Creating an effective timetable is an important life skill that combines time management, problem-solving and mathematical reasoning. This Sports Carnival Coordinator Challenge gives students the opportunity to take on the role of an event planner as they organise a successful school sports day.

In this project-based activity, students brainstorm events, estimate activity durations and organise a full-day schedule. They must include opening and closing ceremonies, breaks, transition times and buffer periods while ensuring there are no scheduling conflicts.

The resource guides students through the entire process of developing a timetable, from initial planning through to reflection. Along the way, they practise estimating time, allocating resources and making decisions that ensure the event runs smoothly.

Creative Ways to Teach Creating a Timetable

This resource offers a variety of opportunities for students to practise creating a timetable while applying their learning to authentic situations.

Consider using the activity in the following ways:

• Sports Day planning teams – Have small groups create competing schedules and compare their solutions.
• Timetable improvement challenge – Ask students to review and improve an intentionally flawed timetable.
• Cross-curricular project work – Connect the activity with Health and Physical Education through sporting events.
• Future careers discussions – Explore how event coordinators, teachers and project managers use timetables every day.

Download This Creating a Timetable Resource

This engaging creating a timetable project is available as a ready-to-download PDF and an editable Google Slides version. Simply download the resource and begin helping students develop their planning and scheduling skills through an authentic Sports Day challenge.

Please note that you will be prompted to make your own copy of the Google Slides file before editing.

This resource was created by Mollie Garrigan, a TeachStarter collaborator.

More Ways to Help Your Students Practise Timetable Skills

Click below for more curriculum-aligned resources that develop planning, scheduling and elapsed time skills.

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