First Grade · Math · week 29

Half past: the long hand at 6

Read and set time to the half hour, when the long hand is at 6.

When the long hand points to the 6, half an hour has gone by since the last o'clock time -- that is called "half past." The short hand will sit BETWEEN two numbers, leaning toward the next hour.

For half past 4, the long hand points to the 6, and the short hand sits between the 4 and the 5, leaning toward the 5 but not quite there.

📋 For the teacher
Teach it (10–15 min):
  • Physically move the clock hands from an o'clock time forward to show the short hand creeping toward the next number.
  • Emphasize that "half past" always means the long hand is on the 6, every single time.
  • Use the earlier hour number when naming a half-past time, like half past 4 rather than half past 5, even though the short hand leans toward 5.
  • Practice writing the digital form too: half past 4 is 4:30.
Talk about it:
  • Where does the long hand point at half past any hour?
  • Why is the short hand between two numbers at half past?
  • What is half past 8 in digital form?

Mastery looks like: They read and set half-past times, correctly identifying the hour even with the short hand between numbers.

Common stumbles: Naming the later hour instead of the earlier one; forgetting that half past always means the long hand is on 6.

Homework for this lessonType it, write it with a stylus, or print it for pencil & paper.open →
Records attendance + 15 min of Math for this learner.
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