5 Minute Timer
Five minutes is the most useful timer in the classroom: a warm-up, a tidy-up, a short group task. Put it on the board so everyone can see exactly how long is left.
How to use it
- The timer is already set to 5 minutes. Press Start or the Space bar to begin, and Space again to pause.
- Press Present (or F) to show it full screen. Pick Pie, Bar or Digits, and choose an end sound.
- When time is up you'll hear the chime and see "Time's up!". Press Start again for another round, or +1 min if the class needs longer.
Ways to use a 5 minute timer in class
- Starter or warm-up: settle the class with a task on the board as they arrive.
- Tidy-up time: five minutes to pack away, with the one-minute warning as a nudge.
- Group task: plan a short presentation or solve one challenge together.
Other timer lengths
Questions teachers ask
How can I warn students before the five minutes are up?
Tick "Beep at 1 minute left". There's a soft beep with a minute to go, and the display turns amber, then red for the last 10 seconds.
What if five minutes isn't quite enough?
Press +1 min at any time. It adds a minute without stopping the timer, so the class never loses track of the countdown.
Does the timer keep going if I switch tabs or my laptop is busy?
Yes. The timer works from the clock, not by counting ticks, so it stays exact if you switch to your slides or another tab. The end sound still plays when time is up.
Will my screen go to sleep while the timer runs?
In most browsers, no. While a timer is running the page asks the device to keep the screen on, and lets it sleep again when you pause or the time is up.
Can students see it from the back of the room?
Press Present (or the F key) for a full-screen timer with huge digits. Choose Digits for the largest numbers, or Pie for a shape younger students can read without telling the time.