20 minute timer
Updated · By Edulist · 2 sources
20:00
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How to use it
- Press Start
The timer opens set to 20 minutes. Press Start; Pause, Reset and the plus and minus buttons work any time. The space bar starts and pauses it too.
- Pick a picture
Pie shrinks toward 12, Sand timer empties, Bar drains, or choose Numbers only. The countdown numbers show under every picture.
- Choose the ending
Pick Chime, Bell, Soft beeps or No sound. When time is up the timer turns green and says "Time's up". Full screen makes it big enough for a classroom.
A 20 minute timer for daily reading
Many elementary schools ask children to read for about twenty minutes a day at home, and many families use a timer to make it a routine. This timer opens set to twenty minutes. Press Start and the pie shrinks toward 12 as the time passes. When it's gone, the timer turns green, says Time's up and plays a gentle chime, or nothing at all if you pick No sound.
For reading, the pie or sand view works well: children can glance up and see "about half left" without counting seconds, and it's easy to get lost in a book when you're not watching a clock.
How long is 20 minutes?
| Measure | 20 minutes |
|---|---|
| Seconds | 1,200 |
| Part of an hour | 1/3 |
| Minute hand | Four numbers, a third of the way around (12 to 4) |
| Hour hand | A third of the way to the next number |
| Each quarter of the pie | 5 minutes |
Twenty minutes three times makes an hour. On the interactive clock, drag the minute hand from 12 to 4, then to 8, then back to 12, and watch the hour hand move one whole number.
Making 20 minutes of reading a habit
- Same time, same place. Right after dinner or before bed works for many families.
- Let your child choose the book. Comics, magazines and audiobooks with the text count too.
- Start the timer and leave it alone. No asking "how much longer?"; the pie answers that.
- Stop at the chime. Finishing on time, even mid-chapter, keeps reading from feeling endless. Many kids keep going on their own.
- Talk about it for a minute. One question ("What happened?") builds comprehension without turning it into a test.
For younger or reluctant readers, start with the 10 minute timer or 15 minute timer and build up.
What else fits in 20 minutes
| Activity | How |
|---|---|
| Homework block | Twenty minutes of work, then a five-minute break. |
| Rest time | Quiet time in bed or on the couch. |
| Practice | Piano, violin or sports drills. |
| Station work | Longer station rotations in class. |
| Tidy-up | A whole-family clean-up with a clear end. |
| Writing workshop | Draft time, with a 5 minute timer to share after. |
Elapsed time with 20 minutes
Twenty minutes makes a good elapsed time problem: "Reading starts at 7:50. It lasts 20 minutes. When does it end?" Children often get stuck crossing the hour. The elapsed time calculator shows it as jumps: 10 minutes to 8:00, then 10 more to 8:10.
Twenty minutes and attention spans
There's no single right length for focused work, and children vary a lot. Some eight-year-olds read happily for half an hour; others are done in ten minutes. Twenty minutes is a common target because it's achievable for many elementary-age children with the right book or task, but treat it as a goal to grow toward, not a test. If your child can't settle for twenty, set two ten-minute blocks with a short stretch between them, using the 10 minute timer. Progress counts more than the number on the timer.
Each quarter of the pie is five minutes, which makes the 20 minute timer a handy way to practice counting by fives: one quarter gone is 5 minutes, two quarters 10, three quarters 15.
Other timers
For a half hour, use the 30 minute timer. The classroom timer runs up to four timers at once. All of them keep exact time, even when the tab is in the background.
Keeping the alarm available
The countdown uses an end timestamp and catches up when the page redraws. Background tabs, muted audio, screen locking and device sleep can delay or prevent the alarm. Keep the page open and the device awake when the end signal matters.
Before a group activity, run a short countdown to confirm the chosen sound is audible and the screen is easy to see. Explain what happens at the end, and let participants know how to ask for more time. Choose a duration for the task rather than treating a countdown as a measure of ability.
Sources
Questions
How many seconds is 20 minutes?
Twenty minutes is 1,200 seconds. On a clock, the minute hand moves four numbers, a third of the way around: from the 12 to the 4.
Why do schools ask for 20 minutes of reading?
Twenty minutes a day is a common homework expectation in elementary school because it's long enough to read a good chunk and short enough to fit most evenings. Check your child's school for its own guidance.
Can my child see how much reading time is left without the numbers?
Yes. In pie or sand view, they see the time as a shape. Each quarter of the pie is five minutes.