You can read times like 3:00 and 3:30 (Time to the Hour and Half Hour). Now you will read the long hand anywhere on the clock, by counting by 5s (Skip Counting by 5s, 10s and 100s).
Why it works
The long minute hand goes all the way around in 60 minutes. The clock has 12 numbers, and 12 jumps of 5 make 60: 5, 10, 15, … 60. So each number stands for 5 more minutes. The short hand moves slowly from one hour to the next during that time.
Worked example: Read 3:20
The short hand is a bit past 3. The long hand points to the 4.
- The short hand has passed 3 but not reached 4, so the hour is 3.
- Long hand on the 4: count by 5s four times: 5, 10, 15, 20.
Answer: 3:20
Worked example: Almost the next hour
The short hand is almost at the 9. The long hand points to the 9.
- The short hand has not reached 9 yet, so the hour is still 8.
- Long hand on the 9: nine 5s are 45 minutes.
Answer: 8:45
Key idea
The short hand shows the hour it has passed. For the long hand, count by 5s for each number, starting at the 12.
Common mistake
Reading the number the long hand points to as the minutes, like saying 3:04 when it is 3:20. The 4 means four 5s. Check: when the long hand points to the 6, it is halfway around, which is 30 minutes.
Grown-up tip: Ask what time it is on a clock with hands a few times a day, and count the 5s out loud together.