Time - 24-hour clock activity - Planning

In the second week of the Summer term, Year 3 students embark on a journey to understand the 24-hour clock. The lesson plan is designed to introduce children to the concept of time beyond the 12-hour format they see on analogue clocks. The class begins with a starter activity that recaps the fact that a day consists of 24 hours, despite an analogue clock displaying only 12 numbers. Through class discussions and partner talks, students explore converting times past midday into the 24-hour format, understanding the difference between 'am' and 'pm' times. Resources such as analogue and digital clocks, presentations, and whiteboards aid in delivering the lesson, with vocabulary cards available online to support learning.

Students engage in a series of activities, starting with understanding that a time like 15:30 is not indicative of a broken clock but rather the 24-hour representation of 3:30 pm. Working in pairs, they count through various times on clocks to determine their 24-hour equivalents and use mini whiteboards for interactive learning. The activities progress in complexity, from filling out tables to identify patterns between 12-hour and 24-hour times to creating personal timelines of their day using the 24-hour format. The lesson aims to address common misconceptions, such as misinterpreting 13:00 as 3 o'clock or continuing the clock past 23:59. By the end of the lesson, students are expected to demonstrate their understanding of the 24-hour clock through various tasks, with differentiated expectations for those working towards the expected level, at the expected level, and at greater depth.