Tick-Tock Time Explorers: Telling Time to the Hour and Half Hour

Mathematics Grades 1st Grade 6:21 Video
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Lesson Description

Learn to tell time to the hour and half-hour with a fun song and activities! This lesson uses a catchy tune and hands-on practice to help 1st graders master telling time.

Video Resource

Telling Time to the Half Hour and Hour Song | 1st Grade & 2nd Grade

Math Songs by NUMBEROCK

Duration: 6:21
Watch on YouTube

Key Concepts

  • Hour hand
  • Minute hand
  • O'clock
  • Half past
  • Analog clock

Learning Objectives

  • Students will be able to identify the hour and minute hands on an analog clock.
  • Students will be able to tell time to the hour on an analog clock.
  • Students will be able to tell time to the half-hour on an analog clock.
  • Students will be able to differentiate between 'o'clock' and 'half past'.

Educator Instructions

  • Introduction (5 mins)
    Begin by asking students if they know how to tell time. Discuss why it's important to know how to tell time. Introduce the concept of the hour and minute hands on a clock.
  • Watch the Video (5 mins)
    Play the 'Telling Time to the Half Hour and Hour Song' from Numberock. Encourage students to sing along and pay attention to the visuals of the clock.
  • Discussion (5 mins)
    After the video, review the key concepts. Ask students what they learned about the hour hand and the minute hand. Discuss what 'o'clock' and 'half past' mean on a clock.
  • Practice with a Clock (10 mins)
    Use a demonstration clock or have students create their own clocks using paper plates and fasteners. Practice setting the clock to different times on the hour (e.g., 1:00, 3:00, 7:00) and half-hour (e.g., 1:30, 3:30, 7:30). Have students take turns calling out the time and setting the clock.
  • Worksheet Activity (10 mins)
    Distribute a worksheet with analog clocks showing various times to the hour and half-hour. Have students write the time shown on each clock. You can adapt Numberock's 'Number Notes' for this part of the activity to give visual learners another tool to help retain information.
  • Wrap Up (5 mins)
    Review the main concepts of the lesson. Ask students to share what they learned and how they can use this new skill in their daily lives. You could ask them what time they eat breakfast, go to school, etc.

Interactive Exercises

  • Clock Setting Game
    Call out a time (e.g., 2:00, 6:30). Students use their individual practice clocks to set the time. Check their work and provide feedback.

Discussion Questions

  • What does the short hand on the clock tell us?
  • What does the long hand on the clock tell us?
  • What does it mean when the long hand is pointing to the 12?
  • What does it mean when the long hand is pointing to the 6?

Skills Developed

  • Time-telling
  • Visual recognition
  • Following instructions
  • Fine motor skills (setting clock hands)

Multiple Choice Questions

Question 1:

What does the short hand on the clock point to?

Correct Answer: The hour

Question 2:

What does the long hand on the clock point to?

Correct Answer: The minutes

Question 3:

If the long hand is pointing to the 12, what do we say?

Correct Answer: O'clock

Question 4:

If the long hand is pointing to the 6, what do we say?

Correct Answer: Half past

Question 5:

What time is it when the short hand is on the 3 and the long hand is on the 12?

Correct Answer: 3:00

Question 6:

What time is it when the short hand is between the 8 and the 9, and the long hand is on the 6?

Correct Answer: 8:30

Question 7:

How many minutes are in half an hour?

Correct Answer: 30

Question 8:

How many minutes are in one hour?

Correct Answer: 60

Question 9:

Which hand is shorter on a clock?

Correct Answer: The hour hand

Question 10:

Which hand is longer on a clock?

Correct Answer: The minute hand

Fill in the Blank Questions

Question 1:

The short hand on the clock tells us the ________.

Correct Answer: hour

Question 2:

The long hand on the clock tells us the ________.

Correct Answer: minutes

Question 3:

When the long hand points to the 12, we say it's ________.

Correct Answer: o'clock

Question 4:

When the long hand points to the 6, we say it's ________.

Correct Answer: half past

Question 5:

There are ________ minutes in an hour.

Correct Answer: 60

Question 6:

There are ________ minutes in half an hour.

Correct Answer: 30

Question 7:

On the clock, the numbers go from 1 to ________.

Correct Answer: 12

Question 8:

The song said, 'Thirty minutes is ________ an hour'

Correct Answer: half

Question 9:

The long hand is also called the ________ hand.

Correct Answer: minute

Question 10:

The short hand is also called the ________ hand.

Correct Answer: hour

Educational Standards

1.GM.3.1:Tell time to the hour and half-hour (analog and digital).

Teaching Materials

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Student Worksheet Classroom Slides Assessment Quiz
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