Home/Second Grade Math/Lesson 162
K-5 friendly lesson
One small step at a time.Read the idea, try the activity, and celebrate each win as you go.

Read clocks and write times

Telling time is a top skill! πŸ•’ Let’s learn the secrets of the analog clock, with its short hour hand and long minute hand, so you’ll always know when it’s time for fun!

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

Lesson 162 of 186

Concept

An analog clock has two important hands that move around a circle to show us the time.

The Hands:
*   Hour Hand (Short Hand): This hand is shorter and moves slowly. It tells you the hour.
*   Minute Hand (Long Hand): This hand is longer and moves faster. It tells you the minutes past the hour.
Reading the Clock:
1.  Read the Hour Hand: Look at the short hand first. It points to the hour. If it's between two numbers, the hour is the number it just passed. For example, if it's between the 4 and 5, it is still 4 o'clock.
2.  Read the Minute Hand: Look at the long hand. To read the minutes, you need to count by fives! Each number on the clock represents 5 minutes for the minute hand.
    *   When it points to the 1, it's 5 minutes past.
    *   When it points to the 2, it's 10 minutes past.
    *   When it points to the 6, it's 30 minutes past (or half past).
    *   When it points to the 12, it's a new hour, or 'o'clock'.
Example: The short hand is just past the 2, and the long hand is pointing at the 3.
*   The hour is 2.
*   The minutes are 5, 10, 15.
*   The time is 2:15!

Key Idea: Short hand = hour (read the number). Long hand = minutes (count by fives!).

Try it

Practice: Read clocks and write times.

Complete & Continue β†’