What Do A.M. and P.M. Mean?
Good morning, time explorer!
A.M. means "ante meridiem" - that's Latin for "before midday" (before noon). P.M. means "post meridiem"
- "after midday" (after noon). But don't worry about the big words! Just remember:
1️⃣ A.M. is for morning times (from midnight to noon)
2️⃣ P.M. is for afternoon and evening times (from noon to midnight)
3️⃣ 12:00 is special - 12:00 noon is P.M. and 12:00 midnight is A.M.
Let's Practice with Sunny the Squirrel!
Example 1: Breakfast Time
Sunny the Squirrel eats breakfast at 8:00 in the morning. Is this A.M. or P.M.?
A.M.
P.M.
Example 2: Playtime
Sunny plays with his friends at 4:00 in the afternoon. Is this A.M. or P.M.?
A.M.
P.M.
Parent Tips 🌟
- Daily Routine Talk: Point out A.M. and P.M. times during your daily activities ("We eat breakfast at 7:30 A.M.", "Your bedtime is 8:00 P.M.")
- Day/Night Game: Use a lamp to represent the sun. Shine it for daytime (A.M.) and turn it off for nighttime (P.M.) to help visualize the difference.
- Digital Clock Practice: Show how digital clocks display A.M./P.M. and compare with analog clocks to reinforce the concept.