Should we still follow daylight saving time? Photo: iStock
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November 4, 2022
Why do we change our clocks twice a year? Help high school students explore daylight saving time’s history, health effects and ongoing debate with videos, an NPR interview, maps and discussion questions.
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Updated October 2026: We’ve refreshed this lesson with new context on the daylight saving time debate, clearer discussion questions and optional classroom activities. The original 2022 reporting and NPR interview remain for historical context.
Twice a year, most Americans change their clocks, springing forward in March and falling back in November. But why do we still do it? Daylight saving time (DST) has been around for more than a century, yet Americans continue to debate whether it's worth keeping. According to a 2026 YouGov survey, 64 percent of Americans would prefer to stop changing their clocks twice a year. But that raises another question: Should we make daylight saving time permanent, or would sticking with standard time be better for our health and daily lives?
Check out the videos, podcast and discussion questions below to explore the history of daylight saving time, bust some common myths, learn how changing the clocks affects our health, and discover why a country as large as China uses just one time zone.
Note: This WBZ report aired in 2022, when the Sunshine Protection Act had passed the Senate. A newer version passed the House in July 2026 but has not become law.
Before watching the video, have students vote on whether each statement is true, false or needs more evidence.
After watching, revisit the statements as a class. Which answers changed? What evidence does the report provide, and which claims need additional research?
Take it further: Challenge students to investigate one claim using a historical document or scientific source. Can they find evidence that supports or challenges what they heard?
Did Benjamin Franklin really invent daylight saving time? Not exactly! In 1784, Franklin wrote a satirical essay suggesting that Parisians could save money on candles by waking up earlier and making better use of sunlight. He never proposed changing the clocks. Have students read his original essay and consider: How does Franklin use humor to make his argument, and which of his suggestions are meant to be taken seriously?
Did you know that farmers were among the strongest opponents of daylight saving time when the United States first adopted it in 1918? Many argued that the change disrupted their daily routines, which depended more on sunlight than the clock. Here are a few reasons why:
But here's an interesting twist! In 2026, the American Farm Bureau Federation expressed support for permanent daylight saving time, arguing that a consistent, year-round schedule could make life easier for farmers and rural businesses.
So who else benefits from daylight saving time?
Retailers have historically supported daylight saving time because later sunsets can encourage people to shop and enjoy outdoor activities after work. But whether daylight saving time actually saves energy is another question. A U.S. Department of Energy study found that extending daylight saving time in 2007 produced only modest electricity savings, with no measurable effect on gasoline consumption.
Note: This NPR interview originally aired in March 2022. The discussion of the Sunshine Protection Act reflects the legislation's status at that time, but the questions about sleep, health and changing the clocks remain relevant today.
Did you know that 19 states have passed legislation supporting permanent daylight saving time? According to the National Conference of State Legislatures, these laws cannot take effect unless federal law changes. States can already choose to observe standard time year-round, but they cannot independently make daylight saving time permanent. Check out the NCSL's state legislation tracker to see what lawmakers in your state have proposed.
But what would permanent daylight saving time actually look like where you live? Take a look at the map below, originally published by The Washington Post. It shows how late the sun could rise on the darkest winter mornings if daylight saving time became permanent. In some parts of Montana, North Dakota and Michigan, sunrise wouldn't happen until after 9:30 a.m.!
Imagine if it were 7 a.m. in both New York City and Los Angeles. That's essentially how China's official clocks work! Despite stretching across roughly the same distance as the continental United States, China uses just one official time zone, known as Beijing Time. In 1949, the country began transitioning from five time zones to one, partly to promote national unity. Watch the National Geographic video below and consider how a single time zone might make life easier for some communities while creating challenges for others.
