Time - Find durations of time - Planning

In Year 2, a lesson on finding durations of time serves as an engaging way for children to apply their understanding of hours, minutes, and seconds in a practical context. The lesson starts with a quick recap of previous learning, asking questions to reinforce the basic units of time. Using mini clocks with moveable hands, the class is encouraged to explore the concept of duration by identifying the start and end times of events and calculating how long they last. This approach helps them to grasp that duration is the amount of time between two events. The lesson is designed to be interactive, with partner work and practical activities that allow children to manipulate the hands of the clocks and count in steps of five minutes, mirroring the method of using a number line to count in multiples of five. This hands-on experience is supported by resources such as worksheets and presentations, and key vocabulary is reinforced through the use of vocabulary cards and definitions.

Throughout the lesson, children are prompted with key questions to help them articulate their understanding of start and end times, the method of showing these on a clock, and the calculation of event duration. The lesson aims to address common misconceptions such as confusing midnight and midday, understanding the 12-hour cycle, and the concept of base 60 as opposed to base 10 which they are more familiar with from place value learning. A 'Give me five' reflective exercise at the end of the session encourages children to consider what they've learned, the skills they've used such as counting in fives, any challenges they faced, and the strategies or support that aided their learning. Differentiated activities cater to various levels of proficiency, from 'working towards' to 'greater depth', ensuring all children are able to progress and understand how to find the duration of time from different starting points, ultimately enhancing their time-telling skills and their ability to visualize and calculate the passage of time.