Feb 27, 20232 min read

Teaching Time Telling with Analog and Digital Clocks: Fun and Creative Ways

Are you looking for fun and creative ways to teach your students how to tell time using analog and digital clocks within whole and half hours? Look no further! In this "lesson short," we will provide you with tips, crafts, games, and differentiation strategies to make time telling engaging and exciting for your students.

Teaching Tips

Before diving into the activities, here are some teaching tips to keep in mind:

Start by introducing the concept of time telling using both analog and digital clocks. Explain the difference between the two types of clocks.

Use real-life examples to help students understand why it's important to learn how to tell time.

Practice counting by fives with your students. This will help them understand how minutes are counted on an analog clock.

Use repetition and consistency when teaching time telling. Consistent practice will help students retain what they have learned.

Crafts

Crafts are a great way to engage students while also reinforcing their learning. Here are some craft ideas:

Paper Plate Clocks

Materials:

Paper plates

Brads

Markers or paint

Instructions:

Have each student decorate a paper plate with markers or paint.

Cut out two clock hands from construction paper.

Attach the clock hands to the center of the paper plate using a brad.

Label each hour on the paper plate.

Digital Clock Flip Book

Materials:

Construction paper

Scissors

Markers or crayons

Instructions:

Cut out rectangular pieces of construction paper.

Fold each piece in half like a book.

On one side, draw a digital clock displaying a specific time (e.g., 2:30).

On the other side, write out that same time in words (e.g., "two thirty").

Games

Games are another great way to make learning fun! Here are some game ideas:

Time Bingo

Materials:

Bingo cards (can be made on cardstock)

Clock cutouts displaying different times (can be made on cardstock)

Instructions:

Give each student a bingo card.

Display different clock cutouts showing various times throughout class (e.g., 9:15, 10:30).

Students mark off their bingo cards when they see a matching time.

Time Matching Game

Materials:

Index cards

Markers or crayons

Instructions:

Write out different times on index cards (e.g., 12:00 PM, 3:30 PM).

Mix up the index cards and lay them out face down on a table or floor.

Students take turns flipping over two index cards at a time, trying to find matching times.

Student Misconceptions

Some common misconceptions that students may have about telling time include:

Thinking that there is only one way to tell time (either analog or digital)

Confusing AM and PM

To address these misconceptions, be sure to review both analog and digital clocks consistently throughout your lessons, as well as review AM vs. PM regularly.

Differentiation for Special Education

For special education students who may need extra support in learning how to tell time, consider providing visual aids such as large print clocks or manipulatives like plastic clock faces with movable hands.

Teaching time telling can be fun and engaging for your students when you incorporate crafts, games, repetition, consistency, real-life examples, visual aids, and differentiation strategies into your lessons! For more easy-to-use lesson plans and teaching resources like this one, check out TeachTastic today!