Time / Minutes & Seconds
Minutes & Seconds
Read clocks to the nearest minute. Understand 5-minute intervals, count-by-5s, and seconds. Grades 2–3.
The 12 Clock Positions = 5-Minute Intervals
Each number position on the clock face represents 5 minutes. The minute hand completes a full circle in 60 minutes = 12 × 5.
12
0 min
1
5 min
2
10 min
3
15 min
4
20 min
5
25 min
6
30 min
7
35 min
8
40 min
9
45 min
10
50 min
11
55 min
Reading to the Nearest Minute
Step by Step
- 1.Read the hour hand — which number did it last pass?
- 2.Count the 5-minute intervals using the large numbers
- 3.Count extra individual marks for single minutes
- 4.Write as H:MM (e.g. 4:23)
Example: Clock shows 4:23
- Hour hand just past 4 → hour = 4
- Minute hand between 4 and 5 → past 20 minutes (4 × 5)
- 3 more small marks → 20 + 3 = 23 minutes
- Time = 4:23
⏱️ About Seconds
- • 60 seconds = 1 minute
- • The second hand is the thinnest, fastest hand
- • It sweeps the full circle once per minute
- • Digital clocks often show seconds: 4:23:15
🔢 Count by 5s to Read Minutes
Skip-count by 5 from 12 to where the minute hand points. This is why learning 5× multiplication table helps with clock reading!
Practice Drills
20
Example: 3 × 1