Grade 1 Math Classroom Activity: Think It Through: Telling Time

How to Play

• Use in pairs or small groups after the first teaching lesson.
• Let students predict and explain before you give answers.
• Use the teacher notes to listen for good reasoning and common mistakes.

Variations

• Human Clock (10 minutes, Whole class): Two students lie down or stand in the middle: a short one is the hour hand, a tall one is the minute hand (or use a short and a long rope). Call a time; the "hands" point to the right numbers.
• Clock Snap (10 minutes, Pairs): Shuffle the clock and digital cards together. Players turn cards over one at a time.
• What Time Do You…? (8 minutes, Pairs): Student A asks: "What time do you eat breakfast?" Student B shows the time on the clock and says, "I eat breakfast at 7 o'clock."

Teacher Tips

A geared teaching clock (hands move together) is the best tool for half past. Act it out: one student is the hour hand (walks slowly), one is the minute hand (runs around).

Learning Objectives

• Name the parts of a clock: face, numbers, hour hand (short) and minute hand (long).
• Read and show o'clock times on an analog clock.
• Read and show half past times, and explain that the hour hand is between two numbers.
• Match analog times to digital times (3:00, 3:30).
• Order daily events and say when they happen.

Differentiation

Support: Focus on o'clock until it is secure; then half past. Challenge: Show the time one hour later / half an hour later. English language learners: Teach: long hand, short hand, o'clock, half past with actions (arms as clock hands).

Assessment

Listen to explanations and use the "Who is right?" answers as evidence of understanding.

What's Included

• Activity 1: What Happens Next?
• Activity 2: Who Is Right?
• Activity 3: Clock Puzzles
• Activity 4: Real Life: My Day
• Teacher notes and model answers (PDF)

Additional Files

• Grade 1 Math Classroom Activity: Think It Through: Telling Time (DOCX)
• Answer Key (PDF)

Teacher Reviews