Grade 3 Math: Elapsed Time

Once upon a time, in the bustling town of Timetown, there lived two best friends, Tim and Ella. Tim and Ella were known for their love of adventures and exploring new places. One sunny morning, as they were playing by the town square, they stumbled upon a mysterious old clock. The clock seemed to shimmer and glow, and before they knew it, they were whisked away into a world where time itself was a magical force.

Their adventure began in the Land of Elapsed Time, a place where time flowed differently, and solving time-related puzzles was the key to unlocking the secrets of this enchanted land. Tim and Ella were excited and ready to face any challenge that came their way.

Understanding the Concept

In this land, Tim and Ella learned about elapsed time, which means the amount of time that has passed between two events. To calculate elapsed time, they needed to know the start time and how much time had passed or changed.

Tim and Ella understood that to find the elapsed time, they had to note the start time first and then add the change in time. For example, if breakfast started at 8:00 AM and lasted for 1 hour and 30 minutes, they calculated the elapsed time to be 9:30 AM.

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They encountered a magical clock that helped them visualize the concept of elapsed time. The clock had two hands – a blue one for the start time and a red one for the end time. By looking at where the hands pointed, they could determine the elapsed time between the start and end.

Key Concepts Explained

To calculate elapsed time more efficiently, Tim and Ella learned a step-by-step process:

Step 1: Note the Start Time

Always start by writing down the given start time. This is the point from which you will calculate the elapsed time.

Step 2: Determine the Change

Find out how much time has passed or changed between the start and end of the event. This could be in hours, minutes, or both.

Step 3: Add the ChangeAdd the change in time to the start time to find the end time, which is when the event finishes. This end time is the total elapsed time.

Example:

If Tim started reading a book at 4:45 PM and read for 1 hour and 20 minutes, what time did he finish reading?

We follow the three steps:

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1. Start Time: 4:45 PM
2. Change: 1 hour 20 minutes
3. 4:45 PM + 1 hour 20 minutes = 6:05 PM

So, Tim finished reading at 6:05 PM.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Tim and Ella learned that a common mistake when calculating elapsed time is forgetting to convert hours to minutes or vice versa. It’s essential to keep track of units and ensure they match for an accurate calculation.

Summary and Key Takeaways

Tim and Ella discovered that understanding elapsed time was like solving a puzzle where each piece of time fit together to reveal the whole picture. By noting the start time, adding the change, and carefully calculating, they could unlock the mystery of elapsed time.

Remember, when faced with an elapsed time problem, always:

• Start by noting the start time.
• Determine the change in time.
• Add the change to the start time to find the end time, which is the elapsed time.

As Tim and Ella bid farewell to the Land of Elapsed Time, they carried with them the valuable skill of calculating elapsed time, ready to use it in their future adventures and explorations. The magic of time had shown them that with patience and practice, they could unravel any time-related mystery that came their way.