1
Half past the hour
Discover Mathematics P2: Term 1, Lessons 51–60
GoalRead and show half past times on analog and digital clocks.
New words
hour hand · the short hand, it shows the hourminute hand · the long hand, it shows the minuteshalf past · 30 minutes after the houro’clock · exactly on the hour, minute hand at 12
Explanation
A clock has a short hour hand and a long minute hand. At 3 o’clock the minute hand points straight up to 12. Half an hour later, the minute hand has gone halfway round the clock and points straight down to 6. This is half past three. The hour hand is now halfway between 3 and 4. On a digital clock we write it 3:30. The 30 means 30 minutes. Half past 8 is 8:30. Half past 12 is 12:30.
Worked examples
The minute hand points to 6 and the hour hand is between 8 and 9. The time is half past eight, 8:30.
Youssef’s school break is at half past 10. He writes 10:30.
The same time on a digital clock shows two dots and the minutes: half past 12 is 12:30.
Class activity
Make a paper clock. Cut a circle from a paper plate and write the numbers 1 to 12. Make a short hour hand and a long minute hand and join them with a paper fastener or a pin. Show these times and let the family say them: 5:00, 5:30, 9:30, 12:30.
Practice
1
What time does the clock show?
Half past six, 6:30.
2
What time does the clock show?
Half past ten, 10:30.
3
The digital clock shows this time. Where does the minute hand point on an analog clock?
To 6. The hour hand is between 2 and 3.
4
Mina’s lesson starts at half past 8. Write the time in digits.
8:30.
5
It is 4 o’clock. What time is it half an hour later?
Half past four, 4:30.