Telling Time to the Hour
Learn
What is a Clock?
A clock is a tool that tells us what time it is. Clocks help us know when to wake up, eat lunch, go to school, and go to bed!
Parts of a Clock
A clock has two hands that point to numbers:
The Two Hands
- Short hand (Hour hand) - This little hand shows the HOUR. It moves slowly.
- Long hand (Minute hand) - This big hand shows the MINUTES. It moves faster.
Telling Time to the Hour
When the long hand points to the 12, it is exactly on the hour. We call this "o'clock."
- When the short hand points to 3 and the long hand points to 12, it is 3 o'clock
- When the short hand points to 7 and the long hand points to 12, it is 7 o'clock
Remember!
For "o'clock" times, the long hand is ALWAYS pointing to 12. Look at where the short hand points - that tells you the hour!
Telling Time to the Half Hour
When the long hand points to the 6, it is half past the hour. We say "thirty" or "half past."
- When the short hand is between 2 and 3, and the long hand points to 6, it is 2:30 (half past 2)
- When the short hand is between 8 and 9, and the long hand points to 6, it is 8:30 (half past 8)
Examples
Let's practice telling time!
Example 1: Short hand on 4, long hand on 12
Step 1: Look at the long hand - it's on 12, so this is an "o'clock" time
Step 2: Look at the short hand - it points to 4
Answer: It is 4 o'clock (or 4:00)
Example 2: Short hand on 9, long hand on 12
Step 1: Long hand on 12 means "o'clock"
Step 2: Short hand points to 9
Answer: It is 9 o'clock (or 9:00)
Example 3: Short hand between 1 and 2, long hand on 6
Step 1: Long hand on 6 means "half past" or :30
Step 2: Short hand is between 1 and 2, closer to the 1 it started from
Answer: It is 1:30 (half past 1)
Example 4: Short hand on 12, long hand on 12
Step 1: Long hand on 12 means "o'clock"
Step 2: Short hand points to 12
Answer: It is 12 o'clock (noon or midnight!)
Example 5: Short hand between 5 and 6, long hand on 6
Step 1: Long hand on 6 means :30
Step 2: Short hand is between 5 and 6
Answer: It is 5:30 (half past 5)
Practice Problems
What time is it? Look at where the hands are pointing.
1. Short hand on 2, long hand on 12. What time is it?
Show Answer
It is 2 o'clock (2:00)
2. Short hand on 6, long hand on 12. What time is it?
Show Answer
It is 6 o'clock (6:00)
3. Short hand between 3 and 4, long hand on 6. What time is it?
Show Answer
It is 3:30 (half past 3)
4. Short hand on 11, long hand on 12. What time is it?
Show Answer
It is 11 o'clock (11:00)
5. Short hand between 7 and 8, long hand on 6. What time is it?
Show Answer
It is 7:30 (half past 7)
6. Short hand on 1, long hand on 12. What time is it?
Show Answer
It is 1 o'clock (1:00)
7. Short hand between 10 and 11, long hand on 6. What time is it?
Show Answer
It is 10:30 (half past 10)
8. Short hand on 8, long hand on 12. What time is it?
Show Answer
It is 8 o'clock (8:00)
9. Short hand between 4 and 5, long hand on 6. What time is it?
Show Answer
It is 4:30 (half past 4)
10. Short hand on 5, long hand on 12. What time is it?
Show Answer
It is 5 o'clock (5:00)
Check Your Understanding
Answer these questions about telling time!
1. Which hand on the clock tells us the hour?
Show Answer
The short hand (hour hand) tells us the hour.
2. When the long hand points to 12, what do we say?
Show Answer
We say "o'clock" - it is exactly on the hour.
3. If you eat lunch at 12 o'clock, where do both hands point?
Show Answer
Both hands point to the 12. The short hand is on 12 (the hour) and the long hand is on 12 (o'clock).
4. What time does the clock show when the long hand is on 6?
Show Answer
When the long hand is on 6, it shows :30 or "half past" the hour.
Next Steps
- Practice reading clocks at home and at school
- Look at the clock when you wake up, eat, and go to bed
- When you are ready, move on to Counting Coins
- Great job learning to tell time!