90 Second Timer
A minute and a half for turn-and-talk, quick reviews and transitions.
Activity
Time
Station rotations
4 × 1 minute 30 seconds, 60s to switch · 1 minute 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 90 second timer is good for in class
- Turn and talk: about 45 seconds for each partner.
- Gallery walk stop: 90 seconds at each poster before moving on.
- A slightly longer transition when students need to move to the carpet with materials.
Running one of these every day? See the transition timer and station rotation timer for set-up tips.
How the 90 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 1:30 down to 0:45 | More than half the time left |
| Yellow | From 0:45 down to 0:18 | Less than half left |
| Red | The last 18 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 90 second timer rounds back to back
Turn on Station rotations to repeat the 90 second timer as rounds, with a short rest between them. With a 15 second rest:
| Rounds | Work | Rest | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3 | 4 min 30 s | 30 s | 5:00 |
| 5 | 7 min 30 s | 1 min | 8:30 |
| 8 | 12 min | 1 min 45 s | 13:45 |
Questions teachers ask
How do I set a 1 minute 30 second timer?
Type 1 in the minutes box and 30 in the seconds box, or open this page, which is already set to 1:30. You can also use the 1 min chip and press +10 sec three times.
How do I start a 90 second timer?
This page is already set to 1:30. 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 90 second timer turn yellow and red?
It turns yellow with 0:45 left and red with 0:18 left. You can turn colour changes off so the disc stays green.
What sounds does the 90 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.