Mathematics:
What Time is It?
Summary: Students calculate
the time difference between Beijing, China and their local community.
Minnesota Academic Standards Information
Subject Area Focus: Mathematics
Educational Level: Teachers may adapt the activity for the
various grade levels.
Primary, Intermediate, Middle
Middle (6-8) Level
Grades 6-8
Make calculations of time length, area and volume within standard
measuring systems, using good judgment in choice of units.
For the complete standard, see the Minnesota Academic Standards
web site at http://education.state.mn.us/mde/Academic_Excellence/Academic_Standards/index.html
Intermediate (4-5) Level
Grade 4
Compute fluently and make reasonable estimates with whole numbers
in real-world and mathematical problems.
Understand the meanings of arithmetic operations and how they relate
to one another.
Grade 5
Compute fluently and make reasonable estimates with fractions, decimals,
and whole numbers, in real-world and mathematical problems. Understand
the meanings of arithmetic operations and how they relate to one
another.
For the complete standard, see the Minnesota Academic Standards
web site at http://education.state.mn.us/mde/Academic_Excellence/Academic_Standards/index.html
Primary (K-3) Level
Grade 2
Compute fluently and make reasonable estimates with whole numbers
in real-world and mathematical problems.
Grade 3
Compute fluently and make reasonable estimates
with whole numbers in real-world and mathematical problems. Understand
addition and subtraction and how they relate to one another. Understand
the concepts of multiplication and division.
Measure and calculate length, time, weight, temperature, and money
using appropriate tools and units to solve real-world and mathematical
problems.
For the complete standard, see the Minnesota Academic Standards
web site at http://education.state.mn.us/mde/Academic_Excellence/Academic_Standards/index.html
LEARNING ACTIVITY
Directions
Objectives:
- To apply mathematical operations in a real-life situation,
calculating the times in two different zones.
- To understand how time difference affects intercultural
communication.
Preparation: None
Time Required: 15-20 minutes
Description
Find a map or globe that notes the time zones of the world.
Consult an atlas or try one of these online sources:
- World Time Zone Map from the U.S. Naval Observatory (printable
map): http://aa.usno.navy.mil/faq/docs/world_tzones.html
- Worldtimezone.Com: http://www.worldtimezone.com/
- The World Clock Time Zones http://www.timeanddate.com/worldclock/ See
current local times in cities around the world. You
can also create a Personal World Clock online that will show
the current time in up to 16 cities.
- Have students locate both Beijing, China and your community
on the map and calculate the time difference between the
two places. (Notice that China is wide enough to have three
different time zones, as does the United States.)
- Have students practice and apply calculating the time difference
between Beijing and your community.
- Throughout the trade mission, check time zone resources
to figure out the current time in China. Reinforce the practice
of calculating the time difference by periodically posing
questions to students (e.g., What time is it now in China?
If the governor had a meeting at 3:00 Tuesday afternoon,
what time was it here?
Learning Resources: None
Printable Materials: World Time Zone Map from the
U.S. Naval Observatory
http://aa.usno.navy.mil/faq/docs/world_tzones.html.
Evidence of Learning: The following product(s)
supply evidence of student learning.
- Completed student activities worksheets.
- Verbal quizzes throughout the trip.
Special Notes
Technology Integration:
Incorporate technology tools and resources in ways that enhance
and support teaching and learning.
Have students create a spreadsheet to sue to calculate time differences
between two or more cities.
Accommodations
Change the activity to accommodate students with different needs,
knowledge and skills.
- Provide students with a formula for calculating the time
differences.
- Use a clock to demonstrate the time changes.
- Provide students with a chart that has the times for both
zones listed. Students can then reference the chart to take
part in the application section of the student activity page.
Extensions
Extend students' learning with additional activities.
- Have students create short scenes in which two people in
different time zones try to communicate via phone. Include
possible conflicts related to the time zone differences.
- Discuss the different time zones within China and within
the United States. Explore what the time differences
would be between the various places. Have students
select six cities--one from each of the three time zones
in each country, and then write mathematical word problems
that focus on calculating time differences among them.
- Set your classroom clock to Beijing time for a day. Have
students calculate the Minnesota time throughout the day.
STUDENT ACTIVITIES WORKSHEET – WHAT
TIME IS IT?
Time Calculations
Practice figuring out the times in the two different zones
by filling in the spaces below.
A. Monday, 12:00 noon at home = Day ___________ Time___________
in Beijing.
B. Wednesday, 3:30 p.m. at home = Day ___________ Time___________
in Beijing.
C. Thursday, 5:30 a.m. at home = Day ___________ Time____________in
Beijing.
D. Day ____________Time____________at home = Wednesday, 9:00
a.m. in Beijing.
E. Day ___________ Time____________at home = Saturday, 12:00
a.m. in Beijing.
F. Day ____________Time___________ at home = Tuesday, 5:30
p.m. in Beijing.
Application
Why is it important to know about and be able to calculate
time differences? Think about these questions and discuss them
with a partner or your class.
- It is 2:00 p.m. in your community. You want to call
a Chinese friend. Is it a good time to call? When
would be a good time? When would be a bad time?
- You are visiting China and want to call home to check in. It
is 4:00 p.m. Should you call home now? When would
be a better time?
- You are planning a videoconference with students from your
community and students from China. What would be the
best time to schedule the conference so that both groups would
be awake and at school?
- You are a governor traveling from China back home to Minnesota.
Your travel agent tells you that you will leave Beijing at 4:15
p.m. on Wednesday and return home at 4:55 p.m. Wednesday. It
is really only a 40-minute trip? How long of a trip is it really?
Entire List of Curriculum Activities
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