Time and calendars

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Home : 2004 : December : 11

Time and calendars
By CK

We practice telling time throughout the day, every day, by actually using the classroom clock. Periodically I ask "What time is it?" Everyone looks at the clock and tells me the time. At the beginning of the year only
a few kids can do it but with ongoing practice more and more students are able to tell time. At first we practice time to 5-minute increments ("About what time is it?"), but now we're telling time to the minute.
I practice elapsed time with my students in the same way. If, for example, they tell me the time is 9:55, I may ask "How long have we been writing?" and then "How much longer

until recess?" I also ask, "If we have 20 more minutes for math, what time will it be when we stop?"

Similarly I ask questions using our classroom calendar--"How many days until...?", etc. I also have my students make a calendar as a Christmas gift--actually write the months, days, and numbers on blank calendar pages.