How it works: a quick refresher
The rules this worksheet practices, then one problem worked from start to finish.
| Strategy | How it works |
|---|---|
| Short hand first | The short hand is the hour hand. Read the hour it has just passed. |
| Count by fives | The long hand is the minute hand. Each number on the clock is 5 minutes: count 5, 10, 15 from the 12. |
| Between two numbers | At 3:30 the hour hand is halfway between 3 and 4. It still shows 3 until it reaches the 4. |
| Write two digits for minutes | Five minutes after 7 is written 7:05, not 7:5. |
| a.m. and p.m. | a.m. is from midnight to noon. p.m. is from noon to midnight. |
Worked example
The short hand is just past the 4, and the long hand points to the 7. What time is it?
- 1The short hand has passed the 4 but not the 5, so the hour is 4.
- 2Count by fives from the 12 to the 7: 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 35.
- 3The time is 4:35.
Ready-made versions
Three fixed versions you can link to or share. Each is a PDF with its own answer key.
- a.m. or p.m. Worksheets, version 1Worksheet PDFAnswer key PDF
- a.m. or p.m. Worksheets, version 2Worksheet PDFAnswer key PDF
- a.m. or p.m. Worksheets, version 3Worksheet PDFAnswer key PDF
Grade level and standard
Written for 2nd grade math (measurement) and aligned to CCSS 2.MD.C.7. It also works as review in later grades.
Common questions
- Is there an answer key?
- Yes. Every worksheet has a matching answer key with each answer worked on the same grid or layout as the question. The worksheet code printed at the bottom of each page pairs a sheet with its key.
- My child reads the hour from the number the short hand is closest to. Is that right?
- Not always. Late in the hour the short hand is close to the next number, so 4:55 can look like 5:55. Read the number the short hand has just passed.
- Is 12:00 noon a.m. or p.m.?
- Noon is 12:00 p.m. and midnight is 12:00 a.m. These are the two times that confuse everyone, so the a.m. or p.m. problems never use them.
- How many different versions are there?
- About a million per skill. Each time you press the button the problems are generated fresh, so you can print a different version for every student, a retake, or another night of practice.
- Are the worksheets free?
- Yes. They are free to print and copy for your home or classroom, with no sign-up.
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