Tell and write quarter past and quarter to on a clock face | Maths

Starter quiz

True or false? a) is the hour hand.
- True ✓
- False
When it is half past the hour, which of these statements are true?
- The minute hand points to 6 ✓
- The hour hand points to 12
- The hour hand points halfway between two numerals ✓
Complete the stem sentence: If it is 45 minutes past the hour, it is ______ minutes to the next hour.
- '15' ✓
How many minutes have gone past the hour? ______
- '15' ✓
Which of these statements are true about this clock?
- It is 35 minutes past 1 ✓
- It is 25 minutes to 2 ✓
- It is 35 minutes to 1
- It is 25 minutes past 1
Which of these shapes shows one quarter?

Exit quiz

Match the part of the clock with the correct time.
- a
  
  ⇔
  
  quarter to ✓
- b
  
  ⇔
  
  quarter past ✓
Match the shapes to the times they represent.
- a
  
  ⇔
  
  half past ✓
- b
  
  ⇔
  
  quarter past ✓
- c
  
  ⇔
  
  quarter to ✓
Which of these times are the same as quarter to? Select all that apply.
- 45 minutes past ✓
- 15 minutes past
- 15 minutes to ✓
True or false? This clock shows quarter past 4
- True ✓
- False
True or false? This clock shows quarter to 12
- True
- False ✓
Which of these clocks shows quarter to 3?
- a
- b ✓
- c

Worksheet

Presentation

Lesson Details

Key learning points

Quarter past and quarter to are special points on a clock.
When the minute hand is pointing to 3, it is a 'quarter past' time.
When the minute hand is pointing to 9, it is a 'quarter to' time.

Common misconception

Pupils sometimes forget to move the hour hand when showing quarter to or quarter past, instead leaving it pointing to the o'clock time.

This is covered in Cycle 2 of the lesson. Continual access to a geared clock allows this idea to be revisited both in and beyond the lesson. Plan opportunities for children to see the positions of both hands at quarter past and quarter to.

Keywords

Quarter past - 15 minutes past the o'clock time.
Quarter to - 45 minutes past / 15 minutes to the o'clock time.