Danielle Goldsby

Mini Lesson
21 March 2011
Latin is as Easy as 1, 2, 3...

Introduction:

In Latin, numbers are very similar, yet very different to English and Spanish. Therefore, it is important
for students to explicitly learn Latin numbers along with their similarities and differences to other
languages. Later on, after students have properly learned declensions, numbers play a huge role in
grammatical structures like the genetive of value and ablative of time when. Without knowing the
basic numbers, students will not be able to comprehend Latin properly. I will have already gone over
basic Roman numerals with the students. For this lesson, they will already know that there is no Latin
digit for zero. For Romans, numbers started at 1 (unus.) Also, I will try to draw connections between
Latin numbers and other numbers in other languages. It is a big goal of mine to constantly draw
connections for my students so that they can see that Latin is very much embedded in the world around
them. **For today, I'll only go over number 'unus per decem' (1-10)**

For the Activity:

The objective of this lesson is to help students feel comfortable using numbers in Latin without them
switching back to their native language. I'll teach each number to the class and then we will have a
math competition in Latin! I bet you did not think you were doing math on your way to Foreign
Language Practicum today.

 After going through each number with the students today, I plan to incorporate a math drill in the
lesson. I will divide the students into three groups (the number of groups can vary). I will explain
that each student will have to take a turn. I will read a question in Latin related to math. Then, the
first student to throw their 'Mus' (Latin nominative word for 'mouse') into the bin gets to answer. If
they get the question incorrectly, then the other team gets a chance. After every student has had a
turn, the team with the most points wins. When we count the points, we'll count them in Latin just
to reiterate using Latin numbers.
 A couple of things to help for teachers unfamiliar with Latin:
◦ Quot: 'How many?'
◦ Sunt: 'They are...' It's the third person plural form of the Latin very meaning 'To be..'
◦ Et: 'And'
◦ Minus: 'Less than; minus'
◦ Certe: 'Yes, correct'
◦ Haud: 'Not at all' (No direct simple Latin form for the English 'no'
◦ Paene: 'Almost'
 The students will already know other vocabulary. So, I provided a worksheet with harder questions
to show how this activity can be more complex for the students. This lesson could also be a great
introduction into further lessons which talk about the harder grammatical occurrences that I
mentioned at the top of the page. The reason I am doing this drill is to make the students more
comfortable using the numbers so that later on, when the grammar gets more difficult, they only
have to deal with the grammar and not still be learning their Latin numbers. I chose a game as my
method in order to hopefully make learning numbers fun.
 Latin Numbers Worksheet
Responde Latine: 'Answer in Latin' (Directions)
**As an example to teachers, I provided the answers and English translation for the first three
questions**

I. Quot sunt tres et unus? (How many are 3 and 1?)

Answer: Quattuor, IV, 4

II. Quot sunt quattuor et tres? (How many are 4 and 3?)
Answer: Septem, VII, 7

III. Quot sunt unus et duo? (How many are 1 and 2?)
Answer: Tres, III, 3

IV. Quot sunt tres et sec?

V. Quot sunt novem minus unus?

VI. Quot sunt octo et duo?

VII. Quot sunt quattuor munus duo?

VIII. Quot sunt septem et duo?

IX. Si duo pueri et tres puellae et duo parentes Romam iter faciunt, quot liberi iter faciunt?

X. Si caupo unum parentem necat et duo liberi, quot homines necavit?

XI. Si duae raedae Romam iter faciunt, tria cisia Romam iter faciunt, et unum plaustrum Neapolim
iter faciunt, quot vehicula Romam iter faciunt?

***The more difficult questions involve vocabulary from the Ecce Romani curriculum. I would use
whatever vocabulary had already been covered and explain in Latin, that I expect answer only in Latin.

Latin Word Roman Numeral English Numeral English Word

Unus** (1-3 have I 1 one
different forms)
Duo** II 2 two
Tres** III 3 three
Quattuor IV 4 four
Quinque V 5 five
Sex VI 6 six
Septem VII 7 seven
Octo VIII 8 eight
Novem IX 9 nine
Decem X 10 ten