Reach the next hour.
From 9:40 to 10:00 is 20 minutes. The hour ends at 60 minutes, not 100.
ELAPSED TIME PRACTICE WITH CLOCKS
How many minutes
went by?
Look at the start and finish. Count forward in manageable hops. Six short puzzles show the minutes between two times—including when you cross an hour.
Try the first clock puzzle ↘Untimed · Free hints and solutions · No names or scores
PUZZLE 1 OF 6
Reading time starts at 9:05 AM and ends at 9:30 AM. How many minutes pass?
START
9:05 AM
FINISH
9:30 AM
Count the hops
Every example happens on one day. The clocks are teaching illustrations, not live clocks.
TRY THIS ONE TOGETHER
9:40 to 10:25
is a pair of hops.
Reach the finish.
From 10:00 to 10:25 is another 25 minutes.
Add the parts.
20 + 25 = 45 minutes altogether. You have counted the full interval without subtracting the clock labels as decimals.
When the gap is longer
Keep hopping through each full hour, then add the last part. From 10:50 AM to 12:15 PM, the hops are 10 minutes to 11:00, 60 minutes to noon and 15 minutes to the finish: 85 minutes.
The short hand moves gradually between hour numbers. For example, at 9:30 it sits halfway between 9 and 10. The long hand points to the minutes.
TAKE THE IDEA OFF SCREEN
How long did story club last?
Use three original library-program puzzles with a partner. Draw minute hops, cross noon, then separate activity time from a break. A worked example starts the sheet; a separate facilitator key explains every answer.
Open the free activity and answer key →Readable HTML with activity-only and answer-key print choices. No account or app is needed. Schools, libraries and newsletters may reuse this sheet free with credit to Honest Little Apps.
FOR PARENTS AND CAREGIVERS
Keep practice varied
with Brainy Bucks.
Brainy Bucks combines math, reading and phonics practice, including time and measurement. Parents can view weekly summaries and learning-plan suggestions; children can use hints and second tries.
Parents: explore Brainy Bucks on the App Store ↗Check the listing for current free quests and optional Plus purchases. These six browser puzzles are a separate practice resource and do not save progress into the app.
Keep it a practice session.
Do we have to answer before seeing the solution?
No. “Show the solution” reveals the minute hops and unlocks the next puzzle. You can use the page as a worked example together.
Does this test a child's level?
No. It does not assign a grade, learning level or ability score. It is a small set of examples to explore.
Does it cover overnight intervals?
No. All six examples are within the same day. The page does not calculate dates, time zones or clock changes.
What happens after the last puzzle?
Choose “Play again” to revisit the same six puzzles. No answers are stored or sent.
Useful for someone else?
Share the public guide. Your entries and results are not included.
Open the public guide link