These telling time activities will help kids learn to say what time it is within seconds with just a glance at the small hand and long hand of a clock! Try them in your classroom.
Telling Time Activities for the Classroom
Telling time is something many adults do without even thinking. That’s because knowing the time is essential to everyday life. It’s time for your students to learn about time, but where do you start?
Why do you need to teach kids how to tell time? When you introduce this math skill to kids, you need fun and effective activities to help them practice as they learn. These telling time activities, books, and resources will do just that, making learning time fun for kids of any age.
Table of Contents
- Telling Time Activities for the Classroom
- Why Is Teaching Kids to Tell Time Important?
- Telling Time Activities by Grade
- Telling Time Activities for Any Grade Level
- Telling Time Books
- Telling Time Materials
- Resources for Telling Time
- More Measurement & Time Activities
Why Is Teaching Kids to Tell Time Important?
Knowing and telling time is an essential skill people use throughout their lives. People use the time to get to work, make plans, schedule appointments, travel to places, cook meals, and much more. When kids learn about time, they discover a foundational skill that will follow them into adulthood.
When you teach the concept of time, it’s essential that your kids:
- Understand the concept of time.
- Know what hours, minutes, and seconds mean
- Can tell the time on both digital and analog clocks
Telling Time Activities by Grade
Ensure your telling time activities are fun, exciting, and (most importantly) age-appropriate. Learning time is a huge milestone for children.
It can sometimes be a little confusing, so introduce time in manageable chunks of learning that have a natural progression. To understand the progression of time, they will need to learn and practice using the second hand and hour hand on an example clock with tick marks or dots for the minutes and understand how the clock travels.
For example, after learning time to the nearest hour in kindergarten, kids will be ready to break that down into smaller time chunks in 1st grade by learning the half-hour (half past). In second grade, time can be broken down even further, with kids learning time to the quarter hour (quarter past) and the nearest minute. Here are some excellent telling time activities organized by grade level!
- Kindergarten: In kindergarten, teach kids to tell time to the nearest hour and use time vocabulary words. Use time of the day picture sorts, clock clip cards, designing a watch, and other hands-on activities to teach using an interactive clock.
- First Grade: Get ready to learn even more in first grade! Teach time by the hour and half-hour with fun activities, such as a clock puzzle, an hour “scoot” game, time worksheets, and a time picture sort.
- Second Grade: This grade level gets even harder, but kids will quickly catch on with the right foundation! Try teaching how to tell time to the nearest minute or 5 minutes with fun activities, games, puzzles, and time worksheets with minute intervals!
Telling Time Activities for Any Grade Level
There are so many more telling time activities. Kids need a lot of practice to master this vital skill, so give them plenty of hands-on practice no matter their grade. When activities are hands-on, kids engage during the learning process, which helps them master the skill faster. Check out the ones below and try a few of the quick, fun ones shared by Scholastic!
Teaching the Passage of Time
- Daily Schedules: Write down the actual time as you get to specific points on the daily schedules so kids can get a feel for how long a day is.
- Time Card Sort: Using pictures of events and actions, allow students to sort them into categories depending on how long they take (such as minutes, hours, days, etc.).
- Duration Contests: Have kids compete to see who can do something the longest. For example, have students hop on one foot and see who can go the longest. This activity helps to develop the concept of the passage of time.
- Timelines: For a more general concept of the passage of time, let students bring in pictures of themselves at different points in their lives and have them place the photos on a timeline. The kids will be able to see how they have changed over time.
- Elapsed Time: Help students understand how much time a minute is by having them put their heads down on the desk. Tell them to stay like that until they think a minute is passed and then raise their heads. See who gets closest to an actual minute.
Teaching the Parts of the Clock (Analog & Digital)
- Get Crafty: Kids can make a movable parts clock with paper and a brass pin. Have kids cut out a circle for the face of the clock, two rectangles to represent the hour and minute hands, and pin them together for a practice clock. You could also provide the pieces for the clock for kids to put back in the correct spaces.
- Playdough Mats: If you have a clock practice mat, give kids fun ways to represent time. They can roll playdough into clock hands or even use pieces of candy, such as a candy cane at Christmas or a lollipop at any time of year.
- Puzzles: A telling time printable puzzle will give kids plenty of practice matching the time on an analog clock with a digital clock!
Telling Time to the Hour, Half-hour, Quarter-hour, and Minute
- Review Mats: Learning to tell time is all about practice. Find fun monthly math practice sheets to give kids the practice they need to master time while reviewing other skills throughout the year!
- Clothespin labels: Using a practice clock, such as the popular Judy clock (or a simple printable clock), have kids practice telling time by writing a specific time on a clothespin. Kids can then click the pin onto the clock that displays that time.
- Large Clock Manipulative: Use a print-out of a large clock, and have students label the numbers and cut out clock hands. Give them prompts, and have them manipulate the clock to show the correct time.
- Sidewalk Chalk Clock: Draw a giant sidewalk chalk clock on the ground outside. Use sticks or similar objects. Give the child a time and let them create it on the giant clock!
Teaching How to Write Time to the Hour, Half-hour, Quarter-hour, and Minute
- Plastic Easter eggs: Another great telling time activity is reusing plastic Easter eggs. Write the time on one half of a plastic egg and represent that same time in another way (clock, written time, etc.) on the other side of the egg. Kids will need to match the eggs with the correct time matches.
- Time BINGO: A time is announced using a specific format (ex, half-past 7), and the students must identify the correct time on their game board (ex, 7:30)
- Matching cards – Use cards with different ways to write times and have the students match them. Puzzles are a fun way to practice matching different representations of time.
Teaching the Calendar (Days, Months, Seasons)
- Order the Days: Write the seven days of the week on a large piece of paper or dry-erase board. Hand them out randomly, and then have the students hold them to arrange themselves.
- Days of the Week Song: There are several variations of songs for the days of the week. Pick your favorite, and sing it with the students to help them memorize the order. One favorite of mine is singing it to the tune of the Addams Family theme song.
- Colorful Month Chains: Give the students strips of paper with the months of the year on them (or let them write themselves). Then, they staple or tape them in rings to make paper chains that represent the whole year.
- Season Card Sort: This time, using pictures of events and actions, have students sort them into season categories.
- Class Calendar: Keep a calendar in the room where kids can view it or add their pictures or stickers representing seasons and holidays.
Telling Time Books
Books foster a love of reading, of course, but they are also used to teach math skills! These telling time books will introduce important time concepts to kids, including vocabulary. Kids will learn about how time is essential and what different times of the day mean. These telling time books will get kids excited about clocks and time!
- T is for Time by Roland Smith: This ABC book uses time concepts and vocabulary for each letter of the alphabet. It is a great book to introduce the topic.
- Dinosaur Tells the Time by Jan Lewis: This is a book that teaches kids time while encouraging them to move the hands on the clock as they read.
- Telling Time by Jules Older: If you’re looking for a great way to teach kids the difference between an analog and digital clock, then consider reading this book to them. It does a great job of showing kids how to read each clock type.
- Bats Around the Clock by Kathi Applet: These bats in this book dance around the clock, teaching kids about time and dance moves! Kids will have a blast learning time with this story.
- The Clock Struck One by Trudy Harris: Styled after the nursery rhyme Hickory Dickory Dock, this story introduces time by the hour. A cat chases a mouse throughout the day.
- Telling Time with Big Mama Cat by Dan Harper: is a hands-on way to learn time! Not only do kids get to read about time, but they also learn important vocabulary. They also get to use the built-in clock to practice making time!
- What’s the Time, Mr. Wolf? by Annie Kubler: Do you know kids who are always hungry? This book will resonate with them! It’s a finger puppet book that teaches time to young children.
More Books for Teaching Time
- Little Hand, Big Hand by Pfiffikus: This book gives kids a lot of practice telling different times of the day. It focuses on helping students understand the difference between the big hand and little hand, an important distinction that kids need to know.
- How to Tell Time: A Lift-the-Flap Guide to Telling Time by DK: This book is an interactive way for kids to learn to tell time. Kids will enjoy lifting the flaps to learn something new about time. For example, they review how long it should take to brush your teeth and the difference between AM and PM.
- Wipe Clean Telling the Time by Jessica Greenwell: Looking for an interactive book to help kids learn time? This wipe-clean book is the answer! On each of these fun and interactive pages, kids will use a dry-erase marker to solve the time.
- It’s About Time by Stuart J. Murphy: A helpful book for kids learning to connect what they do daily with the time.
- Me Counting Time by Joan Sweeney: This time book is an excellent introduction to understanding the many time measurements and how they’re used in everyday life.
- Game Time by Stuart J. Murphy: Teach kids weeks and hours with this relatable book.
- 10 Minutes Till Bedtime by Peggy Rathmann
- What Time is It, Mr. Crocodile? by Judy Sierra
Telling Time Materials
- Board Games & File Folder Games – Playing games while learning not only makes learning more memorable, it’s also… well, FUN! Board games and file folder games help kids practice time in a fun and memorable way.
- Pocket Chart & Bulletin Board Materials – Do you have a pocket chart or bulletin board that lists your daily schedule? If not, it’s time to make room for one! Seeing time around the classroom and making it a part of everyday life helps kids become more familiar with telling time, which also helps teach time vocabulary words.
- Flashcards – Flashcards allow kids to practice identifying time quickly. If you have two sets of flashcards, use both sets in a matching game!
- Wall Clock – There’s something to be said for having a telling time clock on the wall. When students ask when they’re going to the gym or lunch, tell them when you typically go. Then, have them look at the clock to figure out how soon they’ll leave the classroom for that activity.
- The Student! – A kid’s body makes a great teaching tool for telling time. It’s important to involve kids in the learning process. Give their bodies something to do instead of just sitting at a desk. Call out a specific time and have students move around the room or around a clock rug to represent that time.
More Time Materials
- Printables – Printables are a powerful teaching tool. With printables, kids can practice what they’ve learned about time, such as matching times to clock faces.
- Apps & Online Games – Many apps and online games can be helpful in teaching time. These programs allow kids to practice time in a fun way, which makes them excited to learn.
- Blocks & Legos – Matching written time with clock faces is one way for kids to practice this critical skill. You can use blocks or legos with the time written or taped to it, giving kids a hands-on way to match time!
- Clock Manipulative – Kids need to be able to manipulate a clock to show what they’re learning. There are gear clocks and magnetic clocks that you can purchase for your classroom, or you can have students make a clock using a printable and brass pins. Kids can then move the hands on the clock to show a specific time.
- Stopwatch or Timer – Part of learning time is knowing how to measure it. Kids can use a stopwatch or a timer to measure an activity. This method will get them in the mode of thinking time as the seconds and minutes tick away.
Telling time can be tricky for young learners, but with the right activities, it becomes fun and meaningful. From hands-on games to interactive worksheets and daily time-telling routines, there are many ways to keep students engaged while building this essential skill.
Resources for Telling Time
FREE Telling Time Activity
Grab these FREE time puzzles to help your students practice matching analog clocks, digital times, and time in word form! They’re perfect for math centers, early finishers, or small group review. Print, cut, and watch your students build confidence as they piece together each time match!
Click the Image Below to sign up!
Looking for a fun and effective way to help your students master telling time? The Measurement & Time units by Proud to Be Primary are packed with hands-on activities, engaging worksheets, and interactive practice that make learning to read analog and digital clocks a breeze.
- Kindergarten Measurement & Time Unit
- First Grade Measurement & Time Unit
- Second Grade Measurement & Time Unit
- Third Grade Measurement & Time Unit
More Measurement & Time Activities
Teach Telling Time with Books and Videos
Teaching Measurement with Books and Videos
PIN For Later
