Lesson Plan
Punctuality Relay Plan
Students will define punctuality, understand its importance, and create a personalized two-step plan to arrive on time to a daily activity.
Building punctuality fosters self-management, responsibility, and helps students succeed academically and socially by reducing stress and missed opportunities.
Audience
3rd Grade
Time
30 minutes
Approach
Interactive warm-up, direct teaching, hands-on relay, and personal planning.
Materials
- Time Matters Slides, - Minute-to-Win Relay Script, - My On-Time Plan Worksheet, - Stopwatch or Timer, and - Relay Race Markers (cones or spots)
Prep
Materials Review & Setup
10 minutes
- Review the Time Matters Slides to familiarize yourself with key talking points.
- Read through the Minute-to-Win Relay Script and plan group roles.
- Print one copy per student of the My On-Time Plan Worksheet.
- Arrange the relay area using cones or markers and set up the stopwatch/timer.
- Ensure classroom seating is ready for the teaching and planning segments.
Step 1
Clock Warm-Up Movement
5 minutes
- Have students spread out in an open area.
- Explain you’ll call out time intervals as if you’re the hand of a clock.
- On each call (e.g., “10 seconds!”), students freeze in a pose showing where the clock hand would point.
- Continue calling different intervals and encourage creativity in poses.
- Debrief: Ask how following the ‘clock’ felt and relate it to being on time.
Step 2
Teach Punctuality & Connect to Daily Life
8 minutes
- Project the Time Matters Slides.
- Define "punctuality" and list reasons why arriving on time is important (respect, reduces stress, doesn’t miss content).
- Ask students to share times they’ve been early, on time, or late (e.g., school, meals, bedtime).
- Highlight how planning and timing help in each scenario.
Step 3
Relay Race Illustrating Timing
8 minutes
- Explain the rules from the Minute-to-Win Relay Script.
- Divide students into small teams and assign relay legs.
- Use the stopwatch to time each student completing their leg, emphasizing the importance of starting and finishing on time.
- After each team finishes, briefly discuss: “Did we start on time? How did timing help us succeed?”
Step 4
Students Draft On-Time Plan and Share
9 minutes
- Distribute the My On-Time Plan Worksheet.
- Ask each student to choose a daily routine (e.g., arriving at school).
- Guide them to write two clear, actionable steps that will help them arrive on time.
- Pair students up to share their plans and provide positive feedback.
- Select a few volunteers to share with the whole class.
Slide Deck
Punctuality: Being on Time
Punctuality means starting or arriving at the exact time planned.
Introduce the concept of punctuality. Emphasize that this word means being on time—not early or late. Use a clear, enthusiastic tone and ask students to share why it might matter to get somewhere exactly when you’re supposed to.
Why Time Matters
• Shows respect for others
• Reduces stress or worry
• Helps us not miss important things
Guide students through each bullet, pausing to elicit their ideas. Relate each point back to times they’ve felt rushed or missed out.
Punctuality in Our Lives
• School—arriving before the bell rings
• Mealtimes—eating at the same time daily
• Bedtime—getting to bed before lights out
Read each example aloud. Ask volunteers for additional examples from their day (mealtimes, bus pick-up, bedtime).
Quick Reflection
Think of a time you were late.
What happened?
How did it feel?
Use this slide as a quick check-in. Give students 30 seconds to think, then ask a few to share: What happened when they arrived late? How did it feel?
Planning to Be On Time
- Pick a daily activity: ________
- Write two steps to help you arrive on time.
Prepare students for the on-time planning worksheet. Explain that they’ll choose one activity (like coming to school) and write two steps that help them be on time.
Script
Minute-to-Win Relay Race Script
1. Gather Students
Teacher: "Alright, friends, come on over to our relay area and take your places! Today we’re going to see how timing and teamwork help us stay on schedule."
2. Explain the Relay Rules
Teacher: "Here’s how it works: Each team has a baton and a starting spot marked by a cone. When I say ‘go,’ the first runner on each team will pick up the baton, run to the far cone, circle it, and come straight back to the starting point. Then you’ll hand the baton to the next runner. You keep passing and running until everyone on your team has had a turn. Make sure to pass the baton safely and stay on your path. Any questions about the rules?"
3. Describe the Timing Goal
Teacher: "I’ll be the timekeeper with my stopwatch. When I say ‘go,’ I’ll start the timer. Your goal is to finish as close to one minute as possible—but remember, you must start right away and keep moving safely! Ready to give it your best?"
4. Start the Race
Teacher (loudly): "Teams, on your marks... get set... Go!"
(Teacher starts the stopwatch and watches each team run.)
(As each team finishes, the teacher stops the watch and announces their time.)
Teacher: "Team Red—55 seconds! Team Blue—62 seconds! Team Green—59 seconds!"
5. Debrief with Students
Teacher: "Fantastic effort, everyone! Let’s talk about what happened:"
- Teacher: "Did you start running right away when you got the baton? What happened when someone hesitated?"
- Teacher: "How did a quick start and smooth handoff help your total time?"
- Teacher: "If a runner waited or fumbled the baton, how did that affect the team’s finish time?"
- Teacher: "Can you think of a time in real life when waiting too long made you late? What did you miss or how did it feel?"
6. Connect to Punctuality
Teacher: "Just like in our relay, being on time in life—whether for school, mealtime, or bedtime—takes good planning and quick starts. Later, you’ll create your own two-step plan to help you arrive on time for something in your day. Great job with the race, everyone!"
Worksheet
My On-Time Plan
Name: ________________________ Date: _____________
- What is one daily activity you want to arrive on time for?
__________________________ - My two-step plan:
Step 1: ____________________________
Step 2: ____________________________
- Share with a partner:
• What is one thing you liked about your partner’s plan?
__________________________
• What suggestion did your partner give to make your plan even better?
__________________________
Great job creating your plan! Remember to follow your steps and arrive on time!