13 Activities to Teach Telling Time
Teaching children how to tell time can be a challenging task, but with the right activities, it can be both engaging and effective. Here are 13 activities that can help children develop their time-telling skills:
1. Time Bingo: Create bingo cards with different clock faces showing various times, and call out the times. Children need to find the corresponding clock face on their bingo card.
2. Clock Match-Up: Provide a set of digital and analog clock cards. Children need to match the digital time to the analog clock face.
3. Time Puzzles: Create puzzles with clock faces broken into pieces. Children need to assemble the puzzle while also learning to read the time.
4. Time Hopscotch: Draw a hopscotch grid with the numbers replaced by different times. Children need to jump on the correct time as they play.
5. Time Walk: Set up different clocks around a designated space. Children need to walk around and stop at each clock, reading and recording the time.
6. Clock Craft: Ask children to create their own clock using a paper plate and moveable clock hands. They can then practice setting the time by moving the hands.
7. Time Apps: Introduce educational apps on tablets or smartphones that teach children how to tell time through interactive games.
8. Calendar Challenge: Give children a calendar and ask them to read and interpret dates and durations of events.
9. Time Snack: Provide snacks and ask children to arrange them on a plate to represent different times on a clock.
10. Time Relay: Divide children into teams and set up multiple stations with different times displayed. Children need to run to each station and record the time before passing on the baton.
11. Time Songs: Teach children catchy songs that help them remember the different components of a clock and how to tell time accurately.
12. Time Books: Read books that revolve around the concept of time, such as “The Grouchy Ladybug” by Eric Carle or “The Clock Struck One” by Trudy Harris.
13. Time Check: Encourage children to practice telling time in real-life situations, such as daily routines or timed activities.
By incorporating these activities into your teaching plan, you can make learning to tell time a fun and interactive experience for children. Remember to provide ample practice and positive reinforcement as they develop their time-telling skills.