Telling Time: Minutes
Tell and write the time to five minutes, including quarter past and quarter to, and draw clock hands to show these times
What a learner can do afterwards
- Read an analogue clock showing 3:25
- Write 'quarter past 9' or '9:15'
- Draw clock hands to show twenty to four
1 · Read
You already know the hour hand and half past. Now let's read the minute hand too. Every number on the clock stands for five minutes. Count around by fives: 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, and on to 60.
Mia checks the clock before dinner. The minute hand points to the 9, so it shows forty-five minutes past eight. That is the same as quarter to nine, or 8:45.
Two minute-hand spots have special names. Pointing to the 3 is quarter past (fifteen minutes). Pointing to the 9 is quarter to the next hour (forty-five minutes).
Every clock number counts five minutes, and quarter past and quarter to are just two special stops along the way.
2 · Watch
Take it off screen
Where it sits
Where this leads
18 questions wait behind this lesson, each with its answer explained. Every answer feeds the sky: stars light as they are learned, and dim when it is time to come back.