Sand timer
A free hourglass timer for class: the sand runs from the top to the bottom, so young children can see time pass without reading numbers.
5:00
Keys: Space start or pause · R reset · ← → 30 seconds · 1–6 the presets · M sound · F full screen
How to use it
- Choose a length (1, 2, 3, 5, 10 or 15 minutes) or type your own with Custom.
- Press Start. The sand drains from the top bulb into the bottom one.
- Press F to fill the screen. The digits stay under the glass for anyone who wants them.
Ideas for class
- Use the sand timer for children who cannot read a clock yet: they can see how much is left by how much sand is left in the top.
- Give turn-taking games a sand timer so each child has the same turn.
- Time quiet reading for a class of five and six year olds: when the top is empty, the time is up.
- Let students predict: will we finish the puzzle before the sand runs out?
- Use it for tooth-brushing or hand-washing routines with a 2 minute glass.
- Put the sand timer on screen during a calm-down break: it is slow, steady, and has nothing to read.
Related
Questions
Is the sand timer a real hourglass?
It is a picture of one, drawn in your browser. The level of sand is exactly the fraction of time left, so a quarter of the sand left means a quarter of the time left. Because it is a drawing, it works at any length from 10 seconds to many hours.
Why would I choose a sand timer over digits?
Digits need reading, and young children are still learning them. The sand shows time as a quantity. You can still read the digits under the glass if you need the exact time.
Can I change the colour?
The sand follows the warning colours: calm to start, amber when a third is left, and red near the end. Pick the Disc style on the Visual timer page if you want to choose your own colour.
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