Lesson Plan | Active Learning | Roman Numerals

Assumptions: This Active Lesson Plan assumes: a 100-minute class, prior student study with both the Book and the start of Project development, and that only one activity (among the three suggested) will be chosen to be conducted during the class, as each activity is designed to take up a significant portion of the available time.

Objectives

Duration: (5 - 10 minutes)

The Objectives stage is crucial for directing the focus of the class and clearly establishing what is expected for students to achieve by the end of the session. By setting specific goals, students have a clear understanding of what they need to learn and why it is important. This stage also serves to align expectations and ensure that both students and the teacher are engaged in the same direction.

Main Objectives:

1. To empower students to recognize the importance of the decimal system as the main numerical system worldwide.

2. To develop skills in converting between Roman numerals and the decimal system, both in reading and writing.

3. To enable students to solve practical problems involving Roman numerals, such as reading clocks or numbering houses.

Side Objectives:

1. To encourage students' curiosity and interest in the history and applicability of Roman numerals in everyday life.
2. To promote collaboration and discussion among students during classroom activities.

Introduction

Duration: (15 - 20 minutes)

The purpose of the Introduction stage is to engage students through problem-based situations that encourage the application of their prior knowledge about Roman numerals, laying the groundwork for practical activities in the classroom. Additionally, by contextualizing the relevance of the topic with everyday examples and historical curiosities, the intention is to increase curiosity and understanding of the practical and cultural importance of Roman numerals.

Problem-Based Situations

1. Imagine you are participating in a board game and need to move forward 15 spaces. However, the spaces are numbered with Roman numerals. How would you convert the number 15 into Roman numerals to be able to advance in the game?

2. In a history class, the teacher asks you to look at the date on an old document, which is written in Roman numerals. The date is 1715. How would you convert this date into the decimal system you use in your daily life?

Contextualization

Roman numerals, despite falling out of practical use as a numerical system, are still used in important contexts, such as in the numbering of book chapters, in movie titles, and in clocks and historical monuments. Furthermore, understanding Roman numerals can be an advantage in board games that frequently use this system, as well as in cultural contexts such as reading ancient inscriptions. Interestingly, Roman numerals are one of the few numerical systems that do not have a concept of zero, which makes them intriguing from a historical and mathematical perspective.

Development

Duration: (65 - 75 minutes)

The Development stage is designed to put into practice the knowledge acquired by students about Roman numerals. By working in groups, they not only reinforce individual learning but also develop teamwork and communication skills. Each proposed activity aims to approach Roman numerals in distinct and creative ways, ensuring a deep and applied understanding of the topic.

Activity Suggestions

It is recommended to carry out only one of the suggested activities

Activity 1 - Roman Numeral Challenge

> Duration: (60 - 70 minutes)

- Objective: To develop practical and collaborative conversion skills between Roman numerals and the decimal system.

- Description: Students will be divided into groups of up to 5 people, and each group will receive a series of challenges involving converting numbers from the decimal system to Roman numerals and vice versa. Groups will need to solve a set of 10 problems that range from simple to more complex, using pencil and paper.

- Instructions:

• Form groups of up to 5 students.

• Distribute an activity sheet for each group, containing 10 problems.

• Each problem must be solved on paper, showing the conversion calculation and the result in Roman numerals.

• Use available resources, such as lists of Roman numerals, to assist in solving the problems.

• After 30 minutes, each group will present one problem and its solution to the class, explaining the reasoning used.

Activity 2 - Building a Roman Numeral Clock

> Duration: (60 - 70 minutes)

- Objective: To apply knowledge of Roman numerals in practice, while promoting collaboration and teamwork.

- Description: In this activity, students, working in groups, will build a paper clock that uses Roman numerals to mark the hours. They will need to convert the numbers from the decimal system to Roman numerals and apply them in the assembly of the clock.

- Instructions:

• Organize students into groups of up to 5 people.

• Give each group a kit with materials for building the clock (paper, cardboard, markers, etc.).

• Start a brief discussion on the history and importance of Roman numerals in clocks.

• Each group will convert the hours from 1 to 12 from decimal to Roman numerals and mark them on the paper clock.

• After assembly, each group will present their clock to the class, explaining how they made the conversions and assembled the clock.

Activity 3 - Caesar's Code

> Duration: (60 - 70 minutes)

- Objective: To stimulate critical thinking and the playful and challenging application of Roman numerals.

- Description: Students, in groups, will participate in a cryptography activity, where they will use Roman numerals to encode and decode messages. The activity simulates the use of a secret code based on Roman numerals.

- Instructions:

• Divide the class into groups of up to 5 students.

• Explain the concept of cryptography and how Roman numerals can be used as a code.

• Distribute cards containing phrases encoded in Roman numerals that students must decipher.

• Ask each group to create their own coded message using Roman numerals.

• At the end, each group will try to decode another group's message.

Feedback

Duration: (15 - 20 minutes)

The purpose of this stage is to allow students to articulate and reflect on what they have learned during the practical activities, consolidating the acquired knowledge. The group discussion also serves to promote the exchange of ideas and mutual learning, as well as providing an opportunity for the teacher to assess students' understanding and clarify any remaining doubts.

Group Discussion

At the end of the activities, organize a group discussion with all students. Start the discussion with a brief introduction: 'Now that we have completed the activities, let's share our experiences and learnings. Each group will have the opportunity to present a summary of what they discovered while working with Roman numerals and how they applied this knowledge in practical activities.'

Key Questions

1. What were the main challenges you faced when converting numbers from the decimal system to Roman numerals and vice versa?

2. How can the understanding of Roman numerals be applied in everyday situations or in other subjects?

3. Was there any surprising discovery or curiosity that you would like to share about Roman numerals?

Conclusion

Duration: (5 - 10 minutes)

The Conclusion stage serves to consolidate learning, ensuring that students have a clear understanding of the topics discussed and the skills developed. Furthermore, it reinforces the practical and cultural importance of Roman numerals, encouraging students to apply what they have learned in different contexts. This final reflection helps ensure that the acquired knowledge is retained and valued by students.

Summary

In this final stage, the teacher should summarize the main points covered during the class, reiterating the importance of conversion between Roman numerals and the decimal system, as well as highlighting the applicability of Roman numerals in various contexts, such as clocks, chapter numbering, and historical events.

Theory Connection

The teacher should explain how practical activities, such as the board game and clock building, helped solidify theoretical knowledge about Roman numerals, demonstrating the connection between theory and practice. This approach not only facilitates understanding of the content but also allows students to visualize the real utility of what they have learned.

Closing

To conclude, it is essential to highlight the relevance of Roman numerals, not only as part of culture and history but as practical knowledge that can be applied in everyday life. Understanding and using Roman numerals can be an advantage in several situations, from reading inscriptions on monuments to understanding basic concepts in other subjects.