30 Second Timer
Thirty seconds for quick writes, partner shares and lining up.
Activity
Time
Station rotations
4 × 30 seconds, 60s to switch · 30 seconds 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 30 second timer is good for in class
- Quick write: one sentence about what you just learned.
- Partner share, round one: Partner A talks for thirty seconds, then switch.
- Push in chairs and line up quietly before the bell.
Running one of these every day? See the transition timer and brain break timer for set-up tips.
How the 30 second 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 0:30 down to 0:15 | More than half the time left |
| Yellow | From 0:15 down to 0:06 | Less than half left |
| Red | The last 6 seconds | Final 20 percent |
Sounds
- No 1-minute warning chime: it only plays on timers longer than 90 seconds.
- 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 30 second timer rounds back to back
Turn on Station rotations to repeat the 30 second timer as rounds, with a short rest between them. With a 15 second rest:
| Rounds | Work | Rest | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3 | 1 min 30 s | 30 s | 2:00 |
| 5 | 2 min 30 s | 1 min | 3:30 |
| 8 | 4 min | 1 min 45 s | 5:45 |
Questions teachers ask
Does the 1-minute warning chime play on a 30 second timer?
No. The warning chime only plays on timers longer than 90 seconds, where a reminder is actually useful. Short timers still get the 3-2-1 blips and the end chime.
How do I start a 30 second timer?
This page is already set to 0:30. 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 30 second timer turn yellow and red?
It turns yellow with 0:15 left and red with 0:06 left. You can turn colour changes off so the disc stays green.
What sounds does the 30 second timer make?
No warning chime (the timer is too short for one), but 3-2-1 blips and an end chime. Sound only starts after you press a button, and the speaker button mutes everything.