If 3 = III and 5 = V what does 0 =?

If Roman numerals were that wonderful, how come we stopped using them?

Roman numerals were something of a failure. To a fair degree they worked, but they were extremely cumbersome for one very particular reason.

They didn’t quite grasp the importance of nothing and thus there was no zero.

Nevertheless Roman numerals still continue to intrigue. For years they would be used on the credits to show the date that a TV programme was made – indeed some production companies still do this.

Books with prefaces still use them sometimes, as do analogue clocks where the maker wishes to give an impression of history and hence, perhaps, value.

However, they are curious, and for most children it does take the establishment of the difference between Roman and Arabic numerals and the totally odd concept of “nothing” to show pupils exactly why “nothing” is so important.

Indeed it is the conundrum of nothing that has led us to develop a KS2 Roman Numerals resource which contains a range of engaging activities to help pupils to easily identify their meaning.

The activity book covers the following for each year group:

  • Year 3 – learning Roman numerals from 1 to 12 (I to XII)
  • Year 4 – learning Roman numerals from 1 to 100 (I to C)
  • Year 5 – learning Roman numerals from 1 to 1000 (I to M)

What’s more, notes for teachers, discussion pages, information sheets and photocopiable activities are also included.

This resource is available as a book, a download, or on CD, and you can view free sample pages on our website.

If you would like to know more please call us on 01772 863158 or email us at sales@topical-resources.co.uk

You can order the Roman Numerals Activity Book in any of these ways:

Topical Resources
P.O. Box329
Broughton
Preston
Lancashire
PR3 5LT

www.topical-resources.co.uk
sales@topical-resources.co.uk
You can follow us on Twitter @topicalr 

Tel: 01772 863158