Time & Elapsed Time | Parent Activity

Dear Families,

Your child is learning to tell time to the exact minute using both analog and digital clocks, and to figure out how much time passes between events. These are skills they'll use every day! The activities below make time practice part of your daily routine.

Why This Matters for the FAST Test

The Florida FAST assessment tests both reading clocks AND calculating elapsed time. Students need to know a.m. vs. p.m., read analog clocks to the nearest minute, and solve problems like "The movie started at 2:30 and lasted 2 hours. What time did it end?" Practice with real schedules helps!

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Activity 1: Our Family Schedule

Practice with real daily times

Create a daily schedule together. Write wake-up time, meal times, activities, and bedtime.
Have your child write each time with a.m. or p.m.
Ask elapsed time questions: "How long between breakfast and lunch?"
Use an analog clock to show each time during the day.
Calculate: "You have 30 minutes of screen time. If you start now, when do you need to stop?"

Tip:

Post an analog clock in your kitchen and refer to it throughout the day. "What time is it now? When will it be 6:00?"

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Activity 2: TV Schedule Math

Calculate show lengths and end times

Look at a TV guide or streaming menu together.
Pick a show: "This show is 45 minutes. If we start at 7:15, when will it end?"
Calculate movie lengths: "The movie starts at 3:00 and ends at 4:47. How long is it?"
Plan a movie night: "We need to be done by 9:00 p.m. Can we watch this 2-hour movie if we start at 7:15?"
Practice working backwards: "Bedtime is 8:30. If we want to watch a 1-hour show, when's the latest we can start?"

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Activity 3: Kitchen Timer Challenge

Real elapsed time with cooking

When cooking, note the start time on an analog clock.
Read the cooking time from the recipe: "This needs 25 minutes in the oven."
Calculate together: "It's 5:40 now. When will it be ready?"
Set a timer AND watch the clock to verify.
Ask: "The cookies were in for 12 minutes. We started at 4:15. What time is it now?"

Make it a game:

Race to figure out the end time before setting the kitchen timer. Whoever gets it right picks the next snack!

Questions to Ask Your Child

"What time does that clock show? Is that a.m. or p.m. right now?"
"If it's 4:30 now and dinner is at 6:00, how much time do we have?"
"Soccer practice is at 5:00 and lasts an hour. What time will you be done?"
"You need to wake up at 7:00 a.m. and it's 9:00 p.m. now. How many hours until you wake up?"
"The movie is 2 hours long. Can we finish before bedtime if we start now?"

Resumen en Espanol

Hora y tiempo transcurrido: Su hijo esta aprendiendo a leer la hora al minuto exacto y a calcular cuanto tiempo pasa entre eventos. Esto incluye usar a.m. (manana) y p.m. (tarde/noche).

Actividades en casa:

Horario familiar: Escriba las actividades diarias con a.m./p.m.
Guia de TV: Calcule cuanto duran los programas.
Cocina: Use el tiempo de coccion para practicar.

Importante: Tenga un reloj analogico visible en casa y consultenlo frecuentemente.

Home Activity: Time & Elapsed Time