16 Minute Timer
Sixteen minutes for read-and-respond tasks and longer centers.
Activity
Time
Station rotations
4 × 16 minutes, 60s to switch · 16 minutes total
Press Show to class for the board or projector. The disc shrinks and turns yellow, then red. Space starts and pauses. The screen stays awake while the timer runs.
Time's up!
Great work, everyone.
What a 16 minute timer is good for in class
- Read a passage, then answer questions about it.
- Three 16-minute stations in a 50-minute period, with 1 minute switches (50 minutes).
- Partner editing of a draft.
Running one of these every day? See the reading timer and writing timer for set-up tips.
How the 16 minute timer looks on the board
The disc starts full and shrinks clockwise. Its colour tells the class how much time is left, even from the back of the room:
| Disc | Clock shows | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Green | From 16:00 down to 8:00 | More than half the time left |
| Yellow | From 8:00 down to 3:12 | Less than half left |
| Red | The last 3 minutes 12 seconds | Final 20 percent |
Sounds
- A soft two-note warning chime at 1:00 left (you can turn it off).
- Three short blips at 0:03, 0:02 and 0:01.
- A rising end chime, “Time's up!” on the board and a burst of confetti (skipped if your device is set to reduce motion).
Running 16 minute stations
With Station rotations on, each station gets 16 minutes and the timer runs every rotation from one Start. Totals with a 1 minute switch between stations:
| Stations | Work | Switching | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3 | 48 min | 2 min | 50:00 |
| 4 | 1 h 4 min | 3 min | 1:07:00 |
| 5 | 1 h 20 min | 4 min | 1:24:00 |
Questions teachers ask
Can I share this exact setup with another teacher?
Yes. Press Copy link. The link holds the time, the words on the board and any station settings, so it opens set up the same way.
How do I start a 16 minute timer?
This page is already set to 16:00. Press Start or the space bar. To put it on the board, press Show to class: the controls disappear and the timer fills the screen. Tap the screen to pause, press Esc to exit.
When does the 16 minute timer turn yellow and red?
It turns yellow with 8:00 left and red with 3:12 left. You can turn colour changes off so the disc stays green.
What sounds does the 16 minute timer make?
A warning chime at 1:00 left, then 3-2-1 blips and an end chime. Sound only starts after you press a button, and the speaker button mutes everything.