How many hours are in a day? Why are there only 12 numbers on the clock?

There are 24 hours in a day. You only need 12 numbers because the clock goes around two times each day.

Show the time 9:00 on an analog demonstration clock. What parts can you name on the clock? What time does the clock show?

The numbers on the clock show the hours. The shorter hand is the hour hand and the longer hand is the minute hand. The time is 9 o’clock.

Show 2:30 on a demonstration analog clock. What time is shown on the clock? Is there a zero on the clock? Explain how you know where to start counting the minutes.

The time is 2:30. There is no zero on the clock because 12 is like zero. You start counting the minutes at the top, at 12.

Why do people sometimes say half past 2 for 2:30?

There are 60 minutes in an hour. 30 minutes is one-half of 60 minutes.

Where would you place the hands on a clock to show 10:30?

The hour hand points between 10 and 11. The minute hand points to the 6.

How many minutes are in 1 hour? Does each number on the clock represent 1 minute?

There are 60 minutes in 1 hour. No, each number on the clock represents 5 minutes.

Show the time 1:50 on the analog demonstration clock. Is the time 1:10? Explain.

No, the minute hand is pointing to the 10. You count by 5s to the number 10 to find the minutes: 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 35, 40, 45, 50. The time is 1:50.

Explain where you would draw the hands to show 7:17.

The hour is 7, so the hour hand goes between 7 and 8. For the minute hand, count to the nearest 5: 1 is 5 minutes, 2 is 10 minutes, and 3 is 15 minutes. 17 is 2 dashes past 15, so count 2 dashes past the number 3 and draw the minute hand.

Would you get the same answer if you started the minute hand at 12 and just counted 17 dashes? Explain.

Yes, counting 17 dashes ends at the same place on the clock. Each number represents 5, so counting by 5s to the nearest 5 is quicker and easier than counting by 1s.

Show 12:38 on the analog demonstration clock. Explain how to find the time on the clock.

The hour hand is between 12 and 1, so the hour is 12. The minute hand is pointing to 3 dashes past 7. Count by 5s to 7: 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 35. Count on 3: 35, 36, 37, 38. The time is 12:38.

Tell Time (Nearest Minute)

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WHAT IS TELLING TIME TO THE NEAREST MINUTE?

The minute hand tells you how many minutes past the hour. The lines on a clock show 5 minutes at a time. You can skip count by fives to find how many minutes.

To better understand telling time to the nearest minute…

WHAT IS TELLING TIME TO THE NEAREST MINUTE?. The minute hand tells you how many minutes past the hour. The lines on a clock show 5 minutes at a time. You can skip count by fives to find how many minutes. To better understand telling time to the nearest minute…

LET’S BREAK IT DOWN!

Counting Numbers

Knowing how to tell time to the nearest 5 minutes can keep you from burning your snack. Suppose you are baking some chicken fingers. The time is 3:00. The chicken fingers will be done at 3:20. What number on the clock will the minute hand point to at 3:20? Each number on the clock represents 5 minutes. So, you can start at 12 and count by 5s until you get to 20. 1 is 5 minutes, 2 is 10 minutes, 3 is 15 minutes, and 4 is 20 minutes. This means the minute hand will be pointing to the 4 at 3:20. That’s when you can take the chicken fingers out of the oven. Try this one yourself. Suppose your pizza is in the oven and will be done at 5:40. What number on the clock will the minute hand point to when you can take the pizza out of the oven?

Counting Numbers Knowing how to tell time to the nearest 5 minutes can keep you from burning your snack. Suppose you are baking some chicken fingers. The time is 3:00. The chicken fingers will be done at 3:20. What number on the clock will the minute hand point to at 3:20? Each number on the clock represents 5 minutes. So, you can start at 12 and count by 5s until you get to 20. 1 is 5 minutes, 2 is 10 minutes, 3 is 15 minutes, and 4 is 20 minutes. This means the minute hand will be pointing to the 4 at 3:20. That’s when you can take the chicken fingers out of the oven. Try this one yourself. Suppose your pizza is in the oven and will be done at 5:40. What number on the clock will the minute hand point to when you can take the pizza out of the oven?

Counting Ticks

Knowing how to tell time to the nearest minute can help make sure you do not miss your bus. Suppose a clock shows that the time your bus picks you up is when the hour hand is between 7 and 8 and the minute hand is 2 dashes past 7. You can figure out what time the bus picks you up by first naming the hour. The hour hand is between 7 and 8, so the hour is 7 because you always choose the number that comes first. Each number on the clock represents 5 minutes, so you can count by 5s to 7: 1 is 5 minutes, 2, is 10 minutes, 3 is 15 minutes, 4 is 20 minutes, 5 is 25 minutes, 6 is 30 minutes, and 7 is 35 minutes. Each dash represents 1 minute. So, start at 35 and count on by 1s to get the minutes: 35, 36, 37. The bus picks you up at 7:37. Try this one yourself. Suppose a clock shows that the time your bus drops you off after school is when the hour hand is between 3 and 4 and the minute hand is 3 dashes past 2. What time does the bus drop you off?

Counting Ticks Knowing how to tell time to the nearest minute can help make sure you do not miss your bus. Suppose a clock shows that the time your bus picks you up is when the hour hand is between 7 and 8 and the minute hand is 2 dashes past 7. You can figure out what time the bus picks you up by first naming the hour. The hour hand is between 7 and 8, so the hour is 7 because you always choose the number that comes first. Each number on the clock represents 5 minutes, so you can count by 5s to 7: 1 is 5 minutes, 2, is 10 minutes, 3 is 15 minutes, 4 is 20 minutes, 5 is 25 minutes, 6 is 30 minutes, and 7 is 35 minutes. Each dash represents 1 minute. So, start at 35 and count on by 1s to get the minutes: 35, 36, 37. The bus picks you up at 7:37. Try this one yourself. Suppose a clock shows that the time your bus drops you off after school is when the hour hand is between 3 and 4 and the minute hand is 3 dashes past 2. What time does the bus drop you off?

All Types of Clocks

Once you know how to read one analog clock, you can read any clock. Some clocks have different symbols for the numbers. There is even a clock that uses dominos for the numbers. Telling the time works the same no matter what the symbols are. There are 12 symbols, each 5 minutes apart. Start by finding where the 1 should be on the clock and think of that symbol as 1, the second symbol as 2, and continue around the clock until you get to 12 so you can use the numbers you are used to. This can work even if the clock has no numbers because you can place the numbers where they should be. Suppose the hour hand is between the symbols V and VI, which are Roman numerals for 5 and 6. And suppose the minute hand is pointing to X, which is the Roman numeral for 10. What time is on the clock? The hour is 5 because the hour hand is between 5 and 6 and 5 is the number that comes first. If you count by 5s from the first symbol to 10, that is 50. So, the time is 5:50. Try this one yourself. Suppose a clock has no numbers on it. The minute hand points straight up and the hour hand points to the right. What time is on the clock? You can draw a picture to help you.

All Types of Clocks Once you know how to read one analog clock, you can read any clock. Some clocks have different symbols for the numbers. There is even a clock that uses dominos for the numbers. Telling the time works the same no matter what the symbols are. There are 12 symbols, each 5 minutes apart. Start by finding where the 1 should be on the clock and think of that symbol as 1, the second symbol as 2, and continue around the clock until you get to 12 so you can use the numbers you are used to. This can work even if the clock has no numbers because you can place the numbers where they should be. Suppose the hour hand is between the symbols V and VI, which are Roman numerals for 5 and 6. And suppose the minute hand is pointing to X, which is the Roman numeral for 10. What time is on the clock? The hour is 5 because the hour hand is between 5 and 6 and 5 is the number that comes first. If you count by 5s from the first symbol to 10, that is 50. So, the time is 5:50. Try this one yourself. Suppose a clock has no numbers on it. The minute hand points straight up and the hour hand points to the right. What time is on the clock? You can draw a picture to help you.

Tell Time (Nearest Minute)

Discussion Questions

Vocabulary

Reading Material

LET’S BREAK IT DOWN!

Counting Numbers

Counting Ticks

All Types of Clocks

Practice Word Problems

Practice Number Problems

Teacher Resources

Lesson Plan

Teacher Guide

Answer Key

Assessment

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