"How long will it be before we eat?" "When will I be 'growed' up?" "Did you know Abraham Lincoln?" These are typical children's questions that reflect the problems they have with understanding the "how long" of time or "duration."

Adults also struggle with their understanding of duration. A busy woman plans to meet at a friend's house at 4 o'clock. As she plans the visit over the telephone, she says, "Yes, I'll do these things today. At 4 o'clock I'll be at your place." The person does not arrive at 4 o'clock and the host or hostess wonders when the promised visitor will arrive. "I'll be there in ten minutes," says the busy executive. One-half hour later the person arrives. How long is ten minutes?

Some people value a precise understanding of duration. Others speak in precise terms but act on a vague understanding of time. Conflict arises. Meetings fail and tempers flare in such situations. An understanding of duration is important!

1. Have children estimate the length of a minute while doing a variety of activities. Have them check their guesses with the clock.

2. Estimate how long it will take to perform tasks. Record the estimates; check them against actual time it takes.

3. Give children a specified amount of time to speak or read on a tape recorder. Help them work to understand how long their "script" can be.

4. Research the effect of strikes, lay-offs, and weather "vacations" on people. What do they do during the "duration" if it affects their standard of living?

5. How does an environment affect people during different time periods?" (Astronauts in a space ship, pioneers on a sailboat crossing the ocean, etc.)

6. Let children watch various people work during a specified period of time. Discuss why some are paid more than others for what they do in the duration of an hour.

How is "The Duration" perceived by various individuals in the cartoon? Why is it perceived in that manner?

a. Rooster

b. Cluck

c. Spider

d. Chicken in the egg

e. Sleeping chicken

f. Caterpillar

g. Chicken chasing an insect

h. Fluffy chicken

i. chicken sliding down the cluck's feathers

j. Hungry baby chicken

k. Baby chicken looking at cluck's face

l. Baby chicken that wants to go for a walk

m. Baby chicken which is fluffy and dry