Teaching students how to tell time may seem like a daunting task especially with ESL students, but with the right tools and techniques, it can actually be a fun and rewarding experience. Imagine the excitement on a child's face when they proudly announce the time on the clock for the first time! Today, after years of practice I will share my experiences and top tips for teaching time to students, including incorporating hands-on activities, making time part of daily routines, utilising visual aids, reinforcing learning through practice, creating a positive learning environment, and using songs or rhymes to help. By following these strategies, you can help your students master the clock and lay a solid foundation for developing essential time-telling skills.
Incorporating Hands-On Activities
One highly effective way to teach and reinforce time-telling skills is by incorporating hands-on activities into your lessons. Tangible resources such as analogue clocks with different colour hands, play clocks, and interactive games allow students to engage with the concept of time in a practical and meaningful way. For example, using a clock with movable hands, students can practise setting specific times you call out, such as “7:30” or “quarter past 2" or vice versa you set the time and they call it back to you. This reinforces their ability to read and interpret time while physically manipulating the clock to match the instructions.
Play Doh clocks for the win!
Both me and my kiddos LOVE this activity, it’s hands on, active and educational. Make a clock face out of Play Doh and then say a time and they move the hands to show the time. As it’s Play Doh, or you can use any modelling dough for that matter, the students think it’s a game, rather than practising. Give it a try and see.
Using PEG TASK CARDS is a quick, reusable way to practice as well, with the same result. Hands on and run. Kids love these ways of learning and from a teacher's point of view, they are cheap and easy ways to practice.
Another idea is to create a "Time Scavenger Hunt" where students find written times on task cards, for example - it’s 3 0’ clock, with an analog clock showing 3 0’ clock is hidden somewhere around the room and they need to find the pairs. This is movement based, active and fun, so it’s bound to be a memorable experience for your students.
Interactive games like “What time is it, Mr. Wolf?” where players have to listen to the hours of the clock or a relay race where students must correctly set clocks to win can turn abstract learning into an exciting experience.
Hands-on activities are particularly beneficial for younger learners, as they help bridge the gap between theoretical knowledge and practical application. By making these activities part of your routine, you ensure that learning about time becomes both a memorable and enjoyable experience for your students.
Top Game For Telling Time - Here is one you absolutely can not miss. My students love this game. Time Bingo! I created this reusable game to help students get a more hands on fun technique. This Time Bingo includes 20 different Bingo cards including the times - o’clock, quarter past, half past and quarter to, instructions, a caller's checklist and the times to print and play. Student’s listen to the caller say the time, they read the clock and cross it off if they have it. The first person to cross off all their card says BINGO! And wins. Its fast, it’s competitive, it’s reusable and it practises telling the time. Want it? More like, NEED it…. Get it here.
Making Time Part of Daily Routines
One of the most effective ways to help students master the concept of time is by making it an integral part of their daily routines. This approach provides consistent, practical exposure to time-telling while teaching students its real-world applications. As an ESL teacher, you can combine time-telling lessons with daily routine vocabulary to reinforce both skills simultaneously. For example, students can practise phrases like "I wake up at 7:00," "Lunch is at 12:30," or "I go to bed at 9:00," linking their understanding of time to their daily activities.
To bring this into the classroom, you might assign students the task of noting the time on a classroom clock when specific events occur, such as the start of a lesson, break time, or the end of the day. Another idea is to create a visual class schedule with pictures and clock faces representing each activity. Periodically, ask students to refer to the schedule and answer questions like, “What time is it now?” or “What time does maths class start?” This not only strengthens their ability to read time but also helps them connect it to structured activities, reinforcing the importance of punctuality and organisation.
You can also set up role-play scenarios, where students practise asking and answering questions about time as part of their daily routines. For example, students could play roles such as a student catching a bus at a specific time or someone planning a day with friends.
For homework, consider asking students to create a timetable of their daily routines, complete with times and corresponding activities. This not only reinforces their learning but also personalises the skill, helping them see how time fits into their own lives.
By integrating time into daily routines, students can develop a stronger grasp of this essential skill in a natural and meaningful way. They also gain a deeper understanding of time management, an invaluable skill that will benefit them both inside and outside the classroom.
Utilising visual aids around the classroom
Utilising visual aids such as clocks - with different-coloured hands to help students identify hours and minutes, timers, timetables and calendars can further enhance students' understanding of time and how it's measured. Visual aids provide a tangible representation of abstract concepts, making it easier for students to grasp the passage of time and how it relates to their daily activities. By incorporating these tools into time-telling exercises and activities, teachers can create a more interactive and engaging learning experience for students, helping them solidify their understanding of time.
Reinforcing learning through practice
This hands-on approach to teaching time can be complemented by reinforcing learning through practice. By providing students with opportunities to apply their knowledge of telling time in real-world scenarios and activities, teachers can help solidify their understanding and retention of the concept. Encouraging students to practice time-telling skills through activities like setting schedules, time management tasks, and creating timelines can reinforce their learning and boost their confidence in using time-related skills effectively. Also incorporating questions about daily life will continue to keep them practising their knowledge of telling the time.
Creating a positive and supportive learning environment
We need to make sure we are creating a positive and supportive learning environment as this is essential for helping students effectively grasp the concept of time. By fostering a supportive atmosphere where students feel encouraged to ask questions, make mistakes, and engage with the material, teachers can create an environment that is conducive to learning. Celebrating small successes, providing constructive feedback, and offering praise can go a long way in boosting students' confidence and motivation to learn about time. When students feel supported and valued in their learning journey, they are more likely to be actively involved in the process, leading to a greater understanding and retention of time-telling skills. Some easy ways to celebrate achievements could be with the use of stickers, a points reward system to gain a bigger reward such as extra play time or an extra game during the day, or a small gift.
Using songs or rhymes to help
Using songs or rhymes to help reinforce the concept of time to students can be a fun and engaging way to enhance their understanding of this important skill. By incorporating catchy tunes or memorable rhymes that highlight the different parts of telling time, teachers can make learning about time more enjoyable and memorable for students. Whether it's a playful song that showcases the hour and minute hands on a clock or a rhythmic rhyme that helps students remember the sequence of numbers on a clock face, music and poetry can provide an additional layer of reinforcement to the time-telling lessons. When students can connect the abstract concept of time to a familiar tune or rhythmic pattern, they are more likely to retain this information and apply it in real-life scenarios. By integrating songs or rhymes into the teaching of time, educators can create a dynamic and interactive learning experience that resonates with students on a deeper level. This creative approach not only keeps students engaged but also helps solidify their understanding of how to tell time effectively.
Some of my favourite songs are listed below -
Hours of the clock - Hip Hop, Around the Clock
Hours of the clock plus Daily routine - What time is it?
Explaining the clock in 5 minutes intervals - Telling the time for kids
Younger children explanation song - Telling Time Game
Teaching kids how to tell time can be tricky, but it’s such a rewarding journey when you’ve got the right tools and strategies. Hands-on activities, weaving time into everyday routines, using visuals, practising regularly, creating a supportive vibe, and adding a bit of fun with songs or rhymes all make a huge difference. The key is to keep it engaging and encourage curiosity—because learning time doesn’t have to be a chore!
As teachers, we have the amazing job of guiding and inspiring our students to master this skill. Remember, time is of the essence – let's make every minute count in the classroom.
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