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
The lesson
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.
Watch it
Where it sits
This opens up
Where this leads
8 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.