Time
Primary 4 · Mathematics
Time
Lesson 2 of 5
15 min
Let's begin
Keza's big brother Gatete wants to wake up early for umuganda. He sets his alarm for 6:00. But the alarm rings at 6:00 in the evening, not in the morning!
A clock face shows only 12 hours, but a day has 24 hours. Today you will learn how a.m. and p.m. tell the morning from the afternoon and night.
The hour hand goes around the clock two times every day: once from midnight to midday, and once more from midday to midnight. So 6:00 happens twice a day.
Midday is also called 12 noon. The new day starts at 12 midnight. To avoid mistakes, write "12 noon" and "12 midnight" instead of a.m. or p.m.
Worked example 1
Umuganda usually starts at 8 o'clock in the morning. We write 8:00 a.m.
Worked example 2
Mutesi has supper at half past seven in the evening. We write 7:30 p.m.
Worked example 3
Which is earlier, 11:00 a.m. or 1:00 p.m.? 11:00 a.m. is in the morning, before noon. 1:00 p.m. is after noon. So 11:00 a.m. is earlier, even though 11 is a bigger number than 1.
Phones and bus tickets often use the 24-hour clock. The hours go from 00 to 23, so there is no need for a.m. or p.m.
Tip
a.m. comes first. The letter a comes before p, and the morning comes before the afternoon. Morning is a.m. Afternoon, evening and night after noon are p.m.
Work each one in your exercise book first. Then tap Show answer to check.
Mutesi wakes up at 6 o'clock in the morning. Write the time with a.m. or p.m.
Answer: 6:00 a.m.
Football after school starts at half past four in the afternoon. Write the time.
Answer: 4:30 p.m.
Is 9:00 p.m. in the morning or at night?
Answer: At night. p.m. is after noon.
A bus ticket says 15:45. Write this time using p.m.
Answer: 3:45 p.m., because 15 − 12 = 3.
Which is earlier: 11:30 a.m. or 12:30 p.m.?
Answer: 11:30 a.m. It is before noon.
What you learned today
Sources and credits
Written by Ganzaa. The stories, drawings and practice questions are original.
Quick check
Keza goes to sleep at 9 o'clock at night. How do we write it?
