Classroom Timer

About the Classroom Timer

A countdown timer for the classroom needs to do exactly a few things well: start fast, be readable from across the room, and make noise when it's done so you're not the one watching the clock. This tool sets a duration with one click from a row of common presets, or fine-tunes it a minute at a time, then counts down in large digits with a progress bar underneath.

When time runs out, it plays a tone through the browser so students hear the end of independent work or a timed activity without you having to announce it.

How to use it in your classroom

1. Click a preset (1, 3, 5, 10, or 15 minutes) to set the starting duration, or use the +1 min / -1 min buttons to fine-tune it.
2. Click Start to begin the countdown.
3. Use Pause if you need to stop the clock without losing the remaining time.
4. Click Reset to return to the duration you started with.

Tips from the classroom

• Set the timer a minute or two longer than you think you need. Running out early is far less disruptive than cutting an activity short.
• Project the timer on the board during independent work so students can self-monitor their pace without asking you how much time is left.
• The audio cue plays through the browser tab, so make sure your device's volume is up before relying on it to signal the end of an activity.
• Pause rather than reset if you need to address something mid-countdown. Reset starts you back at the full duration, not where you left off.

Frequently asked questions