Learning to tell time involves many complex skills. Every year I have children who are beginning to take interest in learning about time. The most common question I hear is “What time is lunch?” I fell in love with this idea to make a nature-inspired rock clock. What a perfect way to give children a hands-on clock to explore! I even had all the materials on hand to make this.
While I don’t teach preschoolers to tell time, I do expose them to the concept of time and numbers, which makes this activity perfect! Whenever possible I try to use materials that children can manipulate, that provide children with sensory input, that give children confidence, and that help build a child’s creativity.
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This nature-inspired rock clock is the brilliant idea of The Educators’ Spin On it. They just published a new book, 100 Fun & Easy Learning Games for Kids: Teach Reading, Writing, Math and More With Fun Activities
, which has so many great and engaging educational activities. The authors are teachers who have combined their expertise in the classroom to give parents and educators hands-on teaching tools and ideas. I was thrilled with the ingenuity of so many of the activities.
Get the best learning activities for 3-5 year olds at your fingertips
This activity has been reprinted with permission from the publisher of the book 100 FUN & EASY LEARNING GAMES FOR KIDS.
When I heard about this book, I requested a copy from the publisher because I am definitely addicted to collecting books from my favorite types of authors: real-life teachers who understand the importance of meaningful learning!
Nature-Inspired Rock Clock
Materials:
- 12 rocks
- Paint
- 2 sticks
When painting materials that could get rained on or would be great in the sandbox, my favorite type of paint is Acrylic Paint.
For the numbers, you could use a different color of paint. Another method would be to write the numbers with Chalk Markers 
and cover them with mod-podge to make them more weatherproof.
.
Directions:
- Paint the rocks.
- Paint a number 1 to 12 on each rock. Allow them to dry overnight.
- Use a small stick and a larger stick to represent clock hands.
This is a perfect math station activity, either indoors or outdoors! Include the preschoolers in the project. Chances are that you may already have a favorite stash of rocks and sticks around. Our rock collection is enormous!
Work on concepts such as counting from 1 to 12, placing the stones in order, identifying the numbers, forming a circle with the numbers, and allowing the children to explore with all the materials.
Here are suggested activities straight from the book, 100 Fun & Easy Learning Games for Kids: Teach Reading, Writing, Math and More With Fun Activities, for children who are already learning to tell time. My five and seven-year-old both love learning about time, so I knew this would be a big hit!
Directions to Play
- Use the rocks to build a clock in the shape of a circle on a flat surface.
- Set the sticks in the middle as the hour and minute hands.
- One child tells a story with a time problem.
Sample
Sam went to the park at 8:00.
He stayed for 1 hour and then went home.
What time did he go home?
- The player to the right uses the hands of the rock clock to show the answer.
- If correct, then he gets to make up a time story. If incorrect, he must change the hands on the clock to show the correct time before telling the next story.
Game Variations
– Set the hour and minute hands on the clock. Act out something you would typically do at that time of day.
– Have one player call out a time and another player shows that time on the rock clock.
– Mix the rocks and race to rebuild the rock clock.
This nature-inspired rock clock is a perfect way to expose children to telling time or interested in learning about numbers, and it is a wonderful tool for children are ready to take the leap and learn to tell time.
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