Telling Time — 2nd Grade Lesson
Students will read and write time to the nearest 5 minutes using analog and digital clocks, including half past, quarter past, and quarter to.
2nd Grade · Telling Time · ~20 min lesson
Reading a clock
An analog clock has two hands:
- The short hand tells the hour.
- The long hand tells the minutes.
When the long hand points at the 12, it’s exactly on the hour: the hour the short hand points to, o’clock.
The minute count (count by fives)
Each number on the clock is 5 minutes:
| Clock number | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Minutes | 5 | 10 | 15 | 20 | 25 | 30 | 35 | 40 | 45 | 50 | 55 | 0/60 |
Half past
Half past means 30 minutes after the hour — the long hand points at the 6.
Half past 4 = 4:30
Quarter past and quarter to
- Quarter past = 15 minutes after the hour (long hand on the 3). Quarter past 2 = 2:15.
- Quarter to = 15 minutes before the next hour (long hand on the 9). Quarter to 6 = 5:45.
Matching analog and digital
| Analog (long hand) | Digital |
|---|---|
| 12 | :00 |
| 3 | :15 |
| 6 | :30 |
| 9 | :45 |
How to practice at home
- Spot-check the clock: at random moments, ask “what time is it?”
- Count by fives around an analog clock until it’s automatic.
- Draw the hands: give a digital time, have your child draw it.
- Real-life timing: “dinner is at quarter past 6 — set a reminder.”
Practice with the exercises above, then download these free printable worksheets:
Practice Exercises
Try these on your own, then reveal the answer to check.
The short hand points to 3 and the long hand points to 12. What time is it?
💡 Long hand at 12 means it's exactly on the hour.
What time is half past 4?
💡 The long hand points at the 6 (30 minutes).
Quarter past 2 means the long hand points at which number?
💡 The 3 is a quarter of the way around the clock.
What time is it when the long hand is on 9 and the short hand is between 5 and 6?
💡 The 9 means 45 minutes — 15 minutes before 6.
The long hand points to 7. How many minutes is that?
💡 Multiply the number by 5: 7 × 5 = 35.
If it is 2:45, how many minutes until 3:00?
💡 45 + 15 = 60, and 60 minutes is one hour.
Printable Worksheets
Put this lesson into practice with free, printable worksheets — each with an answer key.
Before You Start
- Counting by fives
- Knowing the hour numbers 1-12
Common Mistakes to Watch For
- Reading the long hand as the hour
- Confusing quarter past (15) with quarter to (45)
What to Learn Next
Browse more Telling Time worksheets or explore all 2nd Grade worksheets.
Related Worksheets
Telling Time to the Half Hour Worksheet
Read each clock and write the time. All times are on the hour or half hour.
Telling Time to 5 Minutes Worksheet
Read each clock to the nearest five minutes by counting the minute hand by fives.
Quarter Past and Quarter To Worksheet
Read each clock showing quarter past (15 minutes) or quarter to (45 minutes) the hour.
Draw the Hands on the Clock Worksheet
Draw the hour and minute hands on each blank clock face to show the time.
Frequently Asked Questions
What time skills does a 2nd grader need?
Tell time to the nearest 5 minutes on analog clocks, match them to digital times, and understand half past, quarter past, and quarter to. By 3rd grade, they add minutes and elapsed time.
How do I teach quarter past and quarter to?
A quarter of an hour is 15 minutes. 'Quarter past' means 15 minutes after the hour (long hand on the 3). 'Quarter to' means 15 minutes before the next hour (long hand on the 9).
Original & reviewed. Every worksheet is created in-house from a grade-level skill brief, checked for a correct answer key, and reviewed for grade-appropriateness. Our editorial policy.