Time - Time to the half hour activity - Planning

In a Year 1 summer term lesson, students are introduced to the concept of time, focusing on telling time to the half hour. The National Curriculum objectives for this lesson include sequencing events chronologically, recognising and using date-related language, and telling time to the hour and half hour. The key vocabulary for this lesson includes terms such as 'o'clock', 'half past', 'hour', 'minute', 'hand', 'clock', and 'time'. The lesson starts with a discussion about the position of the minute hand at o'clock and half past times, followed by activities using mini whiteboards and teaching clocks. Students are encouraged to practice making half past times on their clocks and share their learning with their partners.

As the lesson progresses, children engage in a main activity where they draw clocks with all the numbers and set them to half past times. If resources permit, they can even create their own clocks with paper plates and split pins, which can be used in future lessons. The session includes reasoning exercises, such as discussing which hand moves the most around the clock. To conclude, children test each other on setting the clock to o'clock and half past times. The lesson plan is differentiated to cater to various learning levels, from those working towards the expected level to those capable of greater depth, with activities ranging from drawing clocks to making up their own times to challenge their peers. Misconceptions, such as confusing the hour hand's position for half past times or swapping the minute and hour hands, are also addressed.