Probes for Student Concepts of Clocks and Telling Time

I mentioned in another post that there are some probes that can be performed on students to get a general idea of their knowledge of clocks and telling time.  One probe is to have the students draw a clock.  The clock in the classroom needs to be covered ahead performing the probe.  The students are NOT allowed to ask ANY questions while they're drawing the clocks.  The direction given to the children is, "Draw a clock."  Any other information invalidates the probe.  If a teacher says, "Draw the hands and the numerals for the clock." she/he has prompted the children by telling them what to draw instead of finding out what they will draw on their own.  Students should also be given a one minute warning when the allotted time for drawing is almost over.  

The variety of clock drawings will be amazing!  The teacher will gain new insights into student knowledge about clocks.  Don't be surprised if a child draws a digital clock instead of an analog clock.  Remember that the direction was, "Draw a clock." 

The probe can be followed by a Directed Drawing lesson for an analog clock.  The teacher can model on the whiteboard as the students draw clocks in their math journals.  Some of the questions the teacher might ask during the directed drawing lesson are:  "How should my numerals be arranged on the clock?"  "How can I draw the hour hand and the minute hand so that they're different from each other?"  "What else can I add to my clock?" 

GIVEAWAY!  UPDATE:  Congratulations to Tammy for winning two MELISSA & DOUG clock puzzles!  Tammy, I'll send you another email.

I'm excited to let you know that I'm giving away two MELISSA & DOUG clock puzzles! One lucky person will receive both clocks.  The MELISSA & DOUG clock puzzles are a great resource that can help teach children about the parts and structure of a clock.  This is essential knowledge before children are ready to read times to the hours and half hours.  

The MELISSA & DOUG clock puzzles are incredibly interactive!  The numeral pieces are cut into shapes and will only fit in the correct position on the clock.  Hurray for a self-checking resource!  The clock puzzles also have moveable hour and minute hands.   This allows children to explore the idea of setting times on the clock. 
 

Here's an engagement activity that can be done at the beginning of a telling time unit with kindergarten or first grade students.  You'll need one or two MELISSA & DOUG clock puzzles for the activity - one clock puzzle for 1 to 12 participating students and two clock puzzles for 13 to 24 participating students. Gather the children into two groups on your carpet area or floor.  (Each group forms a circle and is seated.)  Give each child a numeral piece from one of the two clock puzzles.  Leave the extra numeral pieces inside of the clock puzzles.  Give each group one of the clock puzzles to pass around the circle.  When a child receives a clock puzzle he/she places the numeral inside the appropriate space on the clock.  The child moves the hour hand so that it points to the inserted numeral and says the numeral name.  There are other activities that can be done with the MELISSA & DOUG clock puzzles.  There is a list of suggestions included in the product.  Use the Rafflecopter form to enter the contest!  Make sure to follow the rules posted on the Contest Requirements page.  This giveaway ends on August 6, 2017 and 6:00 p.m. EST.

a Rafflecopter giveaway
In my next post I'll be sharing two strategies that you can use throughout the school year to maintain students' proficiency with telling time.  I'll also include two other quick probes that can easily be done to learn more about students' knowledge of a clock and of telling time.  If you haven't done so already, be sure to get the free printable sheets for my Interactive Digital Clock and my Analog Clock. 

That's all for now!

Lessons by Molly 

Analog Paper Clock for Kids with Moveable Hour and Minute Hands

I have an analog clock pattern that can used with a telling time unit!  I've designed this paper clock to be both functional AND decorative.  Print the clock frames on a variety of colors of card-stock paper to make a bright and inviting display of student work!  Students can decorate the frames of the clocks with magic markers or crayons to make it their own.  This way, you'll have a collection of unique analog clocks that can be displayed on a school bulletin board or in the hallway.  The children can decorate the frames with geometric shapes, stars, swirls, zigzags and anything else that they might imagine.  I'm showing a few possibilities in the photos below.  I've included both a circular style clock frame and a square clock frame.  I've also included two styles for the hour hand and the minute hand.  Create a catchy phrase to go with the display.  Here are a few ideas:  "It's TIME to go Back to School."  "It's TIME for a New Year."  The latter phrase could be used for a January bulletin board.

The face of the clock is printed on regular white paper.  There is an inner circle on the face of the clock.  The minute hand extends out of the inner circle.  The hour hand remains within the inner circle regardless of the hour it points to.  This might be helpful when teaching children to identify the hands of the clock.  The hands of the clock will need to be printed on colored card-stock paper.  You will need brass fasteners to attach the hour hands and minute hands.  This will cause the hands to become moveable!  Watch the video shown below to see how the clock is assembled.

Students that are skilled with using scissors can cut out the circles for the face of the clock and the clock frame.  I recommend that an adult cut and hole punch the hands of the clocks.  I used a specialty punch tool to make the extra small holes in the hands of the clocks on the ones I've displayed in the video.  A regular hole punch will also work if you're careful to center the hole.  You could just poke a hole into the hands of the clock with a sharp pencil.  Click on the image shown below to get the freebie!  There's more exciting news coming this week and I'll finally get to those probes I mentioned earlier.  Check back soon!

That's all for now!

Lessons by Molly