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NN.1 Match clocks to times

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What is an analog clock?

An analog clock is a clock that shows time with moving hands on a numbered circle. It has an hour hand and a minute hand.

Examples:
  • The short hand points to the 3, and the long hand points to the 12. The time is 3:00.
  • The short hand points between 7 and 8, and the long hand points to the 6. The time is 7:30.
Note

The short hand shows the hour. The long hand shows the minutes.

How to identify the hour and minute hands

The hour hand is shorter and moves slowly. The minute hand is longer and moves around the clock face more quickly.

Steps:
  • Look at the short hand → this tells the hour.
  • Look at the long hand → this tells the minutes.
  • Read both together to find the time.
Note

If the short hand is between two numbers, the time is between those two hours. Always start by reading the hour hand first.

Reading minutes on an analog clock

The numbers 1 through 12 on the clock face also stand for minutes. Each number equals 5 minutes when counted around the clock.

Examples:
  • The long hand on the 1 means 5 minutes.
  • The long hand on the 3 means 15 minutes.
  • The long hand on the 6 means 30 minutes.
  • The long hand on the 9 means 45 minutes.
Note

Count by fives around the clock to find the minutes: 5, 10, 15, 20… all the way to 60.

Matching clocks to times

To match an analog clock to a written time, read the hour hand first, then the minute hand, and put them together.

Examples:
  • Hour hand at 4, minute hand at 12 → 4:00.
  • Hour hand between 1 and 2, minute hand at 6 → 1:30.
  • Hour hand at 9, minute hand at 3 → 9:15.
Note

Always check the position of both hands. The hour hand is shorter and points to the hour, and the minute hand is longer and points to the minutes.

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