This is a clock.

Clocks measure time. 

This clock shows twelve o'clock or 12:00.

The part of the clock with the numbers in a circle is called the "face" of the clock.

The clock also has hands that move to show what time it is.

The long hand (in blue) is called the minute hand.
The short hand on the clock (in red) is called the hour hand.

There is a way to always remember this.  The word MINUTE is longer than the word HOUR, so the MINUTE hand is the LONG hand and the HOUR hand is the SHORT hand on the clock.

We can remember this by thinking ... the little guy goes first.  The hour hand is the shorter one, the little guy, so we say what he is pointing to first.  Then we say the minutes.

The digital clock on my alarm looks like this:

Let's Review:

We say the number that the hour hand is pointing to first.  Then if the minute hand is pointing to the 12, we say o'clock.

Click on the clock below to practice this lesson.