NCERT Maths Mela, Class 4, textbook pages 175–183

How to teach Class 4 Maths Chapter 12, Ticking Clocks and Turning Calendar, at home

Calendar, leap years and time in hours and minutes, taught with things you already have at home: a 10-minute activity, a game for the week, a 5-day plan and the mistakes to watch for.

SMTWTFS1234567891011121314151617181920212223242526272829February 2024: 29 days123456789101112

NCERT Class 4 Maths Chapter 12 Ticking Clocks and Turning Calendar: what it teaches

Parv was born on 29 February, so he gets a real birthday only in a leap year. Your child learns leap years, days before and after, reads clock time in hours and minutes, and works out how long activities take.

Why it matters later. Reading time and working with dates are daily life skills; Class 5 adds 24-hour time and longer durations.

See it: this chapter in pictures

Feb 202429 daysFeb 202528 daysleap years: 2020, 2024, 2028
Leap years come every four years.
123456789101112start 4:10123456789101112end 4:45
From 4:10 to 4:45 is 35 minutes.
MonTueWedThuFriSatSunJuly 1 is Mondayso July 8, 15, 22, 29 are Mondays
Add 7 to find the same day next week.

You need

  • this year’s and last year’s calendars
  • a clock with hands
  • a phone timer

Tonight’s 10 minutes

  1. Compare February in a leap year and a normal year. List leap years before and after 2024.
  2. If July 1 is a Monday, what day is July 15? Use the calendar to check.
  3. Read the clock at random times through the day: hours and minutes.
  4. Find how long homework took: start time to end time in minutes.

Words to use

  • leap year
  • 365 days
  • 366 days
  • hour
  • minute
  • duration
  • day after tomorrow

Watch for

  • Reading the clock hand positions for minutes as the number it points to. Each number on the clock is 5 minutes; count in 5s.
  • Counting duration and including the start. Count jumps from the start time, not the start itself.

What it sounds like at home

A short example of the conversation. Your words will differ; the questions are what matter.

YouHomework started at 4:10 and ended at 4:45. How long?

Your child4:10 to 4:40 is 30 minutes, plus 5.

YouSo?

Your child35 minutes.

YouIs 2028 a leap year?

Your childYes, 2024 plus 4.

A game for this week: Time detective

  1. One player says a start time and an end time.
  2. The other works out how long it took.
  3. Check on the clock by moving the minute hand.
  4. Swap roles.

A 5-day plan, 10 minutes a day

  1. Day 1Leap years on calendars.
  2. Day 2Day-of-week questions.
  3. Day 3Read clock times in minutes.
  4. Day 4Time homework duration.
  5. Day 5Time detective game.

Everyday moments to practise

  • Birthdays on the calendar.
  • Train and bus timings.
  • School timetable.
  • TV show durations.

Quick check

Ask these at the end of the week. Tap to see the answer.

How many days in a leap year?

366.

Next leap year after 2024?

2028.

Start 4:10, end 4:45. How long?

35 minutes.

Ready for the next chapter when your child…

  • Knows about leap years.
  • Reads time in hours and minutes.
  • Finds durations in minutes.

Activities, wording and illustrations are Mathify Kids’ own, following the topics of NCERT’s Maths Mela (Class 4). See the full Class 4 parent guide for every chapter.

Questions parents ask

What is a leap year?

A year with 29 days in February, 366 days in all, usually every four years.

How do I teach reading minutes?

Count in 5s round the clock, then add the extra minutes.

How do I find how long something took?

Count on from the start time to the end time.