Math lesson plan · 2nd grade (Year 3 in England) · 45 minutes
Quarter past and quarter to
Measurement
CCSS 2.MD.C.7England: Y2 Measurement
Objective and success criteria
Students will: Quarter past and quarter to.
- 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 the time to the half hour
Leads to: Say times to five minutes using past and to
Materials: Rulers, scales and measuring jugs, Clock faces, Conversion chart, Mini whiteboards and pens, Printed student sheet (below).
Warm-up · 5 min
- Quick retrieval from earlier learning (Tell the time to the half hour). Students answer on mini whiteboards.
- Show answers together and note who needs support in the main task.
Hook · 5 min
- Ask the class to estimate the length of the room or the weight of a bag before measuring it.
- Share the objective: Quarter past and quarter to. Read the success criteria together.
I do: model it · 10 min
- Work through the example out loud, saying why you do each step, not just what you do.
- Example: Write "quarter past 10" as a digital time, like 4:15.
- Step 1: 10:15
- Answer: 10:15
- Pause after each step and ask a student to say what comes next.
We do: guided practice · 10 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 "quarter to 6" as a digital time, like 4:15. → 5:45Prompt: Quarter past = 15 minutes after the hour.
- Mateo sees 2:45 and says it is "quarter to 2". What should Mateo say? (quarter past 3 / quarter to 3 / quarter past 2 / half past 2) → quarter to 3Prompt: At 2:45, which hour is coming next?
You do: independent practice · 10 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 8 questions are on the student sheet below, with answers in the key.
Exit ticket · 5 min
- Two questions on their own. Sort answers into got it / nearly / not yet to plan the next lesson.
- Leo sees 3:45 and says it is "quarter to 3". What should Leo say? (quarter past 4 / quarter to 4 / half past 3 / quarter past 3) → quarter to 4Prompt: At 3:45, which hour is coming next?
- Write "quarter past 6" as a digital time, like 4:15. → 6:15Prompt: Quarter past = 15 minutes after the hour.
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 the time to the half hour.
- 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: Say times to five minutes using past and to.
- 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-2.
Free lesson plan from eurekami.com/lesson-plan-builder