Telling Time to the Nearest 5 Minutes

Grade 3 Easy Measurement & Data

Learning Objectives

  • Identify minute intervals on an analog clock
  • Convert between digital time and analog clock readings

Concept Explanation

Telling time requires recognizing how clock hands move. Each number on the clock represents a 5-minute interval. For example, when the minute hand points to 3, it’s 15 minutes past the hour. Students also learn to read digital clocks by translating positions of the hour and minute hands.

Understanding time intervals helps with daily routines—knowing when to start or stop an activity, how long something takes, and how to schedule tasks.

Worked Examples

Example 1

Problem: If the minute hand points to 4, what time is it in minutes past the hour?
Solution: 20 minutes
Explanation: Each number is 5 minutes, so 4 × 5 = 20.

Example 2

Problem: 3:15 in digital form means the minute hand is at which number on an analog clock?
Solution: 3
Explanation: 15 minutes past the hour corresponds to the 3 on the clock face.

Example 3

Problem: How do you read 2:25 on an analog clock?
Solution: The hour hand is slightly past 2, minute hand points to 5.
Explanation: 5 × 5 = 25 minutes.

Common Errors

ErrorCorrectionReason
Confusing hour and minute handsThe shorter hand is hour, the longer hand is minutesMixing these leads to incorrect time readings.
Forgetting that each number = 5 minutesMultiply the clock number by 5 for minutes2 on the clock face is 10 minutes, 3 is 15 minutes, etc.
Misaligning the hour hand when minutes go beyond :30The hour hand moves gradually toward the next hourBy 2:30, the hour hand is halfway between 2 and 3, not still pointing exactly at 2.

Practice Problems

  1. Problem: If the minute hand is on 7, how many minutes past the hour is it?
    Solution: 35 minutes
  2. Problem: When the time is 3:00, where does the minute hand point?
    Solution: 12 (0 minutes)
  3. Problem: Convert 5:15 to an analog clock description.
    Solution: Hour hand near 5, minute hand on 3
  4. Problem: Which number does the minute hand point to at 20 minutes past the hour?
    Solution: 4
  5. Problem: If the time is 6:45, which number is the minute hand on?
    Solution: 9 (because 9 × 5 = 45)

Real-World Application Example

Knowing how to tell time helps you avoid missing your school bus or appointments. If the bus comes at 7:35, you’ll know it’s time to leave your house when the minute hand points to 7.

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