Telling Time to the Nearest Minute Worksheet
A third grade telling time sheet. None of the 16 times lands on a 5-minute mark, so students have to count the small minute marks between the numbers. Part A has 12 clocks to read and Part B has 4 clocks to draw hands on.
- Grade
- Grade 3
- Problems
- 16
- Time
- About 15 minutes
- Standard
- 3.MD.A.1
Download
Download PDF (US Letter) Download PDF (A4)Two pages: the worksheet, then the answer key. No sign-up needed.
Part A: Read the clock Write the time shown on each clock.
- 1:12
- 12:24
- 2:31
- 2:19
- 1:59
- 4:32
- 7:14
- 2:04
- 5:02
- 11:24
- 7:42
- 1:02
Part B: Draw the hands Draw the hour hand and the minute hand.
- 9:04
- 8:19
- 7:46
- 6:22
Tips for teachers and parents
- Count by 5s to the last number the minute hand passed, then count on by ones. For 7:41, count 5, 10, 15... 40, then one more mark: 41.
- Make sure students start counting from the 12, not from the hour hand.
- When drawing hands, place the minute hand first, then the hour hand a little past the hour number. The later in the hour, the further along it goes.
- Elapsed time problems in grade 3 build on this skill, so accuracy here pays off later.
Common mistakes
- Counting the numbers instead of the minute marks, which gives answers like 7:9 instead of 7:41.
- Counting by ones from the 12 all the way round. It works but is slow and error-prone. Counting by 5s first is faster and more accurate.
What to practice next
Students who read these clocks quickly are ready for elapsed time word problems.
Frequently asked questions
Why are there no times like 3:15 or 8:40?
All 16 times fall between the 5-minute marks on purpose, so students practice counting single minutes, which is the grade 3 skill.
What grade tells time to the nearest minute?
Third grade. The Common Core standard 3.MD.A.1 asks students to tell and write time to the nearest minute.
Is there an answer key?
Yes, page 2 has all the times and the correct hands for Part B.