Make a Paper Plate Clock to Practice Telling Time
Help your child learn how to tell time with a homemade clock!
Talk to your child about the concept of time. Ask them to describe activities they might do in the morning, the afternoon, and the evening.
In a digital world, your child may be less familiar with analog clocks. Explain to them that you are going to create a clock similar to those you might see on the wall of a doctor’s office, library or community center, for example.
Materials
Directions
Glue a smaller colorful plate on top of a larger white plate.
Help your child write or stick numbers around the edge of the colorful paper plate. One way you can help is by drawing a small dot where each number goes. Then, count along with your child as they write the numbers 1 through 12 around the plate.
Next, write the minutes around the edge of the white plate. Start with 00 above the 12, and continue writing the minutes by 5's. Count together as your child writes.
To make the hour and minute hands, cut out two arrows — one shorter than the other. Fasten them to the center of the plate with a brad.
Now it’s time to practice telling time! First, explain that the shorter hand tells the hour and the longer hand tells the minute. Add that small numbers on the edge of the clock represent minutes, while the larger numbers represent hours. Ask your child to guess the direction the clock’s hands move. Tell them that another way to say that a clock’s hands move to the right is to say they move “clockwise.” Play with the clock together, setting the time for when you get ready for school or when you start bedtime!
Photography by Sana Kifafi.
Jodi has traded having a teaching or tutoring career for being a stay-at-home mom. She became a blogger to turn all of her "I should" moments into "I will" moments. She fills her blog full of creative activities, crafts, recipes, character development ideas, cake design, and parenting tips. Be inspired to become more intentional in your own parenting by checking out her site, Meaningful Mama.
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