Understand the idea.
Duration means how long
Duration means how long something lasts from its start to its end. A blink has a short duration. Eating lunch usually takes much longer, even though both activities have a start and an end.
To compare durations, pay attention to the whole event. Starting later does not by itself mean lasting longer. You need to know how far apart each event's start and end are.
Start together
When two events start together, watch which finishes first. The event still going after the other has stopped lasts longer. The picture compares two songs from the same starting point.
You can count steady claps while each event happens. Keep the clap pace the same each time, so each clap measures an equal stretch of time. More equal claps mean a longer duration.
See the method in action.
Two songs
Which song lasts longer in the picture?
Worked solution
- 1
Check the songs start together.
Their starts line up in the picture, so we can compare their ends.
- 2
Find the song that ends first.
B stops while A is still continuing.
- 3
Name the longer song.
Song A lasts longer because it continues after B from the same start.
Song A.
A rolling toy
One roll lasts 4 steady claps. Another lasts 7 claps at the same pace. Which lasts longer?
Worked solution
- 1
Check the clap pace.
The question uses the same steady pace for both rolls.
- 2
Compare the clap counts.
Seven equal stretches of time take longer than four.
- 3
Name the longer roll.
The second roll lasts seven claps, so it lasts longer.
The second roll.
Try it yourself.
Check your understanding
Ari and Lee start walking together. Ari stops while Lee keeps walking. Who walks for longer?
Show answer & reasoning
Lee.
Lee walks for longer. Both begin together, but Lee continues walking after Ari has stopped.
Keep practising
6 worksheet questions
Read the questions online
- Which pictured song ends sooner?
- Which usually lasts longer: a blink or a school day?
- Two sand timers start together. Red finishes before blue. Which runs for less time?
- One event lasts 3 steady claps. Another lasts 5 at the same pace. Which lasts longer?
- Kim claps quickly for one activity and slowly for another. Is comparing just the counts fair?
- Name two events. Explain which usually takes longer.
Read the worked solutions
- Which pictured song ends sooner?
Its bar ends first.
Song B. - Which usually lasts longer: a blink or a school day?
A blink is a very short event.
A school day. - Two sand timers start together. Red finishes before blue. Which runs for less time?
It has the earlier finish.
Red. - One event lasts 3 steady claps. Another lasts 5 at the same pace. Which lasts longer?
Five equal-paced claps take longer than three.
The 5-clap event. - Kim claps quickly for one activity and slowly for another. Is comparing just the counts fair?
The claps do not measure equal stretches of time.
No. - Name two events. Explain which usually takes longer.
Compare the time taken, not an object's size.
Answers vary, such as sleeping at night usually takes longer than putting on shoes.
Curriculum reference & lesson scope
Australian Curriculum v9 / SA Curriculum 2026
Year 1 sequencing familiar events and describing duration; months in order. No clock-reading assessment.
Official curriculum source ↗