Begin your projects on roman numerals with an explanation of how the letters are actually used as numbers. However, some children will have an easier time mastering this concept once they put it into practice. For a basic project with roman numerals, have children create a sundial out of construction paper. Demonstrate how the Roman numerals correspond to times on a contemporary clock, making this basic purpose an illustration of the uses of Roman numerals.
Roman numerals can also be a way to help children perfect time-telling skills. Bring in several small clocks or pictures of clocks, some of which have numbers and some of which have roman numerals. Have children identify what time it is on each clock. You can even turn this into a game, where different groups of children have a series of several clocks and the first group to correctly tell the time on all clocks (including those with Roman numerals) wins.
Another way to tie Roman numerals into students' everyday life is to take the students on a field trip to a nearby city. Plan ahead of time so that you have the route mapped in advance, and take the students on a walking tour of buildings that have cornerstones with the construction dates noted in Roman numerals. At each site, stop and have the children work through the combination of numerals to arrive at the correct construction date for each one.
Older chapter books also often feature Roman numerals to denote chapter headings or illustrations. Bring in a selection, which you can find at flea markets, rummage sales, or even new in bookstores if the book has been reprinted. After having the children figure out how many chapters each book has, have the children write stories or poems in different sections, labeling each section with a Roman numeral and creating a corresponding table of contents.