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Maths Adventures

Airport maths quest: time

A story-led junior maths adventure using departures, luggage weights and route maps to read clocks, plan routes and beat countdowns.

Quick answer

You can use time to plan your journey, know when to leave, and make sure you don’t miss your flight.

Learning outcome

By the end of this page, you will be able to read clocks to tell the time, understand how long different parts of your journey take, and plan your travel so you arrive at the airport on time. Success signs:
  • You can read the time on an analogue clock to the nearest five minutes
  • You know how to calculate how long a journey takes
  • You can plan a trip from home to the airport and know when to leave

Why this matters

Time is important when you travel, especially when you're going to the airport. You need to know what time it is to catch your plane, and you need to plan how long everything takes. When you're at the airport, you'll see big clocks, and you'll need to know how long your flight is. Learning about time helps you be more organised and less stressed when you're going on a trip.

How it works

Time is shown on clocks in hours and minutes. A clock has two hands:
  • The short hand shows the hour
  • The long hand shows the minutes
Each big number on the clock is one hour. The small lines between the numbers show minutes. Each line is 5 minutes. So if the long hand points to 12, it's 0 minutes past the hour. If it points to 1, it's 5 minutes. If it points to 2, it's 10 minutes, and so on.

Examples you can see

Let’s imagine you’re planning a trip to the airport. You live 30 minutes from the airport. You want to get there 1 hour before your flight. Your flight leaves at 2:30 PM. First, you need to work out when to leave home:
  • Flight time: 2:30 PM
  • Time to get there: 1 hour before
  • So you need to be at the airport by: 1:30 PM
  • You live 30 minutes from the airport
  • So you need to leave home at: 1:00 PM
Let’s try another example:
  • Your flight is at 10:45 AM
  • You need to be at the airport 1 hour before
  • So you need to be there by: 9:45 AM
  • You take a bus that takes 20 minutes
  • You need to leave home at: 9:25 AM

Try it as a mini adventure

Airport Maths Quest: Time Challenge You are going on a trip to the airport. Your flight is at 3:15 PM. You need to get to the airport 1 hour before your flight. It takes 25 minutes to walk to the airport from your house. Step 1: What time do you need to be at the airport?
  • Flight time: 3:15 PM
  • Time to get there: 1 hour before
  • So you need to be at the airport by: 2:15 PM
Step 2: How long will it take you to get there?
  • It takes 25 minutes to walk to the airport
Step 3: What time should you leave home?
  • You need to be at the airport by: 2:15 PM
  • It takes 25 minutes to walk
  • So you need to leave home at: 1:50 PM
Step 4: Check your answer:
  • Leave home at 1:50 PM
  • Walk for 25 minutes
  • Arrive at the airport at 2:15 PM
  • Flight is at 3:15 PM
  • You are 1 hour early

Common mistakes

  • Mistake: Thinking the long hand shows the hour, not the minutes.
    Why it happens: Children sometimes confuse the two hands on a clock.
    Fix: Remember: short hand = hour, long hand = minutes.
  • Mistake: Adding time incorrectly, like 1 hour 45 minutes + 30 minutes = 1 hour 75 minutes.
    Why it happens: Children may not understand that 60 minutes make an hour.
    Fix: Remember: 60 minutes = 1 hour. So 1 hour 45 minutes + 30 minutes = 2 hours 15 minutes.
  • Mistake: Not knowing how to subtract time.
    Why it happens: Subtracting time can be confusing if you're not used to it.
    Fix: Break it into hours and minutes. For example, 3:15 PM - 1 hour = 2:15 PM.

Parent and carer guide

As a parent or carer, you can help your child with time by:
  • Practising reading clocks together every day
  • Using real clocks or apps to show the time
  • Planning trips together and working out when to leave
  • Playing time games like “What time is it?” or “How long does it take to get ready?”
  • Encouraging your child to think about how long things take
What to say:
  • “Let’s look at the clock and see what time it is now.”
  • “How long do you think it will take to get to the airport?”
  • “What time should we leave to be there 1 hour before the flight?”
What not to worry about:
  • It’s okay if your child makes a mistake. Mistakes are part of learning!
  • Don’t rush your child. Time skills take practice.

Practice questions

  1. Flight time is 4:30 PM. You need to be at the airport 1 hour before. What time should you be at the airport?
  2. It takes 35 minutes to get to the airport. You need to be there by 10:15 AM. What time should you leave home?
  3. Flight time is 1:45 PM. You need to be at the airport 1 hour before. What time should you leave home?
  4. It takes 20 minutes to walk to the airport. You need to be there by 2:30 PM. What time should you leave home?
  5. Flight time is 6:20 PM. You need to be at the airport 1 hour before. What time should you be at the airport?
Answers:
  1. 3:30 PM
  2. 9:40 AM
  3. 12:45 PM
  4. 2:10 PM
  5. 5:20 PM

FAQ

How do I read the time on an analog clock?

The short hand shows the hour, and the long hand shows the minutes. Each number on the clock is one hour, and each small line between the numbers is five minutes.

Why do I need to know time when I travel?

Knowing time helps you plan when to leave, so you don’t miss your flight. It also helps you know how long your journey takes.

How can I practice time skills at home?

You can practice by looking at clocks, planning trips, and asking questions like, “What time do we need to leave?” or “How long does it take to get ready?”

What if I get confused with adding or subtracting time?

Break the time into hours and minutes. For example, 1 hour 30 minutes + 20 minutes = 1 hour 50 minutes. If you have 60 minutes or more, remember that 60 minutes = 1 hour.

Can I use a digital clock instead of an analog one?

Yes! Both clocks show time. Digital clocks are easier for some people, while analog clocks help you understand how time moves.