Minds On

Exploring time

Explore the following analog clock.

There is a circle with 12 short lines spaced evenly around the circle. Think of these lines as being arranged in order, starting at 1 and increasing by 1 as they go around the circle, to the right. Line 12 would be at the top of the circle. In between each of the 12 lines, there are 4 smaller lines, or dashes, spaced evenly. In the centre of the circle there is a dot with 2 arrows extending outward. The longer arrow is pointing up and to the right, to the dash that is immediately to the right of line 1. The shorter arrow is pointing up and to the left, to line 10.

Answer the following questions about the clock. You can record your thinking using a method of your choice.

  • What do you notice and wonder?
  • What time is it? How do you know?
  • What information could be added to the analog clock to help determine the time?

Action

Clocks

A clock helps us to determine what time it is by counting the seconds, minutes, and hours.

Explore these units of time by pressing on each tab.

Seconds are the smallest unit of measurement on a clock. There are 60 seconds in a minute.

Minutes are the next largest unit of time. There are 60 minutes represented on a clock, and there are 60 minutes in an hour.

Hours are the largest unit of time. There are 60 minutes in an hour.

Types of clocks

There are two types of clocks: analog and digital.

Let’s start by exploring analog clocks.

Brainstorm

Parts of an analog clock

What are some parts of an analog clock?

Record your thinking using a method of your choice.

When you’re ready, press ‘Analog clock’ to reveal the parts of an analog clock.

Parts of an analog clock

The parts of an analog clock include:

  • the clock face, which is the whole front of the clock and all of its parts
  • the hands of the clock:
  • the longer minute hand, which indicates the minutes
  • the shorter hour hand, which indicates the hours
  • hour numbers from 1 to12
  • minute lines 1 to 60

The following image displays the parts of an analog clock.

There is a circle with 12 short lines spaced evenly around the circle. These are hour lines, which are numbered from 1 to 12, around the clock to the right. 12 is at the top, 3 on the far right, 6 at the bottom, and 9 on the far left. In between each hour line are 4 evenly spaced smaller lines. These are the minute lines, which are numbered from 1 to 60 around the clock, to the right. In the centre of the circle there is a dot with 2 arrows extending out from the dot. One arrow is shorter than the other. The shorter arrow is the clock’s hour hand, which indicates the hour. The longer arrow is the minute hand, which indicates the minutes.

A digital clock displays the time in numerical digits without the use of hands.

The following is an image of a digital clock.

A digital clock. It displays the time 12:38.

Student Tips

Quick tip

Time is typically described using a 12-hour clock. This is where time goes in a cycle from 12 midnight to 12 noon, and then from just after 12 noon until just before midnight.

Clock swap

Let’s practise telling time.

Match each time to the corresponding analog clock.

Elapsed time using minutes

Elapsed time describes how much time has passed between two times. Clocks can be used to measure and/or calculate elapsed time.

We can calculate elapsed time using minutes and hours.

Elapsed time example

Let’s explore elapsed time with an example:

If a gardener takes a break from 12:00 p.m. until 12:25 p.m., how can we calculate how much time passes between when the gardener starts and ends their break?

Let’s try to find out the elapsed time together.

Before we begin, press ‘Hints’ to reveal some helpful strategies for calculating elapsed time. Keep these strategies in mind as we explore the example.

  • one strategy includes working backwards by 5, 10, or 15 minutes
  • another strategy might be to count forward by 5’s or 1’s

The following analog clocks display the time when the gardener starts their break (12:00), and when they finish their break (12:25).

An analog clock. The clock reads 12:00. The hour and minute hand are at the 12.
An analog clock. The clock reads 12:25. The hour hand is at the 12 and the minute hand at the 5

We can use the analog clock to count how much time has passed between 12:00 and 12:25.

The following analog clock indicates the elapsed time by using a line on the outside of the clock and highlighted sections on the inside.

A circular analog clock with the hours labelled 1 to 12. 12 is at the top, 3 is on the far right, 6 at the bottom, and 9 is on the far left. In between each hour line are 4 evenly spaced smaller lines that indicate minutes. The section of the clock between 12 and 5 is highlighted.

To determine the elapsed time, we can count the minutes starting from 12:00, until we get to 12:25.

The following analog clock counts the minutes between 12:00 and 12:25, in groups of 5.

A circular analog clock with the hours labelled 1 to 12. The section of the clock between 12 and 5 is highlighted. Outside of the circle, curved arrows and labels indicate the number of minutes that have passed, counting by fives: 5, 10, 15, 20, 25.

Starting at the 12, we can count 5, 10, 15, 20, 25.

Now that we have counted the minutes, let’s try to answer the question:

How many minutes have passed since the gardener started their break?

When you are ready, press ‘Answer’ to reveal the answer.

25 minutes have passed since the gardener started their break.

Brainstorm

Let's think

Is there another way you can get the answer?

When you are ready, press the ‘Other methods’ button to reveal some other ways to get the answer.

Possible student responses

Subtraction: we can subtract 12:25 p.m. from 12:00 p.m.

25 − 0

= 25 minutes

Your time to shine!

Let’s practise finding elapsed time.

Match the following pairs of analog clocks to the corresponding elapsed time.

Consolidation

Independent practice

Explore the following chart of start times, end times, and elapsed times.

Some of the start and end times are missing! Use the provided elapsed time to identify the missing start or end time for each event.

Add the missing minute hand and hour hand onto the analog clock, and identify the time using a digital clock format.

You can use the following fillable and printable Clock Practice Document to record your answers. You can also complete this activity in your notebook or using another method of your choice.

Need a hint? Press ‘Hints’ for some helpful tips to get you started.

  • Can you count on/skip count forwards or backwards using the clock?
  • Can you use addition?
  • Can you use subtraction?
Start time End time Elapsed time

6:00

 

 15 minutes

 

4:50

 30 minutes

3:26

 

 24 minutes

1:10

 

 52 minutes

Clock Practice Press the ‘Activity’ button to access the Clock Practice. Activity (Open PDF in a new window)

Think about your learning

Record your responses to the following questions in a notebook or another method of your choice.

  • How can clocks be used to measure elapsed time?
  • Why is it important to understand elapsed time?

Reflection

As you read through these descriptions, which sentence best describes how you are feeling about your understanding of this learning activity? Press the button that is beside this sentence.

I feel...

Now, record your ideas using a voice recorder, speech-to-text, or writing tool.

Press ‘Discover More’ to extend your skills.

A gardener has an appointment at 9:15 am. It will take the gardener 23 minutes to travel from their work to their appointment nearby. The gardener leaves work at exactly 9:00 am.

Will the gardener arrive on time?

What time will they arrive?

Explain your reasoning, and record your ideas using a method of your choice.