The minute hand travels around the clock in 60 steps — we count by 5s!
An analog clock has 12 numbers and 60 minute marks. The MINUTE HAND completes one full circle in 60 minutes (1 hour). Each number on the clock represents 5 minutes. So we can read the minutes by skip-counting by 5s as the minute hand moves from number to number!
Minutes at each number on the clock:
Skip count by 5s around the clock: 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 35, 40, 45, 50, 55, 60!
Short hand → between 4 and 5 (closer to 4) → HOUR is 4 Long hand → pointing at the 7 → 7 × 5 = 35 MINUTES The time is 4:35 — "four thirty-five"!
Short hand → past 2 → HOUR is 2 Long hand → pointing at the 4 → 4 × 5 = 20 MINUTES The time is 2:20 — "two twenty"!
How to read time to 5 minutes:
The short hand is just past 7. The long hand points at the 9. What time is it?
Remember This!
Memorize the minute values at key positions: 3 o'clock position = 15 min, 6 = 30 min, 9 = 45 min. These are your "landmark" times!