Telling time to the nearest five minutes
In 2nd grade, children learn to tell and write time to the nearest five minutes on analog and digital clocks and to use a.m. and p.m. for the time of day.
By Robert “Bobby” BarnettMath teacher, parent, and founder of Bobby’s Math Club
Try these with your child
These are real questions from our 2nd grade practice. Tap the speaker to hear one read aloud, or the light bulb for a hint, and talk about the answer together.
Question 1 of 3
The hour hand is on the 8 and the minute hand is on the 12. What is the time?
- 12:40
- 8:00
- 8:12
Why this matters
Every time your child reads a clock on their own, they gain a little independence, like knowing when a show starts or how soon it is time to leave. Understanding a.m. and p.m. helps them see that each day has two rounds of 12 hours. In 3rd grade, children read time to the minute and work out how much time has passed, such as from 3:15 to 4:00.
Where kids can get stuck
- Reading the number the long hand points to as the minutes, saying 2:04 instead of 2:20.
- Naming the wrong hour when the short hand is near the next number, reading 3:50 as 4:50.
- Mixing up a.m. and p.m., saying they wake up at 7:00 p.m.
How you can help
- Count by 5s around an analog clock together, pointing to each number as you go, so your child connects each number to the minutes it stands for.
- Ask your child to read the time at meals and bedtime, and to say whether it is a.m. or p.m., such as 8:15 a.m. for breakfast.
- Plan a daily schedule together, writing the times of a few events like 3:25 p.m. for pickup, and check the clock when each one arrives.
The kid-friendly video below explains it in a few minutes, and Bobby's Math Club offers free practice that grows with your child.
Kid-friendly explanation
Questions parents ask
Why is my child learning to tell time to the nearest five minutes?
Telling time to five minutes builds on what your child learned in 1st grade and connects to counting by 5s. It is precise enough for many daily plans, such as meeting at 4:35. It also prepares your child for telling time to the minute in 3rd grade.
How can I help my child understand a.m. and p.m.?
Explain that a day has two rounds of 12 hours. Times from midnight until noon are a.m., and times from noon until midnight are p.m. Talk about familiar events, like breakfast at 7:30 a.m. and dinner at 6:00 p.m. Connecting the labels to routines makes them easier to remember.
Why does my child read the clock as 6:03 when the long hand points to 3?
Your child is reading the number on the clock face as minutes. Explain that for the long hand, each number means five minutes, so the 3 means 15 minutes after the hour. Counting by 5s around the clock, pointing to each number, helps this click.
Make learning math fun
Bobby's Math Club turns 2nd grade math practice into something fun to do together.
- Free, unlimited practice for every child in your family
- Practice that starts where your child is and grows with them
- You see their progress and what to work on next
Written by Robert “Bobby” Barnett
Bobby is an award-winning math teacher, the author of Meet Every Learner’s Needs, and the father of two elementary-school math learners. He uses Bobby’s Math Club with his own kids a few times every week. Learn more or contact Bobby.
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Join the clubNote for teachers: This skill is covered by Common Core math standard 2.MD.C.7: “Tell and write time from analog and digital clocks to the nearest five minutes, using a.m. and p.m.” Learn how Bobby's Math Club can help your students grow. (Common Core 2.MD.7)