6 Minute Timer
Six minutes for quick writes, mini-lessons and short centers.
Activity
Time
Station rotations
4 × 6 minutes, 60s to switch · 6 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 6 minute timer is good for in class
- Quick write or journal response to a prompt.
- Short mini-lesson segment, so you stick to your plan and leave time for practice.
- Six-minute centers in a 30-minute block with four stations and short switches.
Running one of these every day? See the writing timer and station rotation timer for set-up tips.
How the 6 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 6:00 down to 3:00 | More than half the time left |
| Yellow | From 3:00 down to 1:12 | Less than half left |
| Red | The last 1 minute 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 6 minute stations
With Station rotations on, each station gets 6 minutes and the timer runs every rotation from one Start. Totals with a 1 minute switch between stations:
| Stations | Work | Switching | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3 | 18 min | 2 min | 20:00 |
| 4 | 24 min | 3 min | 27:00 |
| 5 | 30 min | 4 min | 34:00 |
Questions teachers ask
How long is 4 stations of 6 minutes?
With a 1 minute switch between stations, 4 × 6 minutes plus 3 × 1 minute is 27 minutes. Turn on Station rotations to run the whole set with one Start.
How do I start a 6 minute timer?
This page is already set to 6:00. 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 6 minute timer turn yellow and red?
It turns yellow with 3:00 left and red with 1:12 left. You can turn colour changes off so the disc stays green.
What sounds does the 6 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.