Latin Abbreviations for Time
Latin Abbreviations for Time Writing Opener
Common Core Language Standard 2
Teacher Talk: We all know that a.m. and p.m. are used to show time. But what do these abbreviations stand for and why do we use them? Before we get to our lesson and answer the question, it’s helpful to understand a bit about how time works. Since the earth is a sphere, it has 360 degrees. In our 24 hour clock each hour would be 15 degrees. The math is simple: 360 divided by 24 = 15. The imaginary longitude lines that go from the North to the South pole are called meridians when we talk about time. Each meridian has 15 degrees, or 1 hour of the 24 hours. Since the earth spins on its axis, but the sun does not, time changes as we go from morning (before noon meridian) to evening (after noon meridian).
Today’s mechanics lesson is on using Latin abbreviations for time. Display the lesson here: Latin Abbreviations for Time
Read the mechanics lesson and study the examples.
Use periods to abbreviate the Latin expressions we use to indicate before noon and after noon. Antemeridian is the time from midnight until noon and is abbreviated as “a.m.” Postmeridian is the time from noon until midnight and is abbreviated as “p.m.” Examples: 7:30 a.m., 12:00 p.m.
Notice that the a.m. and p.m. Latin abbreviations for time are always written in lower case.
Now circle or highlight what is right and revise what is wrong according to mechanics lesson.
Practice: I woke up this morning at 7:30 AM. because I fell asleep last night at 10:00 p.m.
Let’s check the Practice Answers.
Mechanics Practice Answers: I woke up this morning at 7:30 a.m. because I fell asleep last night at 10:00 p.m.
Now let’s apply what we have learned.
Writing Application: Write a sentence or two, using both an antemeridian and a postmeridian time.
This Latin Abbreviations for Time writing opener is part of a comprehensive language conventions lesson from Pennington Publishing’s Teaching Grammar, Usage, and Mechanics programs.
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