Reading the 24-hour clock
What is the 24-hour clock?
The 24-hour clock is a way of telling time that uses the numbers 0 to 23 to represent the hours of the day. It's also known as military time or the international time system. Instead of dividing the day into two sets of 12 hours (from 1 to 12, and then repeating from 1 to 12 again), the 24-hour clock continues counting from 13 to 23 for the afternoon and evening hours, and then starts over at midnight with 0 (midnight) and goes up to 11 for the morning hours.
How do you teach your child to tell the time using the 24-hour clock?
Here are some steps you can follow to help your child learn how to tell the time:
Introduce the concept
Start by explaining the concept of the 24-hour clock to your child. You can use visual aids such as a clock with both 12-hour and 24-hour markings to show the difference.
Use daily examples
Point out examples in your daily routine where the 24-hour clock is used. For instance, when discussing schedules or setting alarms, refer to both 12-hour and 24-hour times.
Learn hours
Begin with teaching your child the hours of the day using the 24-hour clock. Start with the morning hours (1:00 to 12:00) and gradually introduce the afternoon and evening hours (13:00 to 23:00).
Practise with activities
Use interactive activities such as games, worksheets, or online quizzes to practice reading and writing times in the 24-hour format. You can create scenarios where your child has to convert between the 12-hour and 24-hour clock.
How will this worksheet help your child learn to tell the time using the 24-hour clock?
This worksheet was created by a teacher, with the purpose of reinforcing your child's learning and building their confidence in their ability to tell the time using the 24-hour clock. They must look at the various times that a cat is being fed by its owner, and then answer the questions using their 24-hour knowledge.
For more support with telling the time, check out our hub page, or try a new challenge such as our Time intervals worksheet.
