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Learn Primary Primary 4 Mathematics Reading the Clock (Hours)

Reading the Clock (Hours)

Tell time to the hour using the short and long hands.

~8 min Mathematics Aligned with NERDC
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Telling the Time

A clock has two hands. The short hand shows the hour and the long hand shows the minutes.

On the hour: when the long hand points to 12 and the short hand points to a number, we say "one o'clock", "two o'clock", and so on.

O'Clock Times

  • Short hand on 3, long hand on 12 → 3 o'clock
  • Short hand between 7 and 8, long hand on 12 → 7 o'clock
  • Short hand on 10, long hand on 12 → 10 o'clock

Reading the Hour Hand

Always let the short hand guide you. If it points straight at a number, the hour is exactly that number.

Practice

Set a toy clock (or draw one) to show 6 o'clock and 12 o'clock. Which hand points to 12 in both cases?

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Contents

Course contents

Time and the Calendar

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