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Clocks and Stopwatches

Clocks and Stopwatches

TEKS Objective

The student is expected to collect, record, and compare information using tools, including computers, hand lenses, rulers, primary balances, plastic beakers, magnets, collecting nets, notebooks, and safety goggles; timing devices, including clocks and stopwatches; weather instruments such as thermometers, wind vanes, and rain gauges; and materials to support observations of habitats of organisms such as terrariums and aquariums.

Essential Understanding

The student uses age-appropriate tools and models to investigate the natural world.

Science Background

Measurement of Time: Encyclopedia.com (website) - Includes history, origins, early instruments, clocks and time zones.

Measurement of Time
Encyclopedia.com

Time Units of Work: New Zealand Math (website) - Provides information on a measurement that cannot be seen or touched, yet effects all aspects of life.

Time Units of Work
New Zealand Math, www.nzmaths.co.nz

Signature Lesson

Elapsed Time in the Real World: National Security Agency (PDF) - Introduce students to the concept of elapsed time by having them use clocks to collect, record and compare information about how long it takes to complete everyday activities. This unit is broken into three lessons that develop the concept with increasing complexity. If time is limited, select Lesson 1 on page 2.

Elapsed Time in the Real World
National Security Agency, www.nsa.gov

Supporting Lessons

Ready, Set, Escape: Teach Engineering (website) - Students design simple yet accurate timing devices.

Ready, Set, Escape
Teach Engineering, www.teachengineering.org

Elaboration Lessons and Extensions

Timeline of Scientific Discoveries: Wikipedia (website) - Important scientific discoveries made by scientist from the 3rd century to present day are listed.

Timeline of Scientific Discoveries
Wikipedia, www.en.wikipedia.org

Assessment Ideas

Have students write a list of 10 things they do each day, like brush their teeth or watch television. Then, as an assessment, have students use a stopwatch and/or clock to measure the time it takes—in hours, minutes and seconds—for them to complete all 10 activities.

Literature Connections

Franklin and the Stopwatch. Jennings, S. (ISBN-13: 978-1553378914)

Related Science TEKS

(2.1A) Science Safety
The student is expected to identify and demonstrate safe practices as described in the Texas Safety Standards during classroom and outdoor investigations, including wearing safety goggles, washing hands, and using materials appropriately.

(2.1B) Importance of Safe Practices
The student is expected to describe the importance of safe practices.

(2.1C) Recycling/Disposal of Science Materials
The student is expected to identify and demonstrate how to use, conserve, and dispose of natural resources and materials such as conserving water and reuse or recycling of paper, plastic, and metal.

(2.2A) Ask Questions
The student is expected to ask questions about organisms, objects, and events during observations and investigations.

(2.2B) Plan and Conduct Descriptive Investigations
The student is expected to plan and conduct descriptive investigations such as how organisms grow.

(2.2C) Collect Data
The student is expected to collect data from observations using simple equipment such as hand lenses, primary balances, thermometers, and non-standard measurement tools.

(2.2D) Record and Organize Data & Observations
The student is expected to record and organize data using pictures, numbers, and words.

(2.2E) Communicate and Justify Explanations
The student is expected to communicate observations and justify explanations using student-generated data from simple descriptive investigations.

(2.2F) Comparing Results of Investigations
The student is expected to compare results of investigations with what students and scientists know about the world.

(2.3B) Make Predictions
The student is expected to make predictions based on observable patterns.

Related Math TEKS

2.12D    The student is expected to use tools such as real objects, manipulatives, and technology to solve problems.

2.13A    The student is expected to explain and record observations using objects, words, pictures, numbers, and technology.

Additional Resources

Stopwatch Interactive: Shodor (website) - Interactive that teaches students how to use a stopwatch. Includes links to related lessons, student pages and class discussion topics.

Stopwatch Interactive
Shodor, www.shodor.org

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