Engaging Telling Time Activities Ideas for the Classroom

Teaching students how to tell the time does not have to be a dull or daunting task. With the right mix of interactive activities, it can become one of the most enjoyable and enriching parts of your maths lessons. 

Whether your students are just beginning to understand the hour hand or are working through more advanced concepts like quarter past and half past, a fun approach makes all the difference. The collection of time-telling activities in this blog is designed to keep young learners engaged.

Why Learning to Tell the Time Matters

Telling the time is more than just reading numbers on a clock; it is a vital life skill that helps students understand structure, routine, and independence. From knowing when lessons start and finish to managing playtime and bedtime at home, the ability to read both analogue and digital clocks empowers students to navigate their day confidently. As they grasp the concept of time, they also begin to build a sense of responsibility and better time management, essential skills that will serve them well throughout life.

The Importance of Time-Telling Skills in Early Education

Introducing time-telling in early education lays the groundwork for both mathematical understanding and practical life application. It reinforces numeracy skills such as counting, sequencing, and skip counting by fives while also supporting the development of cognitive abilities like memory and logical thinking. Learning to tell the time can also be a confidence booster, giving young learners a sense of accomplishment and a tangible connection between classroom lessons and the world around them.

Top 7 Fun and Effective Time-Telling Activities for the Classroom

Ready to make learning to tell the time exciting and memorable? Below is a collection of creative and classroom-friendly activities designed to help your students grasp the concept of time in a hands-on, engaging way. 

Activity 1: Make a Paper Clock

Why it works:

Understanding the relationship between the numbers on the clock face and their corresponding minute values can be tricky for young learners. This hands-on paper clock activity helps students make those important connections in a clear, visual way. It also reinforces skip counting and improves their understanding of time intervals.

Key benefits:

• Helps students visualise how numbers on the clock translate to minutes (1 = 5 minutes, 2 = 10 minutes, etc.)
• Reinforces skip counting and number sequencing
• Encourages active participation and hands-on learning

How to do it:

1. Materials:

• Paper plates (or circular sheets of card)
• Markers or pens
• Scissors and glue
• Brass fasteners (split pins)
• Coloured strips of paper for hands (hour and minute)

2. Create the Clock Face:

• Have students write the numbers 1 to 12 evenly around the edge of the plate to represent the hours.
• Next, ask them to write the minute numbers around the edge of the plate (5, 10, 15, etc.), either inside or outside the hour numbers. This reinforces the concept of counting by fives.

3. Make the Clock Hands:

• Cut out two strips of coloured paper for the clock hands, one for the hour hand and one for the minute hand.
• Attach the hands to the centre of the clock using a brass fastener so they can rotate. This gives the clock a movable, interactive component.

4. Interactive Practice:

Have students practise setting different times on their clocks by moving the hands. Ask them questions like “What time is it when the minute hand is on the 3?” or “Can you show me 10 minutes past 4?”

This activity also provides additional learning opportunities, such as discussing the difference between AM and PM or practising time in increments (quarter past, half past, etc.). You can also combine this activity with time-order words and make the lesson engaging. 

Activity 2: Colour the Spaces to Learn the Hours

Why it works:

One key concept young learners need to understand is how the spaces between numbers on an analogue clock represent the passage of time. This simple yet effective colouring activity allows students to visualise how each hour is divided into five-minute intervals, reinforcing their understanding of how time is structured on a clock.

Key benefits:

• Helps students grasp the concept of time divisions on an analogue clock
• Reinforces the relationship between numbers and minutes
• Provides a fun, creative way to engage students in learning

How to do it:

1. Materials Needed:

• Printable clock template with numbered hour spaces 
• Crayons, markers, or coloured pencils
• Scissors (optional if you want students to cut and create their own clock)

2. Colour the Spaces:

• Hand out the printable clock template to each student.
• Ask them to colour in the spaces between each number to visually differentiate the hours. 
• For example, they can colour the space between 12 and 1 in one colour, between 1 and 2 in another, and so on. 
• This helps children focus on the gaps and understand that these represent the 5-minute intervals between each hour.

3. Interactive Questions:

As the students colour, ask questions such as “How many minutes are between the 3 and 4 on the clock?” or “What do you think the space between 11 and 12 represents?”

Discuss with the class how the hour hand moves from one number to the next, and the minute hand travels between the numbers, further reinforcing time intervals.

4. Extension Ideas:

Once the clock is coloured, encourage pupils to use their clocks to set times as a group activity. For example, “Can you show me 10 minutes past 3?” or “What time is it when the minute hand is on the 6?”

Use the clock as a visual aid when practising other time-related concepts, such as quarter past or half past.

Activity 3: Take it Outside with a Hula-Hoop Clock

Why it works:

Moving learning outside and making it interactive is a great way to engage young learners. By using a large Hula-Hoop as an analogue clock, students can physically place themselves in relation to the clock's numbers and hands, making the concept of time more tangible. This activity encourages both physical activity and time-telling practice, reinforcing spatial awareness and number sequencing.

Key benefits:

• Provides a fun, active way for students to engage with time-telling
• Reinforces the understanding of hour and minute placement in a large, clear format
• Encourages kinesthetic learning through movement and positioning

How to do it:

1. Materials Needed:

• Hula-Hoop (or draw a large circle on the ground with sidewalk chalk)
• Chalk (if drawing your own clock)
• Stopwatch or timer (optional for added challenge)

2. Create the Clock:

• If you are using a Hula-Hoop, lay it on the ground, positioning it to resemble a clock face.
• If you do not have a Hula-Hoop, use sidewalk chalk to draw a large circle on the ground, and then add the numbers 1 to 12 around the edge, just as they appear on an analogue clock.
• Inside the circle, draw lines for the clock hands or leave open space for students to position their own “hands” later.

3. Time-Telling Games:

• Divide students into pairs or small groups. Give each group a set of “hands” (these can be sticks, strings, or even just a piece of chalk) that they can move around the clock.
• Call out different times, such as “It’s 2 o’clock” or “Show me 15 minutes past 7,” and have students move their clock hands to the correct positions.
• You can also set a timer and challenge them to get the clock to a specific time in under a minute.

4. Active Extension:

To add a physical challenge, you can have students jump or run to the correct number on the clock when given a time or even “become” the clock hands by standing at the appropriate spot (e.g., the hour hand at 12 and the minute hand at 3).

If you are feeling creative, you could also have the students act out certain times, like “It’s 5 minutes past 3,” by moving their hands accordingly.

Activity 4: Sing Quarter-Past and Quarter-To Rhymes

Why it works:

Rhymes are an excellent tool for helping young learners memorise concepts in a fun and engaging way. By associating rhythmic patterns with time concepts like quarter-past and quarter-to, students not only enjoy the process but also make these time-related ideas easier to remember. Singing these rhymes allows students to internalise the relationship between the clock hands and the passing of time in a lively, enjoyable way.

Key benefits:

• Helps students easily remember the concepts of quarter-past and quarter-to
• Reinforces the movement of the clock hands through catchy rhymes
• Makes learning fun and memorable through music and repetition
• Supports both auditory and kinaesthetic learning styles

How to do it:

1. Materials Needed:

• No materials required other than your voice and some enthusiasm!

2. Introduce the Rhymes:

Start by explaining the concepts of quarter-past and quarter-to. Let students know that when the minute hand points at 3, it is 15 minutes past the hour (quarter-past), and when it points at 9, it is 15 minutes before the next hour (quarter-to).

3. Introduce the two rhymes:

Quarter-Past Rhyme:

Big hand on three, quarter past the hour,

Fifteen minutes gone; time has power!

Quarter-To Rhyme:

Big hand on nine, quarter to, it’s near,

Next hour is coming, soon it’ll appear!

4. Sing Along and Demonstrate:

Begin singing the rhymes with the students, pointing to the clock (real or paper) to demonstrate where the minute hand is at quarter-past and quarter-to.

Have the students repeat the rhymes with you, encouraging them to move their hands to the correct position on a clock as they sing. You can even have them act out the movements of the clock hands while singing, which helps reinforce the connection between the rhyme and the clock.

5. Interactive Challenge:

Once the students are familiar with the rhymes, challenge them to identify the times on a clock by singing the rhymes. For example, point to a clock and ask, “Can you sing the quarter-past rhyme?” when the minute hand is on the 3.

For an added twist, sing the rhymes faster or slower and see if students can keep up with the rhythm. This activity can also become a part of rhyming lessons while also covering the time teaching. 

6. Extension Ideas:

To make this activity more dynamic, you could add hand motions or clapping to the rhymes. This physical movement can help solidify the concept for kinaesthetic learners.

You can also turn it into a game by playing “Simon Says” using the rhymes, where the children only follow the instructions when you say, “Simon says.”

Activity 5: Match Analogue Time with Digital Time

Why it works:

Matching analogue and digital clocks helps students make the connection between the two common ways we read time. This activity allows students to practice recognising the same time in different formats, strengthening their understanding of how time is represented in both ways. It reinforces their ability to read both analogue and digital clocks, which is an important life skill.

Key benefits:

• Encourages students to recognise time in both analogue and digital formats
• Helps build a deeper understanding of time by reinforcing its representation in two ways
• Fosters independent learning as students match the times on their own
• Improves students’ confidence in telling time on both analogue and digital clocks

How to do it:

1. Materials Needed:

• Printable worksheets with both analogue clock faces and corresponding digital times (you can create your own or find free templates online)
• Scissors (optional if you are cutting out the time cards)
• Glue or tape (optional, for sticking the matches on a board or paper)

2. Prepare the Worksheet:

• On one side of the worksheet, draw several analogue clocks showing different times (you can include times like 3:15, 7:30, 11:45, etc.).
• On the other side, write the corresponding digital times (e.g., 3:15, 7:30, 11:45). Make sure the numbers are shuffled so that students will have to match them correctly.
• Alternatively, if you are using cards, cut out the clocks and digital times and have the students match them.

3. Activity Instructions:

• Give each student a copy of the worksheet or a set of time cards.
• Ask them to draw lines connecting the analogue clocks with the correct digital time, or if using cards, have them match the cards correctly on a table or board.
• Encourage students to read both the analogue and digital times aloud as they match them. This reinforces the connection between the two forms of time-telling.

4. Challenge:

To make the activity more engaging, you can introduce a timed challenge, asking students to match the clocks within a certain time frame, such as one minute.

For an added challenge, include times like “half past,” “quarter to,” or “quarter past,” which are common on analogue clocks but may require more effort to match to digital.

Activity 6: Time Bingo

Why it works:

Time Bingo is a fun, interactive way for students to practice reading time on both analogue and digital clocks. The game encourages students to quickly recognise times while adding an element of excitement and competition. Bingo is an excellent tool for reinforcing learning through repetition, and because it is a game, it keeps students motivated and engaged.

Key benefits:

• Helps students recognise both analogue and digital times in a fun, competitive setting
• Reinforces time-telling skills through repetition and practice
• Encourages quick thinking and improves time-reading accuracy
• It can be easily adapted for individual or group play, making it flexible for different classroom setups

How to do it:

1. Materials Needed:

• Bingo cards with various times (either digital or analogue times)
• A calling card set with times that match the Bingo cards
• Markers or coins to cover the squares (if using physical Bingo cards)
• A small bag or container to draw the calling cards from (optional)

2. Prepare the Bingo Cards:

• Create or download printable Bingo cards with a grid. Instead of numbers, fill the grid with various times on both analogue and digital clocks.
• For a balanced game, include a mix of easy and challenging times (e.g., 3:00, 7:30, 2:45, etc.).
• If you are making your own cards, you can also include “Free” spaces in the middle for a more traditional Bingo setup.

3. Set Up the Game:

• Give each student or group a Bingo card and a set of markers (or coins) to cover their squares.
• Shuffle the calling cards with times and draw one at a time. If you are using a bag, pull a card out and read the time aloud to the class.
• Students must look for the matching time on their cards and cover it with a marker or coin.

4. Play the Game:

Continue drawing calling cards and have students mark off the matching times on their Bingo cards. The first student to cover an entire row (horizontal, vertical, or diagonal) shouts “Bingo!” and wins the round.

5. Challenge Variations:

For added complexity, you can require students to match both analogue and digital times before they can mark a square. This ensures they are equally comfortable with both formats.

6. Extension Ideas:

If students are already familiar with reading times, increase the difficulty by using more challenging time concepts like "quarter past," "half past," and "quarter to."

Activity 7: When Does It Happen?

Why it works:

This activity connects time-telling to students' daily routines, making the concept of time more relevant and engaging. By associating specific times with real-life activities, students gain a deeper understanding of when various events occur throughout the day. This worksheet-based activity allows students to practice reading both analogue and digital clocks while reinforcing their knowledge of time through a personal context.

Key benefits:

• Encourages students to associate time with their own routines, making time-telling more meaningful
• Helps reinforce both analogue and digital time-reading skills
• Promotes critical thinking as students identify the appropriate time for each activity
• Provides an opportunity for individual learning, with the printable worksheet format being easily adaptable for various classroom needs

How to do it:

1. Materials Needed:

• Printable worksheet with a list of activities (e.g., brushing teeth, having breakfast, going to bed)
• Clocks (analogue and digital) for students to reference
• Pens, pencils, or markers to fill in the worksheet

2. Prepare the Worksheet:

• Create a printable worksheet featuring a series of daily activities that students perform (e.g., "brush teeth," "have breakfast," "go to bed").
• Next to each activity, leave a blank space where students will write the time at which they typically do each task (e.g., “7:30 AM” for breakfast).
• You can also include images or small illustrations to represent each activity, making the worksheet more visually appealing and easier to follow.

3. Introduce the Worksheet:

Explain to the students that they will be using the worksheet to match their everyday activities with the times they usually happen.

Walk them through an example: “If I brush my teeth at 7:00 AM, I would write that in the space next to ‘brush teeth.’” This ensures that students understand the concept and the purpose of the activity.

4. Complete the Worksheet:

• Hand out the worksheets to the students and encourage them to think about their own daily routines.
• Ask them to write down the times they perform each activity, using both analogue and digital time formats. 
• For example, they could write “7:00 AM” for brushing their teeth or “8:30 PM” for going to bed.
• You can make it a timed challenge to see how quickly and accurately they can fill in the times, or you can allow them to take their time and discuss their answers with a partner.

To make the activity more interactive, you could ask students to create a "typical day" schedule for a character in a book or a historical figure. This activity can also serve as a brain break for the classroom to make students take a small gap from the actual lesson. 

Tips for Teaching Students to Tell Time

Teaching students how to tell the time can be both rewarding and challenging. While some learners grasp the concept quickly, others may need a little more time and creative support. Here are some tried-and-tested tips to make your time-telling lessons more effective and enjoyable:

1. Start with the Basics

Before diving into minutes and seconds, ensure your students fully understand:

• The purpose of clocks
• The difference between analogue and digital formats
• The roles of the hour and minute hand
• Use real-life examples and classroom clocks to help them visualise how time works in everyday life.

2. Use a Teaching Clock

Invest in a teaching clock with moveable hands. Let students physically manipulate the hands to see how hours and minutes interact. This hands-on approach supports kinesthetic learners and builds a strong foundation.

3. Break It Down

Instead of introducing the entire clock at once, teach in stages:

• Start with telling time to the hour
• Then move on to half past
• Follow with quarter past/to
• Finally, introduce minutes in 5-minute interval
• This gradual progression helps avoid overwhelming students.

4. Make It Routine

Incorporate time-telling into your daily classroom routine:

• Ask students to read the clock at the start and end of lessons
• Use time phrases during transitions (e.g., “We have 10 minutes until break time”)
• Create a class timetable using both words and clock faces

5. Use Games and Songs

Students retain information better when they are having fun. Integrate:

• Time-telling songs and rhymes
• Interactive games like Time Bingo or memory matching
• Online tools and apps that simulate clock readin
• These activities also support auditory and visual learners.

6. Connect Time to Real-Life Activities

Help students relate time to their own daily routines. Activities like “When Does It Happen?” encourage them to link clock reading with personal tasks like bedtime, lunchtime, or playtime, making the concept more meaningful.

7. Use Visuals Around the Classroom

Hang analogue and digital clocks in different corners. Label classroom items or parts of the day with associated times (e.g., “Reading Time – 10:00”). This constant visual reinforcement strengthens time recognition.

8. Be Patient and Repetitive

Some students may take longer to understand the concept, especially the idea that the number “2” on a clock equals 10 minutes. Be prepared to explain this multiple times in different ways. 

9. Incorporate Worksheets and Printables

Reinforce lessons with targeted worksheets that cover:

• Clock face labelling
• Matching analogue to digital time
• Sequencing daily activities based on time
• They provide extra practice and can be used for both independent work and homework.

10. Celebrate Progress

Recognise and reward students when they demonstrate understanding. Whether it is reading the time correctly or completing a worksheet accurately, praise helps build confidence and motivates them to keep learning.

Conclusion

Teaching students to tell the time does not have to be a daunting task. With the right mix of creativity, repetition, and real-life relevance, you can turn this essential life skill into something fun and engaging. Whether you are crafting paper clocks, playing time bingo, or heading outdoors with hula-hoops, these activities offer varied ways to cater to different learning styles and keep students actively involved.