US Time Zones¶
An interactive map that helps students understand how time changes across the continental United States.
About This MicroSim¶
This interactive map helps students learn about US time zones by exploring:
- The four continental time zones (Eastern, Central, Mountain, Pacific)
- How time differs between zones
- Which states are in each time zone
- Major cities in each zone
How to Use¶
- Hover over any state to see its time zone
- Use the time slider to change Eastern Time and watch all clocks update
- Observe how time is 3 hours different between East and West coasts
- Click Quiz Me! to test your knowledge
- Notice how the clocks show the same time offset regardless of what hour you set
Key Concepts Demonstrated¶
- Time Zones: The US spans 4 time zones because of its east-west width
- Time Offset: Pacific is 3 hours behind Eastern, Mountain is 2 hours behind, Central is 1 hour behind
- Practical Application: When it's noon in New York, it's 9 AM in Los Angeles
Lesson Plan¶
Learning Objective: Students will identify US time zones and calculate time differences between locations.
Bloom's Taxonomy Level: Apply (L3)
Activities:
- Explore Mode (5 min): Move the slider and observe how all clocks change together but maintain their offsets
- State Identification (5 min): Hover over states to learn which zone each is in
- Quiz Challenge (10 min): Complete the 6-question quiz about time zone calculations
- Real-World Connection (5 min): Discuss when time zones matter (calling family, watching live TV, travel)
Assessment: Students should correctly calculate times across zones (e.g., "If it's 2 PM in Chicago, what time is it in Seattle?")
References¶
Technical Notes¶
- Built with Leaflet.js for interactive mapping
- US state boundaries from PublicaMundi GeoJSON
- Analog clocks update in real-time with slider
- Responsive design for mobile devices
Related Concepts¶
- US Borders
- US Size Comparison
- Cardinal Directions
- Longitude