Lesson Overview

Featured Article: “Why Do We Change the Clocks, Anyway?” by Alan Yuhas

On Tuesday, the United States Senate passed legislation that would make daylight saving time permanent. If the bill is approved by the House and signed by President Biden, the change would go into effect in 2023.

Do you get annoyed by the twice-yearly time changes? Would you like to see them done away with? In this lesson, you will look at the history of daylight saving, question who benefits from changing our clocks twice a year and look at the possible consequences of the legislation. Then you will write a letter to your congressional representative supporting or opposing the legislation.

Warm-Up

Twice a year in the United States the clocks change: On the second Sunday of March we spring forward an hour to daylight saving time. On the first Sunday of November, the clocks turn back an hour to standard time.

Take a few minutes to discuss the following questions with your classmates, or write about them on your own:

• Have you noticed if you feel different after the time changes? How so? We recently turned our clocks forward an hour. Has it been harder for you to get up in the morning when it is darker outside? Did it take you long to adjust?

• Do you prefer daylight saving time, when it is darker in the morning and lighter in the evening? Or standard time, when it is lighter in the morning and darker in the evening? Why?

• What is your initial reaction to the idea that we may no longer need to change our clocks twice a year?

Questions for Writing and Discussion

Read the article, then answer the following questions:

1. Who is credited with initiating daylight saving time, and what were the reasons for it?

2. What are the benefits of daylight saving now?

3. What are some reasons to end changing our clocks twice a year?

4. How might the time change affect our health?

5. What do you think about the legislation to make daylight saving time permanent?

Going Further

The Times reports:

WASHINGTON — After losing an hour of sleep over the weekend, members of the United States Senate returned to the Capitol this week a bit groggy and in a mood to put an end to all this frustrating clock-changing.

So on Tuesday, with almost no warning and no debate, the Senate unanimously passed legislation to do away with the biannual springing forward and falling back that most Americans have come to despise, in favor of making daylight saving time permanent. The bill’s fate in the House was not immediately clear, but if the legislation were to pass there and be signed by President Biden, it would take effect in November 2023.

Do you feel strongly in favor of or against this legislation? Make a list of pros and cons. Then, write a letter to your state’s House representatives explaining your stance and persuading them to either vote yes or no on the legislation.

You might read or listen to these additional pieces to help you form your position:

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