- Definition
Elapsed time is simply how much time has gone by from the beginning of something until its end.
The elapsed time between 2:00 PM and 2:45 PM is 45 minutes.
How to teach this in 30 seconds
Try this analogy: Elapsed time is like how long a movie plays, from the moment it starts until it ends.
Ask your child: If your show starts at 4:00 and ends at 4:30, how much time passed?
Common mix-up: Kids might think elapsed time is a specific time on the clock, like 3:30. It's actually the amount of time that passes between a start time and an end time.
Examples
- If soccer practice starts at 4:00 and ends at 5:00, the elapsed time is one hour.
- Baking cookies for 12 minutes means the elapsed time in the oven is 12 minutes.
elapsed time is a term used in Ontario’s Kindergarten to Grade 8 curriculum.
Where this shows up
The descriptions on this page are SmartStudy’s own original, plain-language writing — not the Ministry’s wording. They are aligned to the Ontario Curriculum, © King’s Printer for Ontario. For the Ministry’s official wording, see the source link below. SmartStudy is an independent service and is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by the Government of Ontario or the Ministry of Education. Ontario Curriculum and Resources ↗
