Time to Match 'Em Up!

What You Need:

• Paper
• Fine point black marker
• Scissors
• Tape
• Duplo-style blocks

What You Do:

1. Use the black marker to draw 12 clock faces, each one showing a different time. Make certain that your clocks are just small enough to fit on two stacked blocks. If your child is new to telling time, draw clock faces showing the hour (2:00 or 7:00) or the half hour (4:30 or 9:30). Most third graders should have the hours, quarter hours, and half hours down though. Make the times as tricky as you think your kid is capable of handling.
2. Cut out your clocks. Tape each one onto the side of two stacked Duplo-style blocks.
3. Now write out the digital times for the clock faces that you drew in Step 1 (3:00, 6:00, etc.). Cut out these times and tape each onto two stacked blocks.
4. After you have labeled all of the blocks, mix them up and then call in your young learner.
5. Take her someplace in your home (or out in the world if you no longer have an analog clock around) where she can see each type of clock and then have her point out the block that matches that clock.
6. Back at your work area, have your child separate the digital clocks into one pile and the analog clocks into another.
7. Let the matching begin! Have her click the blocks together as she finds a clock face and digital clock that match.

Once your young learner can match digital and analog read-outs, expand on this activity by having her arrange the matched blocks in order (early to late).