3 Easy and Effective Strategies for Teaching Elapsed Time

Teaching elapsed time can be a daunting task for any teacher. However, with a bit of creativity and out-of-the-box thinking, it can be a fun and engaging lesson for your students! Here are some tips and tricks to help your students master elapsed time.

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Use Analog Clocks to Visualize the Passage of Time

Analog clocks are a great tool for visualizing the passage of time. Have students set a timer for 1 minute and then observe the movement of the hands on the clock face. This will help them to understand that time is passing even when we can’t see it happening.

Another way to demonstrate the passage of time is to use Judy Clocks. They show the minutes and seconds passing as you move the hands of the clock.

Use Everyday Examples to Teach Elapsed Time

One way to introduce the concept of elapsed time is to use everyday examples.

Everyday examples:

• How it takes them to get to school
• How long do they sleep each night
• How much time passes during breakfast, lunch, or dinner

This is a great way to get students thinking about time in a relatable way.

Practice Elapsed Time Throughout the Day

Make sure to give your students plenty of opportunities to practice calculating elapsed time throughout the day. You can do this by setting mini-challenges throughout the day or incorporating them into daily activities such as lunch and recess. The more exposure they have to the concept, the better!

Write the time on the board before you leave the classroom for lunch, recess, or any other activity. When you return, write the time underneath the beginning time. Model for students how to calculate how much time passed between leaving the classroom and returning to the classroom using either a T-Chart or number line model.

Use Word Problems to Give Students Hands-On Practice

Once students have begun understanding the concept of elapsed time, you can introduce word problems involving different examples and times.

I hope you’ve found these tips helpful and given you some new ideas for teaching elapsed time in your classroom. Remember, the key is making it fun and engaging for your students while providing plenty of practice opportunities. Have you tried any of these methods? Let me know how it goes!

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