Math lesson plan · 3rd grade (Year 4 in England) · 30 minutes
Tell time to the nearest minute
Measurement
CCSS 3.MD.A.1England: Y3 Measurement
Objective and success criteria
Students will: Tell time to the nearest minute.
- I can answer questions on today's skill on my own, without help.
- I can explain each step and say why it works.
- I can check my answer and spot a mistake.
Before and after
Needs first: Tell time to five minutes
Leads to: Find start and end times
Materials: Rulers, scales and measuring jugs, Clock faces, Conversion chart, Mini whiteboards and pens, Printed student sheet (below).
Warm-up · 4 min
- Quick retrieval from earlier learning (Tell time to five minutes). Students answer on mini whiteboards.
- Show answers together and note who needs support in the main task.
Hook · 3 min
- Ask the class to estimate the length of the room or the weight of a bag before measuring it.
- Share the objective: Tell time to the nearest minute. Read the success criteria together.
I do: model it · 7 min
- Work through the example out loud, saying why you do each step, not just what you do.
- Example: Write "22 minutes to 5" as a digital time.
- Step 1: 60 − 22 = 38
- Step 2: 4:38
- Answer: 4:38
- Pause after each step and ask a student to say what comes next.
We do: guided practice · 6 min
- Do these together. Students try each step on whiteboards before you reveal it.
- Use the hints as prompts rather than giving the answer.
- Write "1 minutes to 3" as a digital time. → 2:59Prompt: "To 3" means the hour is still 2.
- Write "21 minutes to 4" as a digital time. → 3:39Prompt: "To 4" means the hour is still 3.
You do: independent practice · 7 min
- Students work on the student sheet. Circulate and check the first two answers of every student early.
- Students who finish: write a question of their own for a partner, with the answer.
The 6 questions are on the student sheet below, with answers in the key.
Exit ticket · 3 min
- Two questions on their own. Sort answers into got it / nearly / not yet to plan the next lesson.
- Write "23 minutes to 11" as a digital time. → 10:37Prompt: "To 11" means the hour is still 10.
- Write "12 minutes to 6" as a digital time. → 5:48Prompt: "To 6" means the hour is still 5.
Watch out for
- Measuring from the end of the ruler instead of zero.
- Converting units the wrong way (multiplying instead of dividing).
Support and stretch
Support
- Review first: Tell time to five minutes.
- Use concrete materials: rulers, scales and measuring jugs.
- Give the first step of each question, or a partly worked example to finish.
- Pair with a confident partner for the guided practice.
Stretch
- Move on to: Find start and end times.
- Explain a common mistake in writing and how to fix it.
- Write a word problem that uses today's skill, then solve a partner's.
Homework and more practice
Free online practice with hints and printable worksheets for this skill: eurekami.com/math/grade-3.
Free lesson plan from eurekami.com/lesson-plan-builder