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Ice Skating Maths

Ice Skating match or routine time maths challenge

A child-friendly sports challenge using match or routine time to practise time with real examples.

Quick answer

You can use ice skating routines and match times to practice telling time, adding and subtracting time, and understanding how long activities take.

Learning outcome

By the end of this page, you will be able to read and work with times shown on a clock, add and subtract minutes to find how long skating routines last, and compare how long different skating activities take. Success signs:
  • You can tell the time to the minute on an analogue clock
  • You can add or subtract minutes from a given time
  • You can compare how long different skating routines take
  • You can solve problems about skating times using real examples

Why this matters

Time is important in ice skating, just like in any sport. Skaters need to know how long their routines last, when to start, and how much time they have left. You use time every day – when you wake up, eat lunch, play, or watch your favourite TV show. Learning to read and work with time helps you manage your day better and understand how long things take.

How it works

Time is shown on clocks in hours and minutes. An analogue clock has two hands – the shorter hand shows the hour, and the longer hand shows the minutes. You can add or subtract minutes just like you add or subtract numbers. If a skating routine starts at 2:15 and lasts 3 minutes, you add 3 minutes to get 2:18. If a match starts at 3:45 and ends at 4:10, you can count the minutes between to find the match lasted 25 minutes.

Examples you can see

Let’s imagine you are at an ice skating competition. Here are some real examples:
  • Example 1: A skating routine starts at 10:20 and lasts 4 minutes. What time does it end?
  • Example 2: A match starts at 1:30 and lasts 35 minutes. What time does it finish?
  • Example 3: A skater practices for 20 minutes in the morning and 15 minutes in the afternoon. How long did they practice altogether?

Example 1: Routine ending time

  • Routine starts at 10:20
  • It lasts 4 minutes
  • Add 4 minutes to 10:20
  • 10:20 + 4 minutes = 10:24

Example 2: Match finishing time

  • Match starts at 1:30
  • It lasts 35 minutes
  • Count on 35 minutes from 1:30
  • 1:30 + 30 minutes = 2:00
  • Then add 5 more minutes = 2:05
  • Match ends at 2:05

Example 3: Total practice time

  • Morning practice: 20 minutes
  • Afternoon practice: 15 minutes
  • 20 + 15 = 35 minutes
  • Total practice time = 35 minutes

Try it as a mini adventure

Adventure: Ice Skating Time Challenge You are a young ice skater preparing for a big competition. Your coach has given you a plan:
  • Warm-up starts at 9:15 and lasts 10 minutes
  • Practice starts at 9:25 and lasts 25 minutes
  • Break starts at 9:50 and lasts 5 minutes
  • Final routine starts at 9:55 and lasts 8 minutes
  1. Warm-up ends at: 9:25
  2. Practice ends at: 9:50
  3. Break ends at: 9:55
  4. Final routine ends at: 10:03
Now, try to figure out how long the whole session took from start to finish. Answer: From 9:15 to 10:03 is 48 minutes.

Common mistakes

  • Mistake: Adding minutes and getting confused with the hour
  • Why it happens: Children often forget that when minutes go over 60, they need to change the hour
  • Fix: Count the minutes carefully and remember that 60 minutes = 1 hour
  • Mistake: Not reading the clock correctly
  • Why it happens: Some children mix up the hour and minute hands or don’t understand how the numbers work
  • Fix: Practice reading time every day with a real or toy clock
  • Mistake: Forgetting to add or subtract minutes correctly
  • Why it happens: Children may make simple addition or subtraction errors
  • Fix: Use a number line or count on your fingers to help

Parent and carer guide

As a parent or carer, you can help by:
  • Practising telling time together using a real clock or a digital timer
  • Playing a game where you ask your child to add 10 minutes to the current time
  • Using an ice skating routine or match time as a real-life example
  • Encouraging your child to make a simple schedule for their day with start and end times
  • Noticing when your child uses time in their daily life – like when they say “We have 15 minutes before dinner”

Practice questions

  1. Skating practice starts at 2:45 and lasts 15 minutes. What time does it end?
  2. A match starts at 4:20 and ends at 4:55. How long did the match last?
  3. A skater does 3 routines. The first lasts 5 minutes, the second lasts 7 minutes, and the third lasts 6 minutes. How long did all three routines last?
  4. Routine starts at 11:05 and lasts 12 minutes. What time does it end?
  5. A warm-up lasts 8 minutes and a cool-down lasts 5 minutes. How long is the whole warm-up and cool-down?
Answers:
  1. 3:00
  2. 35 minutes
  3. 18 minutes
  4. 11:17
  5. 13 minutes

FAQ

How do I read the time on an analogue clock?

The short hand shows the hour and the long hand shows the minutes. Each number on the clock face is 5 minutes apart. So, if the long hand points to 6, it's 30 minutes past the hour.

What if I need to add time that goes over an hour?

If you add minutes and they go over 60, you need to change the hour. For example, 30 minutes + 40 minutes = 70 minutes. That’s 1 hour and 10 minutes.

Can I use a digital clock to practice time?

Yes! Digital clocks show time in numbers like 2:30. You can use them to check your work and practice reading time in different formats.

Why is learning time important for skating?

Skaters need to know when to start, when to finish, and how long their routines last. Time helps them plan and prepare for their performances.

How can I make time practice fun?

Try timing yourself doing different skating moves, or set a timer for your daily routine. You can also play games where you add or subtract minutes from the current time.