Lesson 6.2 · Time and Money
AM and PM
The clock shows 7:00 when you wake up. It shows 7:00 again near bedtime! How do you tell them apart? We use a.m. and p.m.
Two trips around the clock
The short hand goes around the clock two times every day. A day has 24 hours: 12 hours, then 12 more.
Definition
a.m. and p.m.
a.m. is for times from midnight to noon. That is the night and the morning.
p.m. is for times from noon to midnight. That is the afternoon and the evening.
| Time of day | a.m. or p.m.? | Example |
|---|---|---|
| 🌙 middle of the night | a.m. | 2:00 a.m. |
| 🌅 morning | a.m. | 7:30 a.m. |
| ☀️ afternoon | p.m. | 1:15 p.m. |
| 🌆 evening | p.m. | 6:45 p.m. |
| 🌙 late at night | p.m. | 10:00 p.m. |
Noon and midnight
Noon is 12:00 in the middle of the day. It is 12:00 p.m.
Midnight is 12:00 in the middle of the night. It is 12:00 a.m. A new day starts at midnight.
Use what you know about your day
The clock can't tell you a.m. or p.m. Think about what you are doing. Is it morning? Is it after lunch? Is it dark?
Worked example: Eating breakfast
Maya eats breakfast at 7:25. Is it a.m. or p.m.?
Breakfast is in the morning. Morning is before noon. It is 7:25 a.m.
Worked example: Soccer practice
Leo has soccer practice after school at 4:30. Is it a.m. or p.m.?
After school is in the afternoon. That is after noon. It is 4:30 p.m.
Worked example: Which comes first?
Put these in order: 3:00 p.m., 9:00 a.m., 11:00 a.m.
All a.m. times come before p.m. times. So 9:00 a.m. is first, then 11:00 a.m., then 3:00 p.m.
Common mistake
Don't mix up noon and midnight. Lunch time at 12:00 is p.m. The middle of the night at 12:00 is a.m.
Tip
Think "a.m. = awake in the morning." After lunch, switch to p.m.
Practice
Ava gets on the school bus at 8:05 in the morning. Which time is it?
Ben eats dinner at the time on this clock. Which time is it?
Grandpa takes a nap after lunch at 1:30. Is that a.m. or p.m.?
Type your answer
Which activity most likely happens at 6:00 a.m.?
It is 12:00 and the sun is high in the sky. Everyone is eating lunch. What time is it?
Which time comes first in the day?
Mia's family leaves for a trip at 4:00 in the dark, before the sun comes up. Is that a.m. or p.m.?
Type your answer
Jack's school ends at the time on this clock. Which time is it?