Time
Primary 4 · Mathematics
Time
Lesson 4 of 5
20 min
Let's begin
Uwase's family is invited to a wedding "on the third Saturday of July". Uwase looks at the calendar on the kitchen wall.
Which date is the third Saturday? How many days away is it?
Today you will learn the months, the days in each month, and how to read a calendar page.
| Month | Days | Month | Days |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | 31 | July | 31 |
| February | 28 or 29 | August | 31 |
| March | 31 | September | 30 |
| April | 30 | October | 31 |
| May | 31 | November | 30 |
| June | 30 | December | 31 |
Altogether a year has 365 days.
Every 4 years, February has 29 days instead of 28. That year is a leap year, and it has 366 days. 2024 was a leap year, and 2028 will be the next one.
A calendar page shows one month. Each column is a day of the week, and each row is a week.
Worked example 1
What day is 1 July 2026? Look at the column above the 1. It is a Wednesday. It is also Independence Day, a public holiday. Liberation Day, 4 July, is on a Saturday.
Worked example 2
Which date is the third Saturday of July 2026? Go down the Saturday column: 4, 11, 18. The third one is 18 July.
Worked example 3
How many days is it from 4 July to 18 July? 18 − 4 = 14 days, which is 2 weeks.
Worked example 4
The same weekday comes back every 7 days. 1 July is a Wednesday, so 8, 15, 22 and 29 July are Wednesdays too.
In Rwanda we write the day first, then the month, then the year: 18 July 2026. In numbers it is 18-07-2026.
Tip
Knuckles are 31. Make two fists. Name the months on your knuckles and the dips between them: January on a knuckle, February in a dip, March on a knuckle... When you reach July on the last knuckle, jump to the first knuckle of the other hand for August. Every knuckle month has 31 days. Every dip month has 30, except February.
Work each one in your exercise book first. Then tap Show answer to check.
How many days are there in September?
Answer: 30 days. September is a dip month.
How many days are there in a leap year?
Answer: 366 days.
Look at the July 2026 calendar. What day of the week is 20 July?
Answer: Monday.
Which date is the last Friday of July 2026?
Answer: 31 July. The Fridays are 3, 10, 17, 24 and 31.
Mugisha's birthday is on 25 July. Today is 4 July. How many days are left until his birthday?
Answer: 21 days, because 25 − 4 = 21. That is exactly 3 weeks.
What you learned today
Sources and credits
Written by Ganzaa. The stories, drawings and practice questions are original.
Quick check
How many days are there in April?
