2nd Grade · Measurement & Data
2.MD.C.7: Tell and write time from analog and digital clocks to the nearest five minutes
2.MD.C.7 is a 2nd grade Common Core math standard in Measurement & Data. Here’s what it really covers, and how you can help your students learn it.
By Robert “Bobby” BarnettMath teacher, parent, and founder of Bobby’s Math Club
The standard
Tell and write time from analog and digital clocks to the nearest five minutes, using a.m. and p.m.
In plain words
Tell and write time from analog and digital clocks to the nearest five minutes.
Sample questions from student practice
These questions from Bobby's Math Club are the kinds of questions your students will see. You can try answering them to see what a student might see.
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
Where students 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.
Effective teaching strategies
- Show 2:20 on a demonstration clock and have students count by fives from the 12 to the long hand, then write the time with a colon as it appears on a digital clock.
- Ask students to read the short hand first and name the hour, such as at 3:50 where the short hand is almost at the 4 but the hour is still 3.
- Sort events such as waking up, lunch, and bedtime into a.m. and p.m. columns, and have students write a sensible time for each, such as 7:00 a.m. for waking up.
Units that teach this standard
Find where 2.MD.C.7 lands in the program you teach. Each unit has a guide written for families. Unit names and order vary between editions and districts, so your school’s own materials have the exact sequence.
Bridges in Mathematics
enVision Mathematics
Eureka Math
Eureka Math²
i-Ready Classroom Mathematics
Illustrative Mathematics
Into Math
Math Expressions
Reveal Math
Don’t see your curriculum? Contact Bobby and we’ll see if we can help!
Share it with families
Families can read Telling time to the nearest five minutes for a plain-language look at this skill, with three questions to try together and ideas for helping at home.
Help every student practice measurement and data at home
In Bobby's Math Club, students practice at just the right level, with a hint when they need one, a clear explanation after every question, and kid-friendly videos. Unlimited practice is free for every family.
See how it works for teachers
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.