This blog post is designed to teach 2nd-grade students how to tell time using analog and digital clocks. The first section will cover reading analog clocks, including the clock face and parts, hour hand, minute hand, telling time to the hour, and telling time to the half hour.
The second section will cover reading digital clocks and activities AM vs PM.
Telling -time Reading Analog Clocks
Clock Face And Parts
Before students can begin to tell time on an analog clock, they must first understand the parts of the clock face. The clock face consists of numbers one through twelve arranged in a circle. The circle is divided into twelve sections, or hours, with the hour hand pointing to the appropriate hour.
Hour Hand and Minute Hand
Analog clocks have two hands: the hour hand and the minute hand. The hour hand is the shorter hand, and it points to the hour on the clock face. The minute hand is the longer hand, and it points to the minutes on the clock face.
Telling Time to the Hour
To tell time to the hour, students need to look at the hour hand and see which hour it's pointing to on the clock face. For example, if the hour hand is pointing to the number three on the clock face, it's three o'clock.
Telling Time to the Half Hour
Telling time to the half hour is similar to telling time to the hour, but students must also pay attention to the minute hand. If the minute hand is pointing to the number six on the clock face, it's half past the hour. For example, if the hour hand is pointing to the number two and the minute hand is pointing to the number six, it's half past two.
Telling Time - Reading Digital Clocks
Hours and Minutes
Digital clocks display the time in numbers, rather than on a clock face. The time is shown in hours and minutes, separated by a colon. For example, 2:30 is two thirty or half past two.
AM vs PM
Read the analog clock and picture. Does the activity occur in the AM or PM. This fun & engaging activity will help students apply time to real life situations.
Follow our Facebook page to find amazing teaching ideas for grades Pre K - 3rd Grade.
Our shop is always open to help you with your teaching needs.