Parts of a Clock
Background Information & Activities

We read clocks to tell time and plan our day. Reading clocks and telling time are visited many times in grade school, so the extent to which your child understands the concepts will vary. Your child should begin by recognizing that an analog clock has hands and a face. Most clocks have two hands, a short hand which points to the hours and a longer hand which points to the minutes. The hands move around the clock at different speeds, with the hour hand moving slower than the minute hand. Most analog clocks also have twelve numbers on the face.

Your child should understand that clocks are divided into two major groups, analog and digital. An analog clock has hands that move gradually from one time to the next, while a digital clock shows the time using numbers and a colon. Though digital clocks may be easier to read, it is important for your child to learn how to tell time using an analog clock. The movies in the Time Unit will help your child learn how to tell time step-by-step.

Work with your child to come up with different types of clocks: alarm clocks, pocket watches, wrist watches, digital clocks, stopwatches, timers, clocks that count down, and so on. Where has your child seen a clock? What do people use clocks for? Have your child describe the different clocks he or she has seen at school, home, or around the neighborhood. Explain that analog clocks may have faces that look different--some analog clocks only have four numbers on the face, while others may have none at all.

Your child should understand that time allows people to organize and plan their day. People schedule classes, meetings, and appointments using time so it’s important for your child to understand that time is a reference point, an agreed-upon standard on which the day is based.

Parts of a Clock Teacher Activities – Click Here!

Parts of a Clock Family Activities – Click Here!

Parts of a Clock Teacher Activities

Create a Clock

Have students make their own clocks out of plates, construction paper, crayons, and brass brads. First discuss and describe all the parts of a clock: the face, minute and hour hands, and numbers. Have students decorate their plates to be the face of the clock and write numbers around the edge. Students may wish to use numbers or use beans or other small objects to glue on the plate to represent the numbers. For example, 1 bean would represent 1, 2 beans would represent 2, and so on. Remind students that the hour hand is shorter than the minute hand and help students connect their hands to the clock. Have students keep these clocks for later lessons when they begin to learn and practice how to read a clock and tell time.

Class Schedule

Explain to your students that time is used to plan a day. Together as a class, create a class schedule on the board. What time does school begin? What time is math, recess, lunch, reading, etc.?

To extend the activity, have students imagine what their day would be like if there were no time. How would they know when it was time to go home? How would they know when to go to bed? Have students share their ideas. Discuss with students about the usefulness of time and why it is important to always be on time.

Clockworks

If possible bring in different kinds of clocks to show to your students. You can bring in analog and digital clocks, a stopwatch, a kitchen timer, and an hourglass. Have students describe each clock and how it is useful to tell or measure time. Have students think of moments when they could use each type of clock. For example, a stopwatch would be useful if you had to time a race and a kitchen timer would be useful if you needed to take something out of the oven in an hour.

Parts of a Clock Family Activities

Clock Walk

Go on a walk around your home or neighborhood and look for clocks. Have your child describe what the clock looks like and how it tells time. Is it a digital or analog clock? Does it ring at the hour? Have your child point out the hour and minute hands on each analog clock and point out which numbers refer to the hour and minutes on each digital clock. Ask your child to explain which clock is easiest to read and why.

Tick Tock Parts

Show an analog clock to your child and have him or her point out the parts of the clock, including the face, minute hand, and hour hand. Then have your child draw an analog clock and label the parts in his or her notebook. This way, a reference guide to reading a clock will always be handy. Your child can also take notes about the function of each part—-the face shows the numbers, the hour hand points to the hour, and the minute hand points to the minute.

I’m Late! I’m Late!

Discuss the importance of being on time with your child. What happens if he or she wakes up late? What happens if he or she is late for the bus or arrives to school late? Explain that people use time to schedule the day and it is important for your child to be punctual. How might a doctor feel if a patient arrived to an appointment late? Set up a morning and evening schedule with your child. What time does he or she wake up? When is his or her bedtime? Post the schedule so your child will be accustomed to planning ahead and understand the importance of being punctual.