Welcome to a fun adventure where we learn all about telling time! Today, we’re going to explore how clocks work and how we can use them to know what time it is. Are you ready? Let’s get started!
Hi there! I’m Timothy Time, the clock that rocks, and this is my friend Cuckoo. We’re here to teach you all about time. Together, we’ll learn how to read a clock and understand what the different parts mean.
The face of the clock is like a circle with numbers all around it. At the top, you’ll find the number 12, and at the bottom is the number 6. On the left side is the number 9, and on the right side is the number 3. The other numbers fit in between. Let’s say them together: one, two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight, nine, ten, eleven, twelve.
Clocks have hands that move around the face. The short hand is called the hour hand, and it moves slowly. It takes a whole hour to move from one number to the next. The long hand is called the minute hand, and it moves a bit faster. Every five minutes, it moves to the next number. Some clocks even have a thin hand that moves quickly, called the second hand.
Let’s start by telling time to the hour. When the minute hand points straight up at the number 12, we say “o’clock.” Then, look at where the hour hand is pointing. That’s the hour! For example, if the hour hand points to 1, we say “one o’clock.”
Say these times with me:
Did you know there are two of each hour in a day? When it’s nighttime and the clock says 12, it’s 12 a.m. or midnight. Twelve hours later, it’s 12 p.m. or noon. Let’s see some examples:
One hour has 60 minutes, so half an hour is 30 minutes. When the minute hand is on the 6, it’s halfway around the clock. The hour hand will be between two numbers. We say the number it just passed and add “thirty” to it. For example, if the hour hand is between 1 and 2, we say “one thirty.”
Say these times with me:
Now you know how to tell time to the hour and the half hour! Keep practicing, and soon you’ll be a time-telling expert. Remember, learning is fun, and you did an amazing job today!
Make Your Own Clock: Create a paper plate clock! Use a paper plate as the clock face. Write the numbers 1 to 12 around the edge, just like a real clock. Cut out two arrows from colored paper for the hour and minute hands. Attach them to the center of the plate with a paper fastener so they can move. Practice setting different times and telling them to a friend or family member.
Time Detective: Become a time detective and observe the clocks around your home or school. What time do you wake up? What time do you have lunch? Write down the times and draw a picture of the clock showing each time. Share your findings with your class or family.
Time Match Game: Create a set of cards with different times written on them, such as “3 o’clock” or “half past 6.” Make another set of cards with pictures of clocks showing these times. Mix them up and play a matching game with a friend. See who can match the most pairs correctly!
Here’s a sanitized version of the transcript:
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[Music]
Rock and learn! It’s learning time today, and today we’re learning to tell time. I said it’s learning time today, and today we’re learning to tell time. There’s a time to walk and a time to run, a time for work and a time for fun, but only if your chores are done! That’s right! We have sad times and happy times and times for making a cool rhyme. It’s learning time today, and today we’re learning to tell time.
Hi there! I’m Timothy Time, the clock that rocks, and don’t forget me! That’s right, this is my friend Cuckoo, and we’re here to teach you all about time. Yeah! If you look at the clock and listen to my rhyme, then you can learn the parts from me, Timothy Time.
The face of the clock is where the numbers stay in their special places every second of the day. The 12 is at the top, and the 6 is at the bottom. Every time you look, that’s where you will spot them. The 9 is on the left, and the 3 is on the right. The other numbers fit between in a circle. Let’s recite: one, two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight, nine, ten, eleven, twelve.
Running around the face are at least two hands. The short one moves most slowly as the hour demands because the short hand is the hour hand. He’s so slow I could slumber! He takes a whole hour just to reach each number. The long hand is the minute hand; she moves a little faster. Every five minutes, she gets a number past hers. Some clocks have another hand that speeds around the face. This thin one is the second hand.
Now, come on! Okay, okay, calm down. Oh, sorry, Cuckoo! I guess I lost track of time. Speaking of time, now you know the parts of the clock that you read in order to tell time. A clock is what you need. Let’s start out easy, telling time to the hour. I’ll teach you a cool trick that will give you the power. When you see the minute hand pointed straight at the top, it’s on the number 12, so say the word “o’clock.” Next, check out the number the hour hand points to, then put that number with “o’clock.” That’s all you have to do!
Let’s try a few examples. Just take a look at these and say them out loud as quickly as you please.
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One o’clock.
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Two o’clock.
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Three o’clock.
Four o’clock.
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Five o’clock.
Six o’clock.
Seven o’clock.
Eight o’clock.
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Nine o’clock.
Ten o’clock.
Eleven o’clock.
Twelve o’clock.
Now let’s try some other clocks like ones that you might see, so you get some more practice. Say these times with me.
[Music]
One o’clock.
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Three o’clock.
[Music]
Six o’clock.
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Eleven o’clock.
Some of you have noticed something a little strange. It seems we have two of each hour in each day. The first 12 o’clock comes when it is night; this is 12 a.m. and also 12 midnight. Twelve hours later, it is noon or 12 p.m. Let’s look at some examples now and join along with them.
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Eight o’clock a.m. is the start of my school day.
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Four o’clock p.m. is the time for friends to play.
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Twelve o’clock p.m. is the time to eat some lunch.
Seven o’clock p.m. is when my dinner gets served.
Nine o’clock p.m. is when I need to be in bed.
Two o’clock p.m. is when I think of what my teacher said.
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Five o’clock p.m. is when I do homework and chores.
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O’clock a.m. is when they open most doors.
Since one whole hour has 60 minutes, half an hour has only 30 minutes in it. If you start on the hour and go halfway around, the minute hand will be on the six, hanging upside down. Now you might ask, where will the short hand be? I can tell you now; it’s quite easy. The hour hand will be halfway in between two of the numbers, somewhere around the ring. Whichever of the numbers the hour hand just passed is the one you say out loud with 30 at the last.
Well then, show us how to do it! Okay, don’t get your feathers ruffled.
One thirty.
Two thirty.
Three thirty.
[Music]
Four thirty.
Five thirty.
Six thirty.
Seven thirty.
Eight thirty.
Nine thirty.
Ten thirty.
Eleven thirty.
Twelve thirty.
Okay, Timothy, so when I hear people say it’s half past seven, does that mean that the minute hand is on the six and then it’s 7:30? Wow, Cuckoo, you catch on really fast! They say “half past” because the hour hand has traveled halfway past the number before it. Let’s look at some more clocks. Read the times on these clocks with me.
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Eight thirty or half past eight.
Twelve o’clock.
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Two thirty or half past two.
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Eleven thirty or half past eleven.
Nine o’clock.
One thirty or half past one.
Seven thirty or half past seven.
[Music]
Ten thirty or half past ten.
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Six o’clock.
Three thirty or half past three.
Now you’re using your brain power, telling time to the half hour!
[Music]
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This version removes any informal language and maintains a focus on the educational content.
