Description
What’s the time now? When you hear this question, you know that the time is right to start teaching the concept of time to the young child. They want to copy their elders and be able to understand what it means when you say “in a minute”… The Clock Activity comes in a variety of forms; this one is the starting point; the o’Clock of time. Introduce this activity, after the child has had the concrete experience of numbers 1-12. Only once they have grasped the abstract understanding of using symbols to reflect numbers, can they begin to learn how to tell the time.
How do children understand time?
Young children may not understand “time”, but they most certainly grasp the fundamental sensorial meaning of time. They understand actions, and movements. They consider time by, how long (or short) it will be, and how important, it is to them. “Time to wake up, to eat, sleep, to go to the park or to work. Many parents/guardians say, “we will leave in 5 minutes”. Time in numbers, and minutes is meaningless to the young child. Actions taken, places time into a concept they can understand, i.e. “we will leave after you fasten your shoes, and I put the dog into the garden”
This Clock Activity for the o’Clock set contains the following
- Control cards (12) – each card displays an analog clock on the front and the back
- every card displays a different, hourly ‘o’clock’ time
- front of the card is labelled in the digital format displayed on the clock, i.e. 10:00
- back of the card, the time is labelled in words i.e. 10 o’clock
- Mute cards (12) display the analog clock-face only
- each picture displays a different hourly ‘o’clock’ time
- 12 Labels, each one labelled
- in a digital format, i.e. 10:00, and
- on the reverse, the time is written out in words, i.e. 10 o’clock
- a plastic container with a lid to store the cards
What is the aim of this activity?
This activity seeks to achieve two different objectives, that with practice, the Child learns to tell the time. Indirectly, children improve their vocabulary, numeracy and reading skills.
The plastic clock in the picture is sold separately.
Related Products
- The Clock with movable hands
- Clock Activity – Half past
- Clock Activity – Quarter to
- Clock Activity – Quarter past
- Clock Activity – 5 minute
- Clock Activity – 1 minute
Further Reading and Resources
Tania1972 (verified owner) –
We have had this material in the class for almost a year now. I am impressed as to the durability of the card. I have now about the additional exercises.