Telling Quarter To

Overview

This 30-minute lesson plan is designed for Year 2 students to develop their ability to tell the time focusing primarily on “quarter to” times, aligned with the National Curriculum for England (Mathematics Key Stage 1: Year 2 - Reading the time to the nearest 5 minutes, including quarter past/to).

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Curriculum Links

• Mathematics KS1 – Year 2:

• Tell and write the time to five minutes, including quarter past/to the hour and draw the hands on a clock face to show these times.

• Pupils should be taught to read, write and convert time between analogue and digital 12-hour clocks.

• Learning Objectives:

• Most pupils will: Tell the time to quarter to the hour on analogue clocks.

• Some pupils will consolidate: Tell time to o’clock, half past, and quarter past independently.

• Pupils develop teamwork, reasoning, and communication skills through partner activities.

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Resources

• PowerPoint presentation (8 slides)
• Mini whiteboards and pens (1 per child)
• Mini clocks (1 between 2 pupils)
• Word bank sheet with time-related vocabulary
• Reminder sheet with visual cues for “quarter to”
• Time matching activity (for pupils focusing on o’clock, half past, quarter past)

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Lesson Plan

Slide 1: Title Slide

• Content: “Quarter to”
• Visual: Simple clock face showing “quarter to” time (e.g., 4:45)
• Teacher says: Today we will learn how to tell the time when the clock says “quarter to” the hour.

Slide 2: Recap Prior Knowledge

• Content:
• Show images of clocks with o’clock, half past, and quarter past.
• Quick review questions aloud: “What time is this?”
• Teacher models quick responses to build confidence.
• Whole class discussion to refresh previously learnt times.

Slide 3: Introduction of “Quarter To”

• Content:
• Definition: “Quarter to means 15 minutes before the next hour.”
• Clock diagram split into four quarters, highlighting the last quarter.
• Example: “Quarter to 5 means 15 minutes until 5 o’clock (4:45).”
• Teacher models phrase: “It is quarter to five.”

Slide 4: Hands on the Clock

• Content:
• Show clock face with the minute hand on 9 and hour hand just before the next hour.
• Explanation: “The minute hand points at 9, because it is 15 minutes before the hour.”
• Ask pupils to say the time shown aloud, e.g., “quarter to 6.”
• Use mini clocks for pairs to replicate this setting.

Slide 5: Guided Practice with Mini Whiteboards

• Activity:
• Teacher calls out random “quarter to” times (e.g., “Quarter to 7”), pupils write time in numbers on whiteboards and show.
• Also, pupils draw the hands on a clock face.
• Provide immediate feedback and corrections as needed.

Slide 6: Differentiated Activity Setup

• Content:
• Split class into two groups:
• Majority (22 pupils): Hands-on “quarter to” practice using mini clocks.
• Eight pupils: Consolidation activity using time matching cards with o'clock, quarter past, and half past times.
• Introduce word bank and reminder sheet for advanced group to support learning independently.

Slide 7: Group Task

• Quarter To Group (22 pupils):
• In pairs with mini clocks, children take turns setting and reading “quarter to” times called out by peers or teacher.
• Use mini whiteboards to write digital time matching analogue time on clock.
• Encourage them to explain why it’s “quarter to” the hour in full sentences.
• Consolidation Group (8 pupils):
• Complete time matching activity cards.
• Use word bank to compose simple sentences describing times they match.
• Use reminder sheet to check clock hand positions.

Slide 8: Plenary and Assessment

• Content:
• Whole class share back: Several pupils from each group say a “quarter to” time they set or matched.
• Quick quiz: Hold up mini clock with “quarter to” time, ask “What time is this?”
• Use thumbs up/thumbs down to assess understanding quickly.
• Teacher notes who needs additional support or challenge for next lessons.

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Differentiation Strategies

• Support: Visual reminder sheets, word banks for vocabulary, peer support.
• Challenge: Pupils writing full sentences describing times, explaining reasoning aloud.
• Use of manipulatives and mini-whiteboards ensures active engagement and caters to kinaesthetic learners.

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Assessment Opportunities

• Formative assessment via mini whiteboards during guided practice.
• Observation of paired activity and verbal responses.
• Final plenary quiz serves as quick informal assessment of understanding.

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PowerPoint Slide Summary (Basic Content for Teacher)

Slide No.	Slide Title	Key Points	Visuals/Activities
1	Quarter to	Introduce session focus	Clock showing 4:45
2	Recap Times	O’clock, half past, quarter past review	Various clocks showing these times
3	What is Quarter To?	Quarter to = 15 minutes before next hour	Clock split in quarters; Highlight “quarter to”
4	Clock Hands	Minute hand on 9 = 15 mins before hour	Clock with hand positions
5	Whiteboard Practice	Write and draw quarter to times	Pupils’ mini whiteboards
6	Two Group Tasks	Main group: quarter to; Group 2: matching + word bank	Instructions and resources overview
7	Group Activities	Hands-on clock practice and matching cards	Mini clocks, word banks, reminder sheets
8	Plenary Assessment	Time quiz and verbal sharing	Thumbs up/down, mini clock prompts

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This plan incorporates direct teaching, hands-on practice, differentiation, and formative assessment in line with Year 2 expectations on telling time from the national curriculum, focusing on “quarter to” times while supporting pupils at varying levels.