Free for every classroom
Teaching time to ages 5–9? Lessons, a whiteboard quiz, printables and games. No sign-up, no cost, UK and US curriculum.
Teach, show, practice
A simple routine for any lesson.
1. Teach
Open a lesson and read the Teacher tab: a short teaching sequence, questions to ask and common misconceptions.
2. Show
Use Projector view to run “What time is it?” on the whiteboard, with Reveal and Next.
3. Practice
Print a worksheet or let children try a game on tablets or computers.
Projector mode
Built for the whiteboard. Big clock, big words, one tap at a time.
- 1Open any lesson and press Projector view.
- 2Ask: “Can anyone tell me what time this is?”
- 3Press Reveal to show the answer, then Next.
- 4Choose a level to make it easier or harder, and switch hints off for a challenge.
Keyboard shortcuts
- Space Reveal, then next clock
- Esc Close projector view
- ⛶ Full screen button
Curriculum map
Each lesson and where it fits in the UK National Curriculum and US Common Core.
| # | Lesson | UK | US (Common Core) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | The Clock Face | Year 1 | Grade 1 · 1.MD.3 |
| 2 | O'Clock | Year 1 | Grade 1 · 1.MD.3 |
| 3 | Half Past | Year 1 | Grade 1 · 1.MD.3 |
| 4 | Quarter Past | Year 2 | Grade 2 · 2.MD.7 |
| 5 | Quarter To | Year 2 | Grade 2 · 2.MD.7 |
| 6 | Counting in 5s | Year 2 | Grade 2 · 2.MD.7 |
| 7 | Minutes Past | Year 2–3 | Grade 2 · 2.MD.7 |
| 8 | Minutes To | Year 2–3 | Grade 2 · 2.MD.7 |
| 9 | Past & To Practice | Year 3 | Grade 2 · 2.MD.7 |
| 10 | To the Exact Minute | Year 3 | Grade 3 · 3.MD.1 |
| 11 | 24-Hour Clock | Year 3–4 | Grade 3 · 3.MD.1 |
| 12 | Elapsed Time | Year 3–4 | Grade 3 · 3.MD.1, 4.MD.2 |
| 13 | Finish Time | Year 3–4 | Grade 3 · 3.MD.1, 4.MD.2 |
| 14 | Word Problems | Year 3–4 | Grade 3–4 · 3.MD.1, 4.MD.2 |
Common misconceptions
What to watch for, and a quick fix for each.
The hour hand “should” be on a number
At half past, the hour hand is half way between two numbers. Children expect it to point exactly at one.
Move the clock slowly from o’clock to half past and watch the red hand drift.
Saying the wrong hour
At twenty to five, children say “twenty to four”, or at ten past four they say “five”.
“Past” uses the hour just gone, “to” uses the next hour. Use the pink and blue sides of the clock.
Reading the minute hand as an hour
The blue hand on 4 is 20 minutes, not “four”.
Count in 5s up to the number. Show the minute numbers around the clock.
Counting “to” forwards
For minutes to the hour, children count 5, 10, 15 from 12 instead of back from 12.
Count back from 12 or use 60 minus the minutes.
Subtracting times like decimals
5:20 − 3:45 is not 2:35, because there are 60 minutes in an hour.
Hop to the next whole hour, then the whole hours, then the last minutes.
Adding 12 to every time
On the 24-hour clock, only pm times need 12 added. Morning times stay the same.
Ask “morning or afternoon?” first. Use the slider on the 24-hour lesson.
Printables and interactive
Ready for your next lesson?
Start at the beginning, or jump to the topic you’re teaching.