Catching Butterflies: Sequencing Time PowerPoint is an engaging, interactive way for students to practise sequencing units of time in a hands-on, game-based format. Perfect for Foundation to Year 2 students, this colourful resource brings time concepts to life using a butterfly-catching adventure.

To preview this interactive PowerPoint game, watch the video below.

Students are presented with a target time – whether it be a day of the week, a month of the year, or a specific hour on the clock. Their task is to catch the butterfly that represents what comes next. With 14 butterflies to catch throughout the game, students have repeated opportunities to practise and consolidate their understanding of time order in multiple formats.

This resource supports early measurement curriculum outcomes and encourages students to recognise patterns in time, make predictions, and use sequencing language with confidence. It’s ideal for whole-class warm-ups, digital rotations, or small group practise during your time-telling unit.

Key Learning Outcomes:

• ✅ Sequence days of the week, months of the year and hours on an analogue clock
• ✅ Recognise and describe patterns in time-based sequences
• ✅ Use language of time including “next”, “before”, “after”, “hour”, “day” and “month”
• ✅ Practise making time-based predictions and logical reasoning
• ✅ Strengthen understanding of time as a measurable, cyclical concept

What’s Included:

• Interactive PowerPoint with 14 sequencing challenges
• Visual butterfly design with clickable options for student interaction
• Instant feedback and clear progression across time concepts

Materials Needed:

• Interactive whiteboard or screen display
• Mini whiteboards for recording predictions (optional)
• Printed days/months/hours cards for sorting and hands-on reinforcement (optional)

How to Use:

1. Introduce or review the concepts of days, months, and hours with your class.
2. Open the PowerPoint in slideshow mode to activate interactivity.
3. Read the question on each slide and have students identify the time unit that comes next.
4. Click on the correct butterfly to check the answer and move on to the next challenge.
5. Use student responses to guide discussion and reinforce sequencing language.

Ideas for Classroom Use:

• 💡 Use as a warm-up during your daily calendar or morning routine
• 💡 Include in small group rotations to support students still developing time vocabulary
• 💡 Have students create their own “What comes next?” time cards after completing the game
• 💡 Follow up with hands-on sequencing activities using time flashcards or classroom timelines
• 💡 Revisit the game periodically to reinforce retention throughout the term

Top Teacher Tips:

• 💛 Display a classroom calendar or time wall as a reference tool during the activity
• 💛 Pause after each slide to reinforce time language and explain patterns when needed
• 💛 Extend advanced learners by asking them to identify both what comes next and what came before
• 💛 Encourage students to use sentence stems such as “The next day is...” or “After 3 o’clock comes...”

Catching Butterflies: Sequencing Time PowerPoint makes time-telling interactive, fun and purposeful – a fantastic way to build confidence in sequencing concepts through play-based learning.