Time - O'clock and half past - Starter

The 'Time - O'clock and half past' starter activity is an introductory exercise aimed at teaching young students the fundamentals of telling time. This initial step in learning about clocks focuses on the two most basic increments of time: the hour, known as 'o'clock', and the 30-minute mark, referred to as 'half past'. The activity is designed to familiarise children with the positions of the hour and minute hands at these specific times. It serves as a foundational building block for understanding the concept of time and prepares students for more complex time-telling skills. By engaging with this starter, students begin to develop an awareness of how the clock face represents different times of the day.

In practice, the activity may involve various educational tools such as interactive clocks, worksheets, or visual aids that depict clocks showing times at the hour and half-hour marks. The goal is to help children recognise and articulate what time it is when the minute hand points to the 12 (o'clock) and when it points to the 6 (half past). This essential skill is not only crucial for time-telling but also serves as a practical life skill that students will use outside the classroom. The 'Time - O'clock and half past' starter sets the stage for further exploration and understanding of time increments and clock reading as students progress in their learning.