X Tables
Real World Maths Adventures

The school-run time-traveller question prompts

Adult prompts and extension questions for plan routes, clocks and arrival times as a journey adventure.

Quick answer

You can use clocks, schedules, and planning to work out when you need to leave home to arrive at school on time, whether you're a real-world time-traveller or just a busy student!

Learning outcome

By the end of this page, you will be able to plan your journey to school by working out how long it takes to get there, what time to leave, and what time you'll arrive. Success signs:
  • You can read a clock and tell the time to the nearest five minutes
  • You can calculate how long a journey takes using a timetable or clock
  • You can work out what time to leave home to arrive at school on time
  • You can solve simple problems about journeys and time

Why this matters

Time is one of the most important things in our daily lives. Whether you're going to school, playing football, or visiting your grandparents, you need to know how much time you have and when you need to start. When you understand how to plan a journey using time, you'll be more confident about getting places on time. This skill is helpful not just for school, but also for planning trips, helping others, and solving everyday problems.

How it works

Planning a journey using time is like solving a puzzle. You need to:
  1. Know how long your journey takes
  2. Know what time you need to arrive
  3. Work out what time you need to leave
Let's think about it like this:
  • If you want to arrive at school at 9:00 a.m. and your journey takes 20 minutes, you need to leave home at 8:40 a.m.
  • If you want to arrive at 10:30 a.m. and it takes 15 minutes, you need to leave at 10:15 a.m.

Examples you can see

Let's imagine you are a time-traveller who wants to get to school on time. Here are some real-life examples: Example 1: The Morning Rush You need to be at school by 9:00 a.m. It takes you 10 minutes to walk from your house to the school gate. What time should you leave your house?
  • Arrival time: 9:00 a.m.
  • Journey time: 10 minutes
  • Leave time: 9:00 a.m. - 10 minutes = 8:50 a.m.
Example 2: The Bus Ride You take the bus to school. The bus leaves at 8:15 a.m. and arrives at school 15 minutes later. What time do you arrive?
  • Departure time: 8:15 a.m.
  • Journey time: 15 minutes
  • Arrival time: 8:15 a.m. + 15 minutes = 8:30 a.m.
Example 3: The Delay You planned to leave at 8:00 a.m. but you're running late. Your journey normally takes 20 minutes, but now it takes 30 minutes. What time will you arrive?
  • Departure time: 8:00 a.m.
  • Journey time: 30 minutes
  • Arrival time: 8:00 a.m. + 30 minutes = 8:30 a.m.

Try it as a mini adventure

Let's go on a time-travelling adventure to school! Adventure: The Time-Travel School Run You are a time-traveller and need to get to school on time. Here's your journey:
  1. Today, you want to arrive at school at 9:00 a.m.
  2. Your journey normally takes 25 minutes.
  3. But today, there is a traffic jam, and it takes 10 minutes longer than usual.
  4. What time do you need to leave your house?
Step-by-step solution:
  1. Normal journey time: 25 minutes
  2. Extra time due to traffic: 10 minutes
  3. Total journey time: 25 + 10 = 35 minutes
  4. Arrival time: 9:00 a.m.
  5. Leave time: 9:00 a.m. - 35 minutes = 8:25 a.m.
Mini challenge: You are going to a football match that starts at 3:00 p.m. It takes 40 minutes to get there. What time should you leave your house?
  • Arrival time: 3:00 p.m.
  • Journey time: 40 minutes
  • Leave time: 3:00 p.m. - 40 minutes = 2:20 p.m.

Common mistakes

  • Mistake: Forgetting to subtract time when working backwards from arrival time.
    Why it happens: Children might add time instead of subtracting.
    Fix: Remember that if you want to arrive at 9:00 a.m. and your journey takes 15 minutes, you must leave 15 minutes earlier, so 9:00 a.m. - 15 minutes = 8:45 a.m.
  • Mistake: Adding the journey time to the arrival time instead of subtracting.
    Why it happens: This can happen when children don't understand that "before" means to subtract.
    Fix: Always ask yourself: "If I want to arrive at 10:00 a.m., when should I leave?" Then subtract the journey time.
  • Mistake: Confusing "quarter to" and "quarter past" on a clock.
    Why it happens: These times are similar and can be confusing for young learners.
    Fix: Practice reading clocks with a parent or teacher, especially around 15 and 45 minutes past the hour.

Parent and carer guide

Parents and carers can help children by:
  • Practising telling time using a real or toy clock
  • Using a daily schedule to show when activities happen
  • Asking questions like: "If you want to be at the park by 2:30 p.m., and it takes 20 minutes to get there, what time should you leave?"
  • Creating a simple journey plan for a pretend trip to a local shop or park
  • Playing time games together, such as "What time will it be in 15 minutes?"
How to help without pressure:
  • Keep it fun and practical. Try to connect time to things your child enjoys.
  • Use real-life situations, like planning a trip or preparing for a birthday party.
  • Don't worry if they make mistakes. Use them as learning opportunities.
  • Reinforce that time is something that helps us be more organised and less stressed.

Practice questions

  1. You need to be at school by 9:00 a.m. It takes 15 minutes to walk. What time should you leave?
  2. Your train leaves at 10:15 a.m. and arrives 30 minutes later. What time do you arrive?
  3. You want to arrive at the library at 4:00 p.m. It takes 25 minutes to get there. What time should you leave?
  4. You plan to leave at 8:30 a.m. and arrive at school 20 minutes later. What time do you arrive?
  5. You want to arrive at the cinema by 7:00 p.m. It takes 35 minutes to get there. What time should you leave?
Answers:
  1. 8:45 a.m.
  2. 10:45 a.m.
  3. 3:35 p.m.
  4. 8:50 a.m.
  5. 6:25 p.m.

FAQ

Q: How do I know what time to leave for school?

A: You need to know how long your journey takes and what time you want to arrive. Then subtract the journey time from the arrival time.

Q: What if my journey takes longer than expected?

A: If your journey takes longer, you need to leave earlier to make it on time. Add the extra time to your normal journey time, then subtract from your arrival time.

Q: Can I use a digital clock to work out my journey times?

A: Yes! Digital clocks show the exact time, so you can easily add or subtract minutes. Just make sure you know how to read both digital and analog clocks.

Q: How can I practice time-travel planning at home?

A: You can plan a pretend journey to a nearby place, like a shop or park. Decide what time you want to arrive and work out when to leave.

Q: Why is it important to know how to plan journeys using time?

A: Knowing how to plan journeys helps you be more organised, reduces stress, and helps you make the most of your day. It's a life skill that will help you in school and beyond!