Time and Calendar

Sequencing Daily Events means putting things in the order they happen.

We do many things each day. Some things happen first, some happen next, some happen later, and some happen at night.

Learning the order of daily events helps us understand time in a simple way.

Time words help us talk about order.

• First = what happens at the beginning
• Next = what happens after first
• Later = what happens after that
• Last = what happens at the end
• Morning = the early part of the day
• Afternoon = the middle and later part of the day
• Night = the time when it is dark and we get ready for sleep

Let’s think about a day. Many children do some of the same things every day.

1. Wake up
2. Eat breakfast
3. Go to school
4. Play or do homework
5. Eat dinner
6. Go to bed

This list shows the sequence, or order, of events.

We can also group events by the part of the day.

• Morning: wake up, get dressed, eat breakfast
• Afternoon: eat lunch, learn at school, play outside
• Night: eat dinner, brush teeth, go to bed

When we sequence events, we ask: What happens first? What happens next? What happens later? What happens last?

It is like putting story cards in the right order.

Worked Example 1

Put these events in order:

• Go to school
• Wake up
• Eat breakfast

Think about your day. You wake up before breakfast. You eat breakfast before school.

Answer:

1. Wake up
2. Eat breakfast
3. Go to school

We can say: First I wake up. Next I eat breakfast. Then I go to school.

Worked Example 2

Which part of the day matches each event?

• Brush teeth and go to bed
• Eat lunch at school
• Get dressed after waking up

Answer:

• Brush teeth and go to bed = Night
• Eat lunch at school = Afternoon
• Get dressed after waking up = Morning

We use clues from daily life to help us.

Worked Example 3

Put these events in order:

• Eat dinner
• Play after school
• Go to bed
• Go home from school

Let’s think carefully.

After school, you go home. Then you might play. Later, you eat dinner. Last, you go to bed.

Answer:

1. Go home from school
2. Play after school
3. Eat dinner
4. Go to bed

We can say: First I go home from school. Next I play. Later I eat dinner. Last I go to bed.

Worked Example 4

Read the sentence:

First Maya wakes up. Next she puts on her clothes. Later she eats breakfast. Last she walks to school.

What happens before breakfast?

Answer: Maya puts on her clothes before breakfast.

What happens after breakfast?

Answer: Maya walks to school after breakfast.

Helpful tips for sequencing daily events:

• Think about your own day.
• Look for time words like first, next, later, and last.
• Ask yourself what usually happens in the morning, afternoon, or night.
• Say the events out loud to hear if they sound right.

Sometimes two events can happen close together. We choose the one that makes the most sense in a normal day.

For example, you usually eat breakfast before school, and you usually sleep at night, not in the morning.

Try it on your own

Put these events in order:

• Go to bed
• Eat dinner
• Brush teeth

A good order is:

1. Eat dinner
2. Brush teeth
3. Go to bed

Here is another one:

• Wake up
• Eat lunch
• Eat breakfast

A good order is:

1. Wake up
2. Eat breakfast
3. Eat lunch

Summary

Sequencing daily events means putting things in the order they happen.

We use time words like first, next, later, last, morning, afternoon, and night.

When you know what usually happens in a day, you can put events in the correct order.

Days of the Week and Months of the Year

We use a calendar to help us know what day it is and what month it is.

A calendar helps us talk about today, yesterday, and tomorrow. It also helps us find birthdays, holidays, school days, and special events.

In this lesson, we will learn the days of the week in order and the months of the year in order. We will also practice using a calendar to find a day or date.

1. The Days of the Week

There are 7 days in one week.

• Sunday
• Monday
• Tuesday
• Wednesday
• Thursday
• Friday
• Saturday

We can count the days in a week like this:

$$7 = 1\text{ week}$$

It is important to say the days in order.

1. Sunday
2. Monday
3. Tuesday
4. Wednesday
5. Thursday
6. Friday
7. Saturday

After Saturday, the days start again with Sunday. The week repeats over and over.

Helpful time words:

• Yesterday means the day before today.
• Today means this day.
• Tomorrow means the day after today.

Example: If today is Monday, yesterday was Sunday, and tomorrow will be Tuesday.

2. The Months of the Year

There are 12 months in one year.

We can count the months in a year like this:

$$12 = 1\text{ year}$$

1. January
2. February
3. March
4. April
5. May
6. June
7. July
8. August
9. September
10. October
11. November
12. December

After December, the months start again with January. A new year begins.

3. Using a Calendar

A calendar is a chart that shows the days and dates in a month.

Each date is a number on the calendar, like 1, 2, 3, or 15.

The top of a calendar usually shows the month. The calendar boxes show the dates. The columns often show the days of the week.

When you use a calendar, ask yourself:

• What is the month?
• What day of the week is it?
• What is the date?

4. How to Find a Day or Date

To find a date on a calendar:

1. Look at the month name.
2. Look across the top for the day of the week.
3. Find the number for the date.

To find the day for a date:

1. Find the number date.
2. Look up to the top of that column.
3. That tells you the day of the week.

Worked Example 1

Question: What day comes after Tuesday?

Think: Say the days in order: Sunday, Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday.

Answer: The day after Tuesday is Wednesday.

Worked Example 2

Question: What month comes after April?

Think: Say the months in order: January, February, March, April, May.

Answer: The month after April is May.

Worked Example 3

Question: If today is Friday, what day is tomorrow?

Think: Tomorrow means the day after today. After Friday comes Saturday.

Answer: Tomorrow is Saturday.

Worked Example 4

Question: Sam's birthday is on July 4. Which month is Sam's birthday in?

Think: The month name is already given: July.

Answer: Sam's birthday is in July.

5. Easy Ways to Remember

You can practice the days of the week by saying them every morning.

You can practice the months of the year by saying them like a song.

Look at a real calendar at home or at school. Point to:

• today's day
• today's date
• this month

6. Let’s Review

• There are 7 days in a week.
• There are 12 months in a year.
• The days of the week and months of the year must be said in order.
• A calendar helps us find the day, date, and month.
• Yesterday, today, and tomorrow help us talk about time.

Final Summary

The days of the week are Sunday, Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, and Saturday.

The months of the year are January, February, March, April, May, June, July, August, September, October, November, and December.

When we use a calendar, we can find a month, a day of the week, and a date. Knowing the order of days and months helps us understand time and plan for special days.

Parts of an Analog Clock

We use clocks to tell time. An analog clock is a clock with hands that move around a circle.

Today we will learn the parts of an analog clock. We will learn the face, the hour hand, and the minute hand.

1. The clock face

The face is the front of the clock. It is usually a circle. The face has numbers on it.

Most analog clocks have the numbers 1 to 12 on the face.

These numbers go around the clock in order:

$$1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12$$

The numbers help us know where the hands are pointing.

2. The hour hand

The hour hand tells the hour. The hour is the big part of the time, like 3 o'clock or 7 o'clock.

The hour hand is the short hand.

It moves slowly from one number to the next.

If the short hand points to 4, the hour is 4.

3. The minute hand

The minute hand tells the minutes.

The minute hand is the long hand.

It moves faster than the hour hand.

When we are first learning clocks, we often look for where the long hand points and where the short hand points.

4. How the hands are different

• The hour hand is short.
• The minute hand is long.
• The hour hand tells the hour.
• The minute hand tells the minutes.

A good way to remember this is:

• Short = hour
• Long = minute

5. Looking at the clock face and hands together

When you look at an analog clock, ask yourself these questions:

1. Where is the face?
2. Which hand is shorter? That is the hour hand.
3. Which hand is longer? That is the minute hand.

This helps you tell which part is which.

Worked Example 1

You see a clock. It has a round front with numbers from 1 to 12. What is this part called?

Answer: It is the face of the clock.

Why? The face is the front part of the clock with the numbers on it.

Worked Example 2

You see two hands on a clock. One hand is short. One hand is long. Which one is the hour hand?

Answer: The short hand is the hour hand.

Why? The hour hand is always shorter than the minute hand.

Worked Example 3

On a clock, the long hand points to 12. The short hand points to 5. Which hand tells the hour?

Answer: The short hand tells the hour.

So the hour is: 5.

Why? The hour hand points to the hour number.

Worked Example 4

Sam says, “The long hand is the hour hand.” Is Sam correct?

Answer: No.

Why? The long hand is the minute hand. The short hand is the hour hand.

Let’s practice identifying the parts

• The round front with numbers is the face.
• The short hand is the hour hand.
• The long hand is the minute hand.

Helpful tips

• Look for the numbers 1 to 12. They are on the face.
• Look for the shorter hand first. That is the hour hand.
• Then find the longer hand. That is the minute hand.

Summary

An analog clock has a face and two main hands we learn first. The face is the front with numbers 1 to 12. The hour hand is the short hand, and the minute hand is the long hand.

When you look at a clock, remember: short = hour and long = minute. This will help you name the parts of an analog clock correctly.

Telling Time to the Hour

We use clocks to know what time it is. Time helps us know when to wake up, eat lunch, go to school, and go to bed.

In this lesson, you will learn how to tell time to the hour on an analog clock and a digital clock.

What is an analog clock?

An analog clock is a clock with hands that point to numbers. The clock has numbers from 1 to 12.

An analog clock has two hands:

• Short hand = tells the hour
• Long hand = tells the minutes

What is a digital clock?

A digital clock shows time using numbers, like 3:00 or 7:00.

What does “to the hour” mean?

When we tell time to the hour, the minutes are zero. On a digital clock, that looks like :00.

Examples:

• 1:00 means 1 o'clock
• 5:00 means 5 o'clock
• 9:00 means 9 o'clock

How to read an analog clock to the hour

1. Look at the long hand. If it points to 12, it is exactly on the hour.
2. Look at the short hand. The number it points to tells the hour.
3. Say the time as “___ o'clock.”

So, when the long hand is on 12, we read the short hand to know the time.

How to read a digital clock to the hour

1. Look at the number before the colon. That is the hour.
2. Look at the numbers after the colon. If they are 00, it is on the hour.

For example, in 4:00:

• The 4 tells the hour.
• The 00 means zero minutes.
• The time is 4 o'clock.

Important idea to remember

On an analog clock, the long hand must point to 12 for a time to be exactly on the hour.

On a digital clock, the minutes must be 00 for a time to be exactly on the hour.

Worked Example 1

An analog clock has:

• the long hand pointing to 12
• the short hand pointing to 2

Step 1: The long hand is on 12, so it is on the hour.

Step 2: The short hand is on 2, so the hour is 2.

Answer: The time is 2 o'clock.

Worked Example 2

A digital clock shows 6:00.

Step 1: The number before the colon is 6.

Step 2: The numbers after the colon are 00, so it is on the hour.

Answer: The time is 6 o'clock.

Worked Example 3

An analog clock has:

• the long hand pointing to 12
• the short hand pointing to 11

Step 1: The long hand is on 12, so it is exactly on the hour.

Step 2: The short hand is on 11.

Answer: The time is 11 o'clock.

Worked Example 4

A digital clock shows 9:00.

Step 1: The hour is 9.

Step 2: The minutes are 00.

Answer: The time is 9 o'clock.

Reading and writing time

We can read time and also write time.

• 8 o'clock can be written as 8:00
• 12 o'clock can be written as 12:00
• 3 o'clock can be written as 3:00

Tips to help you

• Find the long hand first.
• If the long hand is on 12, it is an o'clock time.
• Then look at the short hand to name the hour.
• On a digital clock, look for 00 after the colon.

Let’s practice thinking

If the short hand points to 4 and the long hand points to 12, the time is 4 o'clock.

If a digital clock shows 10:00, the time is 10 o'clock.

If the short hand points to 1 and the long hand points to 12, the time is 1 o'clock.

Summary

To tell time to the hour on an analog clock, the long hand points to 12 and the short hand shows the hour.

To tell time to the hour on a digital clock, the numbers after the colon are 00.

When you see these, you can say the time as ___ o'clock.

Telling Time to the Half-Hour

We use clocks to tell what time it is. Today we will learn how to tell time to the half-hour.

A half-hour means 30 minutes. It is one half of an hour.

On a clock, the long hand is the minute hand. The long hand tells the minutes. When the long hand points to the 6, it means 30 minutes.

The short hand is the hour hand. The short hand tells the hour. When it is half past an hour, the short hand is between two numbers.

That is very important: at the half-hour, the hour hand does not point exactly to a number. It rests halfway between the hour that just happened and the next hour.

How to read half-hour time on an analog clock

1. Look at the long hand. If it points to 6, the time has 30 minutes.

2. Look at the short hand. It will be between two numbers.

3. Say the smaller number first. That is the hour that has already started.

4. Read the time as hour:30, or say half past that hour.

For example, if the long hand is on 6 and the short hand is between 2 and 3, the time is 2:30. We also say half past 2.

What does the digital time look like?

Digital clocks show numbers. Half-hour times always end in :30.

• \(1{:}30\) means half past 1.

• \(4{:}30\) means half past 4.

• \(7{:}30\) means half past 7.

If you see :30, you know it is a half-hour time.

Remember this rule

• Long hand on 6 = 30 minutes

• Short hand between numbers = it is half past the smaller number

Here is a simple way to think about it:

$$30\text{ minutes} = \text{half an hour}$$

Worked Example 1

The long hand points to 6. The short hand is between 1 and 2.

Step 1: Long hand on 6 means 30 minutes.

Step 2: The short hand is between 1 and 2, so the hour is 1.

Answer: The time is 1:30.

We can say half past 1.

Worked Example 2

The long hand points to 6. The short hand is between 5 and 6.

Step 1: Long hand on 6 means 30 minutes.

Step 2: The short hand is between 5 and 6, so we use the smaller number, which is 5.

Answer: The time is 5:30.

We can say half past 5.

Worked Example 3

A digital clock shows 8:30.

What would the hands look like on an analog clock?

Step 1: The :30 tells us it is a half-hour time.

Step 2: Put the long hand on 6.

Step 3: Put the short hand halfway between 8 and 9.

Answer: On the analog clock, the minute hand is on 6 and the hour hand is between 8 and 9.

Worked Example 4

The long hand points to 6. The short hand is between 11 and 12.

Step 1: Long hand on 6 means 30 minutes.

Step 2: The short hand is between 11 and 12, so the hour is 11.

Answer: The time is 11:30.

We can say half past 11.

Common mistake to watch for

Sometimes students see the short hand between 3 and 4 and say 4:30. But that is not right.

At half past 3, the short hand has moved away from 3, but it has not reached 4 yet. So if the short hand is between 3 and 4, the time is 3:30.

Always use the smaller number when the time is to the half-hour.

Let’s practice the idea

• Between 2 and 3, long hand on 6 = 2:30

• Between 6 and 7, long hand on 6 = 6:30

• Between 9 and 10, long hand on 6 = 9:30

Words we can use

• Half-hour: 30 minutes

• Half past: 30 minutes after the hour

• Minute hand: the long hand

• Hour hand: the short hand

Summary

To tell time to the half-hour, first look for the long hand on 6. That means 30 minutes.

Then look at the short hand. If it is between two numbers, say the smaller number first. That tells you the hour.

So, if the hands show half past 4, we write 4:30. If a digital clock shows :30, we know it is a half-hour time.

Understanding Duration means knowing how long something lasts.

Sometimes things happen very fast. Sometimes they take a little longer. Sometimes they take a long time. We can use time words to talk about this.

Three important time words are second, minute, and hour.

A second is a very short time.

A minute is longer than a second.

An hour is much longer than a minute.

These time units work like this:

$$60\text{ seconds} = 1\text{ minute}$$

$$60\text{ minutes} = 1\text{ hour}$$

Let’s think about what these times feel like in real life.

• 1 second: a clap, a blink, a jump
• 1 minute: singing a short song, cleaning up a few toys, washing hands carefully
• 1 hour: a long class lesson, a trip to the park, watching a movie show

How can we tell which time word to use?

Ask yourself, “Is it very fast, a little longer, or a long time?”

• If it is very fast, it may take seconds.
• If it takes a little while, it may take minutes.
• If it takes a long time, it may take hours.

We do not need to count every second or minute. First, we can make a good guess by thinking about the activity.

Let’s learn with examples.

Example 1: Blinking your eyes

Blinking happens very quickly. It does not take a whole minute or hour.

So blinking your eyes takes seconds.

Example 2: Eating lunch

Eating lunch is not as fast as a clap. It takes longer than a few seconds.

Lunch usually takes many minutes.

So the best time word is minutes.

Example 3: Sleeping at night

Sleeping is a long activity. It lasts much longer than a few minutes.

Sleeping takes hours.

So the best time word is hours.

Example 4: Which is longer?

Let’s compare these:

1. jump once
2. read a short book

Jumping once is very quick. It takes seconds.

Reading a short book takes longer. It may take minutes.

So reading a short book lasts longer than jumping once.

Tips for understanding duration

• Think about what your body is doing.
• Fast actions often take seconds.
• Activities you can finish in a short time often take minutes.
• Big parts of the day often take hours.

Try thinking about these activities:

• tying a shoe
• brushing teeth
• going to school
• clapping once

You can ask:

• Does it happen very fast? Seconds
• Does it take a short while? Minutes
• Does it take a long time? Hours

Remember:

• A second is short.
• A minute is longer.
• An hour is much longer.

When you understand duration, you can think about how long activities last in your day.