tlh teacher’s little helper
Lesson plan

Non-Spatial Measurement: Time, Timetables & Duration

Teacher-facing plan: I do · We do · You do.

↓ Download PDF

Explicit teaching — I Do (~15 min)

1. 12- and 24-hour time WA6MMGN1

Model converting between the two systems: 1:30 pm = 13:30; 9:00 am = 09:00; midnight = 00:00. Use a clock to show the afternoon "add 12" idea.

2. Duration

A 24-hour timeline with 12-hour labels and a red arc from 10:45 to 13:20 marking a duration of 2 hours 35 minutes.
The "jump and count on" strategy for elapsed time.

3. Timetables

Display a bus or train timetable; model reading a departure and arrival and finding the journey length.

Guided practice — We Do (~20 min)

  1. Convert together. The class converts a set of times both ways between 12- and 24-hour formats.
  2. Duration jumps. Find several durations using the number-line jump strategy, including some that cross midday.
  3. Read a timetable. Using a real timetable, answer "which train arrives by 9:00?" and "how long is the 08:15 service?" as a class.
  4. Plan a mini-itinerary. Order a short day's events and total the time.

Independent practice — You Do (~15 min)

Worksheet/task:

  • convert between 12- and 24-hour time;
  • calculate durations of events (including some that cross the hour and midday);
  • read a provided timetable to find journey times and the best service to catch;
  • plan a simple half-day itinerary and total its duration.