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Lesson 4 of 5
Tell and write quarter past and quarter to on a clock face
I can tell and write quarter past and quarter to on a clock face.
Lesson 4 of 5
New
New
Tell and write quarter past and quarter to on a clock face
I can tell and write quarter past and quarter to on a clock face.
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.
Keywords
Quarter past - 15 minutes past the o'clock time.
Quarter to - 45 minutes past / 15 minutes to the o'clock 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.
If pupils are still struggling to recall names for the positions of the minute hand, you could get them to fold a paper plate into quarters, unfold it and write 'o'clock', 'quarter past', 'half past' and 'quarter to' on it. This model can then act as a scaffold, being displayed in the environment.
Teacher tip
Licence
This content is © Oak National Academy Limited (2025), licensed on Open Government Licence version 3.0 except where otherwise stated. See Oak's terms & conditions (Collection 2).
Lesson video
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Prior knowledge starter quiz
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6 Questions
Q1.True or false? a) is the hour hand.
True or false? a) is the hour hand.
false
Q2.When it is half past the hour, which of these statements are true?
When it is half past the hour, which of these statements are true?
The hour hand points to 12
Q3.Complete the stem sentence: If it is 45 minutes past the hour, it is minutes to the next hour.
Complete the stem sentence: If it is 45 minutes past the hour, it is minutes to the next hour.
Q4.How many minutes have gone past the hour?
How many minutes have gone past the hour?
Q5.Which of these statements are true about this clock?
Which of these statements are true about this clock?
It is 35 minutes to 1
It is 25 minutes past 1
Q6.Which of these shapes shows one quarter?
Which of these shapes shows one quarter?
Assessment exit quiz
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6 Questions
Q1.Match the part of the clock with the correct time.
Match the part of the clock with the correct time.
quarter to
quarter past
Q2.Match the shapes to the times they represent.
Match the shapes to the times they represent.
half past
quarter past
quarter to
Q3.Which of these times are the same as quarter to? Select all that apply.
Which of these times are the same as quarter to? Select all that apply.
15 minutes past
Q4.True or false? This clock shows quarter past 4
True or false? This clock shows quarter past 4
False
Q5.True or false? This clock shows quarter to 12
True or false? This clock shows quarter to 12
True
Q6.Which of these clocks shows quarter to 3?
Which of these clocks shows quarter to 3?
a
c