K-5 friendly lesson

One small step at a time.Read the idea, try the activity, and celebrate each win as you go.

Match Analog Clocks to Times

🕰️ The Classic Clock! The numbers are in a giant circle. The hands are spinning. How do we figure out the time without the glowing numbers?

Do this: Read the concept below, then try the quiz or activity.

Lesson 159 of 186

Concept

An Analog clock is a giant puzzle. You have to read the short hand, and then you have to read the long hand.

🎯 The Two Hands Rule:
1. The Short, Fat Hand (The Hour): It is slow. Whatever big number it is touching (or just slightly past), is the Hour. 
   *(If it's pointing exactly at the 4... it's 4 o'clock).*
2. The Long, Skinny Hand (The Minutes): It is fast! It points to the invisible tiny ticks on the outside of the clock.
   * Every giant number is a jump of 5 minutes!
   * (If it points at the 1 = 5 minutes. If it points at the 2 = 10 minutes. If it points to the 3 = 15 minutes!).

The Big Secret: If the Long minute hand points straight up at the 12, it means ZERO minutes! (Like 4:00).

Try it

Read the spinning hands!

Instructions: Figure out where the Short hand is pointing (Hour). Then count by 5s to find where the Long hand is pointing (Minutes).

Problem 1: Short hand points at 9. Long hand points straight up at 12! * Hour: 9. * Minutes: 12 means ZERO (The start of the hour!). * Digital: 9:00

Problem 2: Short hand points at 3. Long hand points at the big 2! * Hour: 3 * Minutes: (Count by 5s! 1=5. 2=10!). * Digital: 3:___

Problem 3: Short hand points at 6. Long hand points perfectly at the 6! * Hour: 6 * Minutes: (5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30!). * Digital: 6:___

Problem 4: Short hand points at 10. Long hand points at 1. * Digital: 10:___ (Don't forget the zero! It's an Oh!)

Set the clock to 10:05!

3:00 AM

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