Measuring, Time and Money
Primary 2 · Mathematics
Measuring, Time and Money
Lesson 2 of 3
13 min
Let's begin
Mutesi hurries down the road to school. She does not want to be late.
She looks up at the big clock on the classroom wall.
The clock has numbers and two hands. What is it telling her? Let us read it together.
Look carefully. One hand is short. One hand is long.
The short hand tells you the hour. It moves very slowly, like a tired old man.
The long hand tells you the minutes. It moves faster, all the way around.
The numbers go from 1 to 12, all around the clock face.
Here is the easy one.
When the long hand points straight up at the 12, we say o'clock.
Then you just read the short hand.
Worked example
The long hand is at 12. The short hand points at the 8.
The long hand is up, so it is o'clock. The short hand says 8.
The time is 8 o'clock. That is when the school bell rings!
Worked example
The long hand is at 12. The short hand points at the 3.
The time is 3 o'clock. Time to go home.
Careful! Do not read the long hand and say 12 o'clock. The long hand is only pointing at the top.
One hour has 60 minutes. Half of an hour is 30 minutes.
The long hand walks all around the clock in one hour.
When it has walked half way around, it points straight down at the 6.
Then we say half past.
But wait. Where is the short hand? It is between two numbers, because half of the hour is finished.
You read the smaller number — the one the short hand has already passed.
Worked example
The long hand is at 6. The short hand is between the 2 and the 3.
The long hand is down, so it is half past.
The short hand has passed the 2. So the hour is 2.
The time is half past 2.
Worked example
The long hand is at 6. The short hand is between the 9 and the 10.
It has passed the 9, so the time is half past 9.
Many children say half past 10 here. That is the mistake to watch for. The hour has only started — it is not finished yet!
A week has 7 days. Say them out loud:
Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday, Sunday.
You go to school from Monday to Friday. Saturday and Sunday you rest at home.
On the last Saturday of the month, everyone joins umuganda to clean and build together.
A year has 12 months. Say them out loud:
January, February, March, April, May, June, July, August, September, October, November, December.
January is the first month. December is the last one.
Ishimwe was born in April. April comes fourth. Count and check: January, February, March, April. Yes, fourth!
Tip
Watch the long hand first
Long hand pointing UP at the 12 = o'clock.
Long hand pointing DOWN at the 6 = half past.
Then look at the short hand. If it sits between two numbers, take the smaller one. The short hand never lies about the hour!
Draw the clocks in your book if it helps, then tap Show answer to check.
What you learned today
Quick check
Long hand at 12. Short hand at 4. What time is it?
