Measures
Time: Days of the Week, O'clock and Half-Past
Junior Infants · Senior Infants · 1st Class · 2nd Class
- ✓By the end of this lesson students will be able to name the seven days of the week in correct order.
- ✓By the end of this lesson students will be able to identify and read 'o'clock' times on an analogue clock.
- ✓By the end of this lesson students will be able to identify and read 'half-past' times on an analogue clock.
- ✓By the end of this lesson students will be able to associate daily activities with different times or days.
Key concepts
A week is a period of seven days. Each day has a special name. We say them in a particular order. Knowing the days helps us plan our week and remember when things happen, like school days and weekends.
An analogue clock helps us tell the time. It has numbers from 1 to 12 around its face. It has two main hands: a short hand and a long hand. The short hand tells us the hour, and the long hand tells us the minutes.
When the long (minute) hand on an analogue clock points exactly to the number 12, we say 'o'clock'. The short (hour) hand will point directly to the hour number. For example, if the short hand points to 3 and the long hand points to 12, it is 3 o'clock.
When the long (minute) hand on an analogue clock points exactly to the number 6, we say 'half-past'. This means 30 minutes have passed since the hour. The short (hour) hand will be halfway between the hour it just passed and the next hour. For example, if the short hand is between 7 and 8, and the long hand points to 6, it is half-past 7.
Key facts to remember
- 1There are 7 days in a week.
- 2The days of the week are: Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday, Sunday.
- 3The short hand on an analogue clock tells the hour.
- 4The long hand on an analogue clock tells the minutes.
- 5When the long hand points to 12, it is 'o'clock'.
- 6When the long hand points to 6, it is 'half-past'.
Worked examples
Example 1
What day comes after Thursday?
Answer
Friday
Practise saying the days of the week out loud to remember their order.
Example 2
Look at the clock. The short hand points to 9 and the long hand points to 12. What time is it?
Answer
9 o'clock
Remember, when the long hand is on 12, it's always 'o'clock'.
Example 3
Look at the clock. The short hand is between 2 and 3, and the long hand points to 6. What time is it?
Answer
Half-past 2
For 'half-past', the hour hand has gone past the hour, but not yet reached the next one. It's the hour it has just passed.
Common mistakes
- ✗Mixing up the order of the days of the week.
- ✗Confusing the short (hour) hand and the long (minute) hand on the clock.
- ✗Saying the wrong hour for 'half-past' times (e.g., saying 'half past 4' when the hour hand is between 3 and 4, meaning it's 'half past 3').
- ✗Not understanding that 'half-past' means 30 minutes past the hour.
Exam tips
- ★Practise saying the days of the week in order every day, maybe with a song or rhyme.
- ★Use a real analogue clock with movable hands to practise making and reading different 'o'clock' and 'half-past' times.
- ★When reading 'half-past' times, always look at the number the short (hour) hand has *just gone past* to find the correct hour.
- ★Draw your own clock faces and practise drawing the hands to show specific 'o'clock' and 'half-past' times.
Ready to practise?
Try a problem on this topic
Snap a photo or type a question — get step-by-step working instantly.