How to use the telling time worksheet generator
- Pick a preset for your grade, or choose your own settings.
- Choose the worksheet type. Read the clock asks students to write the time; draw the hands asks them to show a time on a blank clock. Mixed does both.
- Choose how precise the times are, from the hour to the nearest minute.
- Add helpers if needed. Minute numbers around the clock help students count by 5s.
- Click Print / Save as PDF. The answer key prints on its own page.
Which settings to use for each grade
| Grade | Suggested settings | What students practise |
|---|---|---|
| Grade 1 | To the hour, then half hour; 6 or 9 clocks | O'clock and half past, and where the hands point |
| Grade 2 | Quarter hour, then 5 minutes; minute numbers on at first | Quarter past, quarter to, and counting minutes by 5s |
| Grade 3 | Nearest minute; times in words | Reading any time and saying it in words |
Tips for teaching students to tell time
- Read the hour hand first. It is the short hand. If it is between two numbers, the hour is the smaller one (except between 12 and 1, where it is 12).
- Count the minutes by 5s. Each number on the clock is 5 more minutes: the 1 is 5 minutes, the 2 is 10 minutes, and so on. Turn on minute numbers while students learn this.
- Watch the hour hand move. At half past, the hour hand is halfway to the next number. These worksheets draw it that way, like a real clock.
- Learn “past” and “to”. Up to 30 minutes we say “past” the hour; after that we count how many minutes are left “to” the next hour, so 8:45 is quarter to 9.
- Practise both directions. Reading clocks and drawing hands build different skills, so use mixed worksheets once students are confident.
Frequently asked questions
Is the telling time worksheet generator free?
Yes. You can create, print and save as many telling time worksheets as you like, including answer keys, without an account.
What is the difference between read the clock and draw the hands?
Read the clock shows a clock face and students write the time. Draw the hands gives the time and students draw the hour and minute hands on a blank clock. Mixed puts both kinds on one page.
Does the hour hand move between the numbers?
Yes. Like a real clock, the hour hand moves gradually, so at 3:30 it points halfway between the 3 and the 4. This helps students learn to read the hour correctly.
Can I show the times in words?
Yes. Choose Words to show times such as half past 4, quarter to 9 or twenty past 7 instead of digital times like 4:30.
In what order should children learn to tell time?
Most children start with times to the hour, then half past, then quarter past and quarter to, then 5-minute intervals, and finally the nearest minute.
How do I save the worksheet as a PDF?
Click Print / Save as PDF, then choose Save as PDF as the destination in the print window. The worksheet is sized for letter paper.
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