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Lesson 3 of 7

Estimate and compare the duration of events and tasks

I can estimate and compare the duration of events and tasks

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View unit
Lesson 3 of 7
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Estimate and compare the duration of events and tasks

I can estimate and compare the duration of events and tasks

Download all

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Lesson details

Key learning points

  1. Estimating and comparing can be used when considering how long different activities might take.
  2. Adding and subtracting skills might be used when working out intervals or durations.

Keywords

  • Interval - What is between two values or points. For example, the time between 9:00 and 9:15

Common misconception

Pupils need to be confident with the addition and subtraction of two digit numbers to other two digit numbers to be able to work out intervals or calculate using the intervals.

The idea of using tracing paper to create 15 minute, 30 minute and 45 minute time intervals is suggested and modelled. This can support the arithmetic in the lesson along with counting in 5s around the clock face.

You might want to use simple timers for 1 and 5 minutes or find a timer or alarm clock to give a feeling of durations across the day. There is a lesson on seconds later in the unit. Stopwatches are not used due to the complication of time recorded in decimal notation and the mix of base 60 and 10
Teacher tip

Licence

This content is © Oak National Academy Limited (2025), licensed on Open Government Licence version 3.0 except where otherwise stated. See Oak's terms & conditions (Collection 2).

Lesson video

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Prior knowledge starter quiz

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6 Questions

Q1.
Order these time intervals from shortest to longest.

1 - one minute
2 - quarter of an hour
3 - half an hour
4 - one hour

Q2.
How many minutes are there in one hour? There are minutes in one hour.

Correct Answer: 60, sixty

Q3.
10 + 35 =

Correct Answer: 45, 45., forty-five, forty five

Q4.
How many minutes are there in three quarters of an hour? There are minutes in three quarters of an hour.

Correct Answer: 45, 45., forty-five, forty five

Q5.
25 + 15 =

Correct Answer: 40, 40., forty, Forty

Q6.
50 − 15 =

Correct Answer: 35, 35., thirty-five, thirty five

Assessment exit quiz

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6 Questions

Q1.
Match the time intervals.

Correct Answer:15 minutes,quarter of an hour

quarter of an hour

Correct Answer:30 minutes ,half an hour

half an hour

Correct Answer:45 minutes ,three quarters of an hour

three quarters of an hour

Q2.
Match the activity with a sensible estimate about how long it might take.

Correct Answer:Brushing teeth ,3 minutes

3 minutes

Correct Answer:Walk a mile ,30 minutes

30 minutes

Correct Answer:PE lesson,1 hour

1 hour

Q3.
What time interval is being shown here?

An image in a quiz
3 minutes
9 minutes
Correct answer: 15 minutes
30 minutes

Q4.
Pedro started swimming at half past 9 and it took him 20 minutes. What time did he finish?

10 minutes past 9
Correct answer: 10 minutes to 10
10 o'clock

Q5.
Pedro finished swimming at quarter to 11 and it took him 20 minutes. What time did he start?

5 past 11
Correct answer: 25 minutes past 10
25 minutes to 10

Q6.
What time interval is being shown here? Select all of the options that apply.

An image in a quiz
6 minutes
Quarter of an hour
Correct answer: 30 minutes
Correct answer: Half an hour

Lesson appears in

UnitMaths / Tell the time to the nearest minute and compare units of time

Maths

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