:




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