Read an Hour on a Clock
Use the supplied hand positions.
About 15 minutes, plus any extended practice
Supplied materials
- Paper and a pencil; drawing and spoken explanations are welcome. An adult may read directions and options aloud.
- Supplied worked-case record: The short hand points to 7 and the long hand points to 12.
- All quantities and shape descriptions are supplied in the worked example and questions; no purchase or personal information is needed.
Learn the idea
On an analog clock, the shorter hand names the hour. At an exact hour, the longer minute hand points to twelve. Read the shorter hand first, then record zero minutes. Clock-hand length identifies their jobs, not which hand points higher on the page.
Use the supplied hand positions. Name the hour shown by the shorter hand and write it with :00 when the minute hand points to twelve. Check the written time against both stated positions.
Identify the shorter hour hand before reading its position. At an exact hour, a minute hand at twelve means :00. Sketch a clock with a clearly shorter hour hand and longer minute hand.
- Sketch a clock with a clearly shorter hour hand and longer minute hand.
- Follow the worked example. Point to each number or shape feature and say what it tells you.
- Use the supplied hand positions.
- Try the question and then the three practice questions. Check your answers and explain any change you make.
See the method in action
The short hand points to 7 and the long hand points to 12. The time is 7:00. The long hand’s twelve means the hour has just begun; it does not mean twelve minutes. Reading only the long hand would miss which hour is shown. Identify the shorter hour hand before reading its position. At an exact hour, a minute hand at twelve means :00. Sketch a clock with a clearly shorter hour hand and longer minute hand.
Check your reasoning
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Helpful tips
- Identify the shorter hour hand before reading its position.
- At an exact hour, a minute hand at twelve means :00.
See the answer and explanation
2:00
The shorter hand names the hour and the minute hand at twelve means zero minutes.
Take it further
Short hand at 10, long hand at 12: expected time 10:00.
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