Time to the Nearest Minute
10 min
Narrative
The purpose of this Estimation Exploration is for students to make sense of times that would be reasonable with only the hour hand as a reference on a clock.
Launch
- Groups of 2
- Display image.
- “What is an estimate that’s too late? Too early? About right?”
- 1 minute: quiet think time
Teacher Instructions
- “Discuss your thinking with your partner.”
- 1 minute: partner discussion
- Record responses.
Student Task
This clock only has an hour hand.
What time could it be?
Record an estimate that is:
| too early | about right | too late |
|---|---|---|
Solution Steps (4)
- 1Observe the hour hand position on the clock→Hour hand is between 1 and 2, closer to 2
- 2Determine the hour→It is past 1 o-clock but before 2 o-clock
- 3Estimate how far past the hour→Hour hand is a little more than halfway between 1 and 2, suggesting about 1:30-1:40
- 4Record estimates for too early, about right, too late→Too early: before 1:20; About right: 1:20-1:50; Too late: after 1:50
Sample Response
Sample responses:
- Too early: before 1:20
- About right: 1:20–1:50
- Too late: after 1:50
Activity Synthesis (Teacher Notes)
- “How did you know that the hour was 1?” (The hour hand passes between 1 and 2 as the time goes from 1:00 to 2:00.)
- Consider asking:
- “How did you decide how far past 1:00 it was?” (It has to be a little past 1:30 since the hour hand is a little more than halfway between the 1 and the 2.)
Standards
Building On
- 2.MD.7·Tell and write time from analog and digital clocks to the nearest five minutes, using a.m. and p.m. Know relationships of time (e.g., minutes in an hour, days in a month, weeks in a year).
- 2.MD.C.7·Tell and write time from analog and digital clocks to the nearest five minutes, using a.m. and p.m.
Addressing
- 3.MD.1·Tell and write time to the nearest minute and measure time intervals in minutes. Solve word problems involving addition and subtraction of time intervals in minutes, e.g., by representing the problem on a number line diagram.
- 3.MD.A.1·Tell and write time to the nearest minute and measure time intervals in minutes. Solve word problems involving addition and subtraction of time intervals in minutes, e.g., by representing the problem on a number line diagram.
20 min
15 min
Knowledge Components
All skills for this lesson
Role Legend
Target
Essential
Supporting
Foundational
All lesson KCs
1 skills
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Time to the Nearest Minute
10 min
Narrative
The purpose of this Estimation Exploration is for students to make sense of times that would be reasonable with only the hour hand as a reference on a clock.
Launch
- Groups of 2
- Display image.
- “What is an estimate that’s too late? Too early? About right?”
- 1 minute: quiet think time
Teacher Instructions
- “Discuss your thinking with your partner.”
- 1 minute: partner discussion
- Record responses.
Student Task
This clock only has an hour hand.
What time could it be?
Record an estimate that is:
| too early | about right | too late |
|---|---|---|
Solution Steps (4)
- 1Observe the hour hand position on the clock→Hour hand is between 1 and 2, closer to 2
- 2Determine the hour→It is past 1 o-clock but before 2 o-clock
- 3Estimate how far past the hour→Hour hand is a little more than halfway between 1 and 2, suggesting about 1:30-1:40
- 4Record estimates for too early, about right, too late→Too early: before 1:20; About right: 1:20-1:50; Too late: after 1:50
Sample Response
Sample responses:
- Too early: before 1:20
- About right: 1:20–1:50
- Too late: after 1:50
Activity Synthesis (Teacher Notes)
- “How did you know that the hour was 1?” (The hour hand passes between 1 and 2 as the time goes from 1:00 to 2:00.)
- Consider asking:
- “How did you decide how far past 1:00 it was?” (It has to be a little past 1:30 since the hour hand is a little more than halfway between the 1 and the 2.)
Standards
Building On
- 2.MD.7·Tell and write time from analog and digital clocks to the nearest five minutes, using a.m. and p.m. Know relationships of time (e.g., minutes in an hour, days in a month, weeks in a year).
- 2.MD.C.7·Tell and write time from analog and digital clocks to the nearest five minutes, using a.m. and p.m.
Addressing
- 3.MD.1·Tell and write time to the nearest minute and measure time intervals in minutes. Solve word problems involving addition and subtraction of time intervals in minutes, e.g., by representing the problem on a number line diagram.
- 3.MD.A.1·Tell and write time to the nearest minute and measure time intervals in minutes. Solve word problems involving addition and subtraction of time intervals in minutes, e.g., by representing the problem on a number line diagram.