How to Learn to Tell Time With Blank Clocks

Reading a blank clock is easy.

Telling time using a digital clock is easy, but digital clocks are not always available. Analog clocks are used in many homes, businesses and wristwatches. Many have numbers on their faces that make telling time easier. However, other clocks have blank faces, which are sometimes difficult for children to read while they are learning to tell time. With practice and by following a few tips, anyone can learn to tell time on a blank clock.

Instructions

1. Learn your multiplication tables. The numbers on the face of a clock represent the hour of the day, but they also represent the number of minutes in each hour. The short hand points to the hour of the day. For example, if the short hand is pointing at the 4, or between the 4 and 5, it is the 4 o’clock hour.

   The long hand tells how many minutes have passed in an hour. You will have to know how to multiply by 5 to read the minute hand. On a regular clock, when the minute hand is on the 1, you multiply 1 by 5 to know how many minutes have passed--in this case, 5 minutes. When the big hand reaches the 2, multiply 2 by 5 to know that 10 minutes have passed. Continue to multiply each marking on the clock by 5 to know how many minutes it is past the current hour.

2. Imagine the clock has a cross in it, and remember the number each arm of the cross points to. The main numbers to remember are 12, 3, 6 and 9.

   The top of the clock is where the 12 is, which also represents zero or 60 minutes (5 x 12 = 60). The right arm points to 3, which can indicate 3 o’clock or 15 minutes past the hour (3 x 5 = 15). The bottom of the cross points to 6, which can indicate 6 o’clock or 30 minutes past the hour (6 x 5 = 30). The left arm points to 9, which can indicate 9 o’clock or 45 minutes past the hour (9 x 5 = 45).

3. Use the imaginary cross as a guide to tell which numbers go between 12, 3, 6 and 9.

   Since most clocks are round, think of the blank clock as a pie that must be cut into 12 equal slices. Each section of the imaginary cross must have two cuts in it to create three equal slices.

   The two cuts between 12 and 3 point to 1 and 2. The two cuts between 3 and 6 point to 4 and 5. The two cuts between 6 and 9 point to 8 and 9. The two cuts between 9 and 12 point to 10 and 11.

References

• Time for Time: Lesson 3--Telling Time: 5 Minute Intervals