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Telling Time to the Minute

Third graders learn to read a clock to the nearest minute — counting minutes by fives and ones — and to figure out elapsed time, a key everyday skill for managing their day.

Grade 3Time50 minutes1 class periodGradual ReleaseExplicit teaching4 StandardsCommon Core
Start the Lesson
Lesson at a Glance

Everything you need before the bell rings

Learning Objectives

Students will be able to…

  • ✓Read a clock to the minute.
  • ✓Count minutes by 5s and 1s.
  • ✓Write time as h:mm.
  • ✓Find elapsed time.
Essential Question

The clock says the hour is a little past 3, and the long hand is between the 5 and the 6. What EXACT minute is it — and how do we read it?

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Lesson Phases
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Vocabulary Terms
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Standards Aligned
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Interactive Task
Model · Interactive Tool

The Clock

Project this and set the hour and minutes. Read the exact time to the minute by counting the ticks around the clock.

🕑 Set the clock — read the exact minute!Try it
Hour: 3
Minutes: 25

The Lesson · Gradual Release (I Do · We Do · You Do)

50 minutes, five moves

Tap any phase to open the teacher moves and student actions.

1

Launch — The Exact Minute

5 min

The long hand is between two numbers — what minute is it?

👩‍🏫 Teacher Moves

  • Show a clock at 3:27.
  • Ask the exact time.
  • Set the goal: time to the minute.

🎒 Student Actions

  • Read the clock.
  • Wonder the minute.
  • Predict the idea.
2

I Do — Count the Minutes

10 min

Teacher models.

👩‍🏫 Teacher Moves

  • Each number = 5 minutes.
  • Each tick = 1 minute.
  • Count by 5s, then 1s.

🎒 Student Actions

  • Count by 5s.
  • Count by 1s.
  • Read the time.
3

We Do — Read Together

13 min

Class uses the Clock.

👩‍🏫 Teacher Moves

  • Set the hour and minutes.
  • Read the exact time.
  • Write it as h:mm.

🎒 Student Actions

  • Set the time.
  • Read it.
  • Write it.
4

You Do — On Your Own

12 min

Students read clocks.

👩‍🏫 Teacher Moves

  • Read clocks to the minute.
  • Write the time.
  • Find elapsed time.

🎒 Student Actions

  • Read the clock.
  • Write the time.
  • Find elapsed.
5

Close — Close

5 min

One clock.

👩‍🏫 Teacher Moves

  • Show a time to read.
  • Say the exact minute.
  • Hand out the exit ticket.

🎒 Student Actions

  • Read the clock.
  • Say the time.
  • Complete the exit ticket.
Standards Alignment

Built to the standards you report on

Aligned to the Common Core State Standards for Mathematics.

CCSS
3.MD.1

Tell and write time to the nearest minute and measure time intervals.

CCSS
3.MD.1

Solve word problems involving addition and subtraction of time intervals.

CCSS
2.MD.7

Precursor: tell time to the nearest five minutes.

SMP
MP.5

Use a clock as a measuring tool.

Differentiation

One lesson, every learner

Multilingual Learners

ELL / EMERGING READERS
  • Label 5s around the clock.
  • Sentence frame: “It is ___ minutes past ___.”
  • Skip-count by 5s aloud.

Support & Access

IEP / 504
  • Start with time to 5 minutes.
  • Use a geared model clock.
  • Count minutes together.

Stretch & Extend

GIFTED / EARLY FINISHERS
  • Find elapsed time in minutes.
  • Add and subtract time intervals.
  • Read a.m. vs p.m.
Materials

What to gather

  • 📽️Projector / board
  • 🕑A model clock
  • 💻The Clock
  • ✏️Pencils
  • 📄Blank clock faces
  • 🎫Exit-ticket slips
Vocabulary

Key terms — hover for a quick definition

minutea small unit of time (60 in an hour)houra unit of timeelapsed timethe time that passes between two momentshour handthe short handminute handthe long handskip countcount by 5s, 10s, etc.a.m.morning timep.m.afternoon and night time
Evaluate

Exit Ticket

Preview the three formative checks. Tap “Sample answer” to see what mastery looks like — hide them before you print for students.

QUESTION 1
The hour hand is just past 4 and the minute hand is on the 3. What time is it?
4:15 (the 3 means 15 minutes).
QUESTION 2
How many minutes does each number on the clock stand for?
5 minutes.
QUESTION 3
If it is 2:00 now and you wait 30 minutes, what time is it?
2:30.

Going deeper? Elapsed time.

Have students figure out how much time passes between two clock times — like from 3:15 to 3:50 — by counting the minutes. A printable time sheet is in the Math library.

Study · Flashcards

Study the key terms

Tap a card to flip it, then rate whether you knew it. Built from this lesson’s vocabulary.

🃏 Telling Time to the MinuteFlip
Card 1
Term
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Meaning
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Practice · Quiz

Check your understanding

A quick self-check with instant feedback, drawn from this lesson’s key terms.

📝 Telling Time to the MinuteQuiz
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Question 1
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Practice · Worksheet

Printable worksheet

A print-and-go review sheet with a built-in answer key. Tap “Show answer key” to reveal answers, or print the clean version for students.

🖨️ Telling Time to the MinutePrint
Name: ________________________
Date: ____________

Part A · Write the word that matches each meaning

Word bank: a.m., elapsed time, hour, hour hand, minute, minute hand, p.m., skip count
  1. the time that passes between two moments
  2. morning time
  3. count by 5s, 10s, etc.
  4. the long hand
  5. the short hand
  6. a unit of time
  7. afternoon and night time
  8. a small unit of time (60 in an hour)

Part B · Show what you learned

  1. The hour hand is just past 4 and the minute hand is on the 3. What time is it?
  2. How many minutes does each number on the clock stand for?
  3. If it is 2:00 now and you wait 30 minutes, what time is it?
Answer key — Part A: 1) elapsed time · 2) a.m. · 3) skip count · 4) minute hand · 5) hour hand · 6) hour · 7) p.m. · 8) minute
Part B: 1) 4:15 (the 3 means 15 minutes). 2) 5 minutes. 3) 2:30.