Time: O'clock & Half Past
Learn to read clocks and tell the time at o'clock and half past the hour!
Parts of a Clock
A clock has a round face with numbers 1 to 12 around the edge. It has two hands that point to different numbers.
The Two Hands
Short hand = HOUR hand
Tells us the hour
Long hand = MINUTE hand
Tells us the minutes
💡 Remember!
- ● The short hand is the hour hand (short word = short hand!)
- ● The long hand is the minute hand (long word = long hand!)
- ● Always read the short hand first
O'clock Times
When the long (minute) hand points to 12, it is an o'clock time. The short hand tells you which hour.
1 o'clock
Short hand on 1, long hand on 12
4 o'clock
Short hand on 4, long hand on 12
7 o'clock
Short hand on 7, long hand on 12
10 o'clock
Short hand on 10, long hand on 12
✔ O'clock Rule
At o'clock, the minute hand always points straight up to 12.
Half Past Times
When the long (minute) hand points to 6, it is half past. The short hand will be halfway between two numbers.
Half past 1
Short hand between 1 and 2
Half past 5
Short hand between 5 and 6
Half past 8
Short hand between 8 and 9
Half past 12
Short hand between 12 and 1
✔ Half Past Rule
At half past, the minute hand points straight down to 6. The hour hand is between two numbers.
A School Day Schedule
We use time every day! Here is what a school day might look like:
| Time | Clock | Activity |
|---|---|---|
| 8 o'clock | 🕗 | 🎓 Arrive at school |
| Half past 10 | 🕙 | 🍎 Morning tea |
| 12 o'clock | 🕛 | 🍔 Lunch time |
| Half past 3 | 🕒 | 👋 Home time |
| 7 o'clock | 🕖 | 😴 Bed time |
Knowledge Check
Choose the correct answer for each question. Questions get harder as you go!
1. At o'clock, which number does the long (minute) hand point to?
2. Which hand on a clock is shorter?
3. 🕜 The short hand points to 3 and the long hand points to 12. What time is it?
4. At half past, which number does the long hand point to?
5. The short hand is between 7 and 8, and the long hand points to 6. What time is it?
6. School starts at 9 o'clock. Where will the short hand point?
7. Lunch is at 12 o'clock. Half an hour later it is...
8. It is half past 4. What time will it be in half an hour?
9. Sam gets home at half past 3. He does homework for 1 hour. What time does he finish?
10. Mia watches a show at 6 o'clock. The show is half an hour long. She then reads for another half an hour. What time does she stop reading?
Key Concepts Summary
- ●The short hand tells the hour. The long hand tells the minutes.
- ●At o'clock, the minute hand points to 12.
- ●At half past, the minute hand points to 6.
- ●Two half hours make one whole hour.