Telling the time to 5 minutes
Home learning focus
Learn to read the time to the nearest 5 minutes.
This lesson includes:
- a learning summary
- a video
- two activities
Learn
Today we're going to look at how to tell the time to the nearest 5 minutes.
But first, watch the video below to recap on some key words you need to tell the time.
There are many more Teacher Talks covering different Maths topics on BBC iPlayer.
Telling the time to 5 minutes
When the minute hand on a clock moves from one number to the next, it has moved 5 minutes.
There are 12 numbers around the clock face, and each interval is 5 minutes, so there are 12 × 5 = 60 minutes in an hour.
Let's use this knowledge to tell the time on the clocks below.
Example 1:
This clock shows 5 minutes past 2 o'clock, or '5 past 2'.
This clock shows 20 minutes past 1 o'clock, or '20 past 1'.
If the number of minutes past the hour is more than 30, we say how many minutes to the next hour.
So instead of saying '50 minutes past 3 o’clock' we say ‘10 to 4’.
Top tip
Check the minute hand to see if it shows minutes past or minutes to the hour.
Example 2:
How many minutes is it from 5 past 7 until 25 past 7?
Between these two times, the minute hand moves from 1 to 5, which is 4 numbers. Each of these number represents 5 minutes. So:
4 × 5 = 20
Therefore, there are 20 minutes between 5 past 7 and 25 past 7.
How many minutes is it from 10 past 3 until 20 to 4?
The minute hand moves from 2 to 8, which is 6 numbers.
6 × 5 = 30 minutes
Remember
When the minute hand is on 3, we say 'quarter past', and when it is on 9 we say 'quarter to'.
Practise
Activity 1
What time is it now?
Practise reading the time during the day.
Notice when the minute hand is on a number and work out how many minutes past or minutes to the hour.
What time is it now? How many minutes is it until the next hour?
Activity 2
Test your knowledge with this quiz!
There's more to learn
Have a look at these other resources around the BBC and the web.
