Classroom · Telling time · 3rd grade

Elapsed time worksheets

A free five-page pack for 3rd grade: learn to find how much time has passed, with a worked example, practice pages, word problems and an answer key.

Download the elapsed time pack(5 pages, color)Ink saver (B&W)

Watch it solved

52 sec · with voice and captions

A pencil works one example of each activity, so you can see how the worksheet goes before you print it. Tap a step to jump to it. The rest of the sheet is left for your child to finish.

Read what the video says

0:00 Let's practice elapsed time, step by step.
0:03 Elapsed time is how long something takes. Count on from the start time: first to the next hour, then the minutes that are left.
0:12 Read the clock. The short hand has just passed 11. The long hand is on 2, so that's 10 minutes. It's 11:10.
0:21 How long did it take? From 8:55 to 9:20 is 25 minutes.
0:27 Find the end time. Start at 9:55 a.m., and add 55 minutes. It ends at 10:50 a.m.
0:35 Word problems. A movie started at 1:20 p.m. and ended at 3:00 p.m. How long was the movie? The answer is 1 hour 40 minutes.
0:46 Great job! Now print the free worksheet, and finish the rest on your own.

How to do it

Elapsed time is how long something takes. Count on from the start time: jump to the next hour, then add whole hours, then the minutes that are left.

Teaching tip

Use the real school day. When does lunch start and end? How long is recess? Children care about the answer, so they check their work.

Try some

8:55 to 9:20Tap to check25 minutes
9:45 to 11:15Tap to check1 hour 30 minutes
1:15 to 2:00Tap to check45 minutes
4:30 to 7:00Tap to check2 hours 30 minutes

Word problems

A movie started at 1:20 p.m. and ended at 3:00 p.m. How long was the movie?Show answer

1 hour 40 minutes

Aisha practiced from 4:20 p.m. to 5:05 p.m. How long did Aisha practice?Show answer

45 minutes

A bus left at 8:40 a.m. The trip took 1 hour 25 minutes. What time did it arrive?Show answer

10:05 a.m.

Omar's swim class ended at 6:00 p.m. It lasted 1 hour 30 minutes. What time did it start?Show answer

4:30 p.m.

What the worksheets look like

Elapsed time worksheet: how to read a clock, then clocks to read — Page 1: how to read a clock, then clocks to read

Elapsed time worksheet: draw the hands, or find how long it took — Page 2: draw the hands, or find how long it took

Blank clock faces

Nine clocks with no hands, to make your own practice.

Template(1 page, color)Ink saver (B&W)

Common questions

How do you teach elapsed time?

Elapsed time is how long something takes. Count on from the start time: jump to the next hour, then add whole hours, then the minutes that are left. Use the real school day. When does lunch start and end? How long is recess? Children care about the answer, so they check their work.

What grade learns elapsed time?

Usually 3rd grade. In the Common Core it is part of 3.MD.A.1.

Is there an answer key?

Yes. Page 5 has every answer from the pack and a short teaching tip.