Classroom Timer for Projectors and Smart Boards
A full-screen classroom timer with huge digits, color themes and keyboard controls for projectors and smart boards.
Open classroom screen
In projector mode the digits fill the screen, the display stays awake and the cursor hides.
05:00
Time is up
Presets
How to use
- Pick a preset or type your own time.
- Press Start; time stays accurate even in another tab.
- When time is up your chosen alarm plays and you get a notification.
A classroom timer needs to be readable from the back row, quick to control mid-lesson and free of clutter. This one fills the projector or smart board with huge digits, hides everything else, and runs in any browser without installing software.
Set up in front of the class
- Open the page on the computer connected to your projector or board.
- Choose a duration and an alarm sound.
- Switch to projector mode. The digits expand to fill the screen and the cursor hides itself.
- Use + and – to make the digits bigger or smaller for your room.
- Press Space to start or pause, C to show or hide a wall clock, and Esc to leave projector mode.
Teachers who use the timer daily can bookmark a link ending in ?pj=1. It opens straight in projector view, so you skip a step every lesson.
Designed for the room, not the desk
- Color themes: dark, light and high contrast. High contrast helps in bright rooms and for students with weaker eyesight.
- Optional wall clock alongside the countdown, useful near the end of a period.
- Screen stays awake using the browser’s Wake Lock feature, so the display does not dim or go to sleep halfway through a test.
- Hidden cursor, so a stray mouse pointer does not sit on top of the numbers.
- Alarm sounds that signal the end of an activity without you having to call out.
Activities that run better with a visible timer
During exams and quizzes, a big countdown answers the constant question of how much time is left. For group work, it keeps discussions on track and makes it fair when groups rotate. Students giving presentations can pace themselves against the clock rather than being cut off.
It also helps with the quieter parts of the day: a set period of silent reading, a short break, or a transition such as packing up and moving to the carpet. Younger students in particular cope better with change when they can see it coming.
Why a visible timer helps students
Time is abstract for many learners. A countdown on the wall turns it into something they can watch shrink, which helps them plan their own work instead of relying on you for reminders. It also moves the role of timekeeper away from the teacher: when the alarm sounds, the activity ends because the clock says so, and you can save your voice for teaching.
Tips from the front of the room
Give a one-minute warning before the alarm for tasks that need wrapping up, and pick a softer sound for reading time than for the end of a test. If the projector washes out colors, switch to the high-contrast theme. Before an exam, test the setup once so you know the screen stays on for the whole session.
Need lap times for a PE lesson or a science experiment instead? The stopwatch has the same full-screen view.
FAQ
How do I put a timer on the projector for my class?
Open the classroom timer on the computer connected to the projector, set a duration and switch to projector mode. You can also open a link ending in ?pj=1 to go straight to projector view.
Will the screen go to sleep during a long test?
The timer uses the browser's Wake Lock feature to keep the screen awake while it is running in projector mode.
Can I make the numbers bigger?
Yes. Press + or - in projector mode to adjust the size of the digits for your room.
Do I need to install anything on the school computer?
No. The classroom timer works in any modern browser, so there is nothing to download or install.
Can students see the current time as well?
Yes. Press C to show or hide an optional wall clock next to the countdown.