Elapsed time problems can be pretty tricky for 7th-grade students. Let’s look at some reasons why they find it difficult and some helpful tools they can use.

Difficulties:

• Understanding Time Formats: Students often have a hard time switching between 12-hour and 24-hour time.
• Calculating Durations: Adding or subtracting hours and minutes can be confusing, especially when the time goes into the next hour or even onto the next day.
• Visualizing Time: Some students find it challenging to picture time in their minds, which makes it harder to understand how long something lasts.

Tools and Methods:

• Number Lines: Drawing a number line can help students see the elapsed time more clearly.
• Counting Minutes: Breaking the time down into smaller parts, like counting by fives, makes it easier to do the math.
• Using Timers: Using timers or clocks helps students practice and see how time works in real life.

By trying out these methods, students can make it easier to understand and solve elapsed time problems!