Elapsed Time Lesson Plan
Elapsed Time Lesson Plan
Introduction
The class has done some work on time, including using play clocks to show different
times. We’ve also some beginning work on elapsed time, using questions like “What
time is it if I start at a certain time and add 1 hour? A half hour? Ten minutes…” and
so on. All instruction has been hands-on, using Judy clocks. A next logical step is to
do a lesson on elapsed time that provides students with beginning and end times and
has them calculating the elapsed time.
My framing questions for this lesson are: What is elapsed time? What is the best/most
effective way for a third grader to determine amounts of elapsed time? How does an
instructor explain what elapsed time in language a third grader would understand
(that is also in line with the proper mathematical language for telling time, as
recommended by the NYS standards)?
My goals are to get students to understand elapsed time, as well as being able to
determine amounts of elapsed time using real-life examples (which I always prefer—
real life examples make it more likely that they will retain knowledge, in my opinion).
The standardized Math tests, which are coming up, do test for a student’s ability to
tell time and to determine elapsed time. What has been most helpful in planning our
lessons on time to ensure sound instruction, though, has been a series of
instructional books the math coach lent me.
Subsequent lessons would have them working more discrete amounts of time (5
minutes, 1 minute) to solve elapsed time problems (for example, determining the
elapsed time from 4:10 to 4:23; from 1:23pm to 2:05pm, and so on).
Setup: The teacher will have a large Judy clock available for his/her use, as well as
enough small Judy clocks for the entire class.
Motivation: Review from the previous lesson with class participation: Teacher will
ask what we did (figured out end times given start times and elapsed times), which
amounts of time we used.
The teacher will ask the students about some of their favorite TV shows. When do
they begin and when do they end? OR, use an example of a movie beginning at 5pm
and ending at 7pm.
There are no ELLs in this class but if there were Spanish-speakers I probably would be
able to get the ideas across in their native language. Bilingual charts also might help
students who are ELLs.
Assessment:
The teacher will assess student’s worksheets after the lesson using the attached
rubric for evidence of their ability to calculate elapsed time. The teacher will also do
informal observation during all parts of the lesson including independent work,
looking for accountable talk and making notes afterwards on individual students to
assess their understanding of the above and of what elapsed time is.
3 2 1 Score
/9