Telling Time to the Minute
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Basics on the topic Telling Time to the Minute
Telling Time to the Minute
Did you know that you can use the expressions before the hour and to the hour to tell time to the minute. Why is it important to tell time to the nearest minute? And how do you tell time to the minute using before the hour and to the hour? Since there are a few different ways to tell time, is it important to know how to tell time to the nearest minute in every way possible. How do you know which expression to use when you tell and write time to the nearest minute? In the following, we will look at exactly how this works.
Telling Time – After the Hour
Since there are 60 minutes in one hour, we can divide the clock in half at the 30 minute mark. After the hour means how many minutes have passed in the hour. We use the expression after the hour to tell time when the minute hand is on the right side of the clock.
Once you identify the minute hand on the right side of the clock, you use skip counting to count the minutes that have passed in the hour. Lastly, you determine the hour by identifying the last number the hour hand has passed.
Telling Time – To the Hour
To the hour means how many minutes are left until the next hour. We use the expression to the hour to tell time when the minute hand is on the left side of the clock.
Once you identify the minute hand on the left side of the clock, you use skip counting to count how many minutes are left until the next hour. Lastly, you determine the hour by identifying the last number the hour hand has passed.
Telling Time to the Minute – Example
Let’s look at an example; The clock below shows what time the Monster Truck show starts, but how do you tell time to the minute using before the hour or to the hour?
Let’s start by asking, is the minute hand on the right side of the clock or the left side? In this example, the minute hand is on the right side so we will use the expression after the hour.
Next, we will count how many minutes have passed in the hour so far. If you count the tick marks on the clock from the beginning of the hour to where the minute hand is, you will count six, so we know it is six minutes after the hour.
Lastly, we can determine the hour by looking at the hour hand. The hour hand is on ten, so the Monster Truck show starts at six minutes after ten.
Now let’s see what time the Amazing Acrobats show starts. Do we use the expression before the hour or to the hour?
Let’s start by asking, is the minute hand on the right side of the clock or the left side? In this example, the minute hand is on the left side so we will use the expression to the hour.
Next, we will count how many minutes are left until the next hour. If you count the tick marks on the clock from where the minute hand is to the end of the hour, you will count seven, so we know it is seven minutes to the next hour.
Lastly, we can determine the hour by looking at the hour hand. The last number the hour hand passed is eleven, so the Amazing Acrobats show starts at seven minutes to twelve.
Telling Time to the Minute – Summary
How can we tell time to the minute using before the hour and after the hour? Remember, when we tell time to the minute using the expressions before the hour and after the hour:
| Step # | What to do |
|---|---|
| 1 | Identify which expression to use |
| 2 | Count the minutes |
| 3 | Determine the hour |
Be sure to have a look at the interactive exercises, worksheets and further activities on telling time to the minute for more practice. You find them after watching the video.
Transcript Telling Time to the Minute
Zuri and Freddie arrive at The Bee's Knees Theme Park and are looking at a park map to try and make a plan for their day. They know they only have time to make it to one of the live shows if they want to ride all the rides. "Should we try to see the Amazing Acro Bats at seven minutes to twelve?"
"Do you mean 11:53?"
"Actually, you can also use the expressions 'to the hour' and 'after the hour' to tell time."
"Telling Time: To the Hour & After the Hour"
In order to tell time using the expressions "to the hour" and "after the hour", you have to decide which one to use first. Since there are sixty minutes in one hour, we can divide our clock in half at the thirty minute mark. AFTER the hour means how many minutes have passed in the hour. TO the hour means how many minutes are left before the next hour. "When we tell time using the expression AFTER the Hour, that means the blue minute hand is on the RIGHT side of the clock." When we tell time using the expression TO the Hour, that means the blue minute hand is on the LEFT side of the clock. Let's look at the Amazing Acro Bats show time. Which side of the clock is the minute hand on?
The blue minute hand is on the LEFT side so we can use the expression TO the hour. Now, let's count how many minutes we have until the next hour. Remember, each little line marks one minute. One, two, three, four, five, six, seven. There are seven minutes TO the next hour. Now let's determine the hour. Since the red hour hand is right before the twelve, we know it is seven minutes TO twelve.
Now, let's identify which expression to use for the Monster Truck Show. Which side of the clock is the minute hand on?
The minute hand is on the RIGHT side so we can use the expression AFTER the hour. Now, let's count how many minutes have passed in the hour. One, two, three, four, five, six. It is six minutes AFTER the hour. Now, let's determine the hour. Since the red hour hand is on the ten, we know it is six minutes AFTER ten.
Okay, let's see if you can identify which expression to use for the Beewitchery Magic Show on your own. The first step is to identify which expression to use. You have to see which side of the clock the minute hand is on. Did you choose TO the hour or AFTER the hour?
Here, we use the expression TO the hour, because the blue minute hand is on the LEFT side of the clock. The second step is to count how many minutes to the next hour. What do you think?
How many minutes are there to the next hour?
Five, ten, fifteen, sixteen, seventeen. The third step is to determine the hour. When does the Bee Witchery Magic show start?
The Beewitchery Magic show starts at seventeen minutes TO two. Zuri and Freddie now know each show time, so they can decide which one to watch! Remember, the first step is to identify which expression to use. To do this, ask yourself 'which side of the clock is the minute hand on?' When we tell time using the expression AFTER the Hour, that means the minute hand is on the RIGHT side of the clock. When we tell time using the expression TO the Hour, that means the minute hand is on the LEFT side of the clock. The second step is to count the minutes. The third step is to determine the hour. Speaking of the show times, I wonder which show Zuri and Freddie chose?
Telling Time to the Minute exercise
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Sort the steps to tell the time to and past the hour.
HintsThink back! What should you do before you count the minutes?
Before you determine the hour, what must you do?
Solution- Divide the clock in half.
- Which side is the minute hand on?
- Count the minutes before the hour.
- Lastly, determine the hour.
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Find the clock that matches the time.
HintsRemember, past the hour means that the minute hand is on the right and to the hour means that the minute hand is on the left.
Count the minutes past or to the hour.
Look at the hour hand, is it before or after the hour?
Solution- Here we can see an image of the fourth clock where the minute hand is on the left side, so we can use the expression to the hour.
- For the first clock, the minute hand is on the right side, so we can use the expression past the hour.
- For the second clock, the minute hand is on the left side, so we can use the expression to the hour.
- For the third clock, the minute hand is on the right side, so we can use the expression past the hour.
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Match the time to the clock.
HintsRemember, past the hour means that the minute hand is on the right, and to the hour means that the minute hand is on the left.
Count the minutes past or to the hour.
If the time is past the hour, look at the last hour the hour hand was on. If the time is to the hour, what hour is the hour hand going to be on next?
SolutionThe first clock:
- The minute hand is on the right side, so we can use the expression past the hour.
- After counting up the minutes past the hour, we get 18 minutes.
- Since the hour hand is right after 4, we know it is 18 minutes past 4.
The second clock:- The minute hand is on the left side, so we can use the expression to the hour.
- After counting up the minutes until the next hour, we get 28 minutes.
- Since the hour hand is right before 10, we know it is 28 minutes to 10.
- The minute hand is on the right side, so we can use the expression past the hour.
- After counting up the minutes past the hour, we get 8 minutes.
- Since the hour hand is right after 6, we know it is 8 minutes past 6.
- The minute hand is on the left side, so we can use the expression to the hour.
- After counting up the minutes until the next hour, we get 17 minutes.
- Since the hour hand is right before 8, we know it is 17 minutes to 8.
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What time is it before or after the hour?
HintsRemember, past the hour means that the minute hand is on the right, and to the hour means that the minute hand is on the left.
Count the minutes past or to the hour.
Decide on the hour by checking if the hour hand is before or after the number to show the hour.
SolutionThe first clock:
- The minute hand is on the left side, so we can use the expression to the hour.
- After counting up the minutes until the next hour, we get 18 minutes.
- Since the hour hand is right before 2, we know it is 18 minutes to 2.
The second clock:- The minute hand is on the right side, so we can use the expression past the hour.
- After counting up the minutes past the hour, we get 16 minutes.
- Since the hour hand is right after 10, we know it is 16 minutes past 10.
- The minute hand is on the left side, so we can use the expression to the hour.
- After counting up the minutes until the next hour, we get 3 minutes.
- Since the hour hand is right before 6, we know it is 3 minutes to 6.
- The minute hand is on the right side, so we can use the expression past the hour.
- After counting up the minutes past the hour, we get 8 minutes.
- Since the hour hand is right after 8, we know it is 8 minutes past 8.
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Identify which expression to use.
HintsRemember, the clock is divided in half at the 30 minute mark.
Remember, past the hour means that the minute hand is on the right, and to the hour means that the minute hand is on the left.
SolutionThe clock is divided in half at the 30 minute mark. To the hour is used when the minute hand is on the left. Past the hour is used when the minute hand is on the right.
- The first clock is past the hour because the minute hand is on the right.
- The second clock is to the hour because the minute hand is on the left.
- The third clock is past the hour because the minute hand is on the right.
- The last clock is to the hour because the minute hand is on the left.
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Which times are wrong?
HintsRemember, past the hour means that the minute hand is on the right, and to the hour means that the minute hand is on the left.
Count how many minutes have passed or are to the hour.
Decide the hour by looking if the hour hand is before the next hour or after the hour.
SolutionThe second time is 7 minutes to 6, not 7 minutes to 5.
- The minute hand is on the left side, so we can use the expression to the hour.
- After counting up the minutes until the next hour, we get 7 minutes.
- Since the hour hand is right before 6, we know it is 7 minutes to 6.
The first time is 26 minutes past 1, not 26 minutes to 1.- The minute hand is on the right side, so we can use the expression past the hour.
- After counting up the minutes past the hour, we get 26 minutes.
- Since the hour hand is right after 1, we know it is 26 minutes past 1.
- The minute hand is on the right side, so we can use the expression past the hour.
- After counting up the minutes past the hour, we get 16 minutes.
- Since the hour hand is right after 8, we know it is 16 minutes past 8.
- The minute hand is on the right side, so we can use the expression past the hour.
- After counting up the minutes past the hour, we get 3 minutes.
- Since the hour hand is right after 11, we know it is 3 minutes past 11.
