The note
How schools teach it now
Taught in Years 3 and 4. For afternoon and evening times add 12 to the hour (3:20 pm is 15:20). 24-hour times always have four digits (07:05). Midnight is 00:00 and midday is 12:00.
5-minute kitchen-table activity
Compare the oven clock, a phone and a watch: your child says each time both ways. Then use real train times: 'Our train is at 16:52. What's that in am or pm?' (4:52 pm.)
Worked example
Write 9:05 pm as a 24-hour time.
- pm means after midday, so add 12 to the hour: 9 + 12 = 21.
- Keep the minutes the same: 05.
Answer: 21:05
Common mistakes to watch for
- Writing 12:30 am as 12:30 (it's 00:30).
- Adding 12 to morning times.
- Mixing up the hour hand and the minute hand.
Encouragement
- Try saying
- “Is it morning or afternoon? That tells us what to do.”
- Rather than
- “Everyone knows that.”