CLOCK LEARNER · LEARN TOGETHER
Free Printable Clock Faces & Telling Time Activities for Kids
Hands-on physical materials reinforce what children learn on digital screens. Combining physical clock crafts with interactive digital clocks provides the multi-sensory repetition children need to retain clock skills.
DIY paper plate teaching clock craft
Making a paper plate clock is a classic, low-cost homeschool and classroom activity:
- Materials needed: 2 paper plates, 1 split pin (brad), colored markers, and scissors.
- Step 1 (The numbers): Write the hours 1 to 12 around the rim of the top plate. For best spacing, write 12 at the top, 6 at the bottom, 3 on the right, and 9 on the left first!
- Step 2 (The minute rim): Cut small slits between the numbers on the top plate. On the second plate underneath, write the minute values (00, 05, 10, 15, 20... 55) directly under each hour tab. Your child can flip the tab up to peek at the minutes!
- Step 3 (The hands): Cut a short orange arrow for the hour hand and a longer blue arrow for the minute hand. Push the split pin through both hands and into the center of the plate.
Printable blank clock face templates
Blank clock faces are ideal for practice drills. You can draw times for your child to read, or state a time aloud and have your child draw the hands:
- O’Clock Practice: Draw hands for 3:00, 7:00, 11:00. Ensure the short hand points to the number and the long hand reaches the 12.
- Half-Past Practice: Draw hands for 1:30, 6:30, 10:30. Ensure the short hand sits halfway between the two hour numbers!
- Quarter-Hour Practice: Draw hands for 4:15, 8:45, 12:15.
Pairing printables with Clock Learner
Use Clock Learner alongside your paper clock or worksheets! When a child draws a tricky time like 3:45 on paper, open the interactive teaching clock to verify their answer and watch the hour hand smoothly move toward 4.