Time: Quarter Hours
An hour has 60 minutes. A quarter of an hour is 15 minutes. Knowing o'clock, quarter past, half past, and quarter to helps us read time accurately.
O'clock
Minute hand at 12
Example: 3:00 = three o'clock
0 minutes past
Quarter Past
Minute hand at 3
Example: 3:15 = quarter past 3
15 minutes past the hour
Half Past
Minute hand at 6
Example: 3:30 = half past 3
30 minutes past the hour
Quarter To
Minute hand at 9
Example: 2:45 = quarter to 3
15 minutes BEFORE the next hour
The Minute Hand Journey
The minute hand travels all the way around in 60 minutes (one full hour). Here are the four key positions:
:00
o'clock
:15
quarter past
:30
half past
:45
quarter to
Key Vocabulary
Knowledge Check
Question 1
The minute hand is pointing to 6. Which time word describes this position?
Question 2
It is quarter to 6. What does the clock show in numbers?
Question 3
The clock shows 7:15. How would you say this time?
Question 4
School finishes at half past 3. What is this time in numbers?
Lesson Summary
- ✓An hour = 60 minutes. A quarter hour = 15 minutes. Half an hour = 30 minutes.
- ✓Minute hand at 12 = o'clock. At 3 = quarter past. At 6 = half past. At 9 = quarter to.
- ✓Quarter past = 15 minutes after the hour (e.g. 4:15). Quarter to = 15 minutes before the next hour (e.g. 3:45 = quarter to 4).
- ✓Half past = 30 minutes after the hour (e.g. 2:30 = half past 2).