What time is it? Time to create a unique clock that will inspire the imagination of your little artist! The Paper Clock activity will help support basic time reading skills, while providing additional sequencing and counting practice. These valuable skills will assist your child in better understanding the world around him, help him gain some introductory math knowledge, and teach him how to construct a daily routine.
Encourage your child to write his own numbers, and make movable hands that will make a completely unique art clock. Use paper, markers, and more in this fun and timely activity!
What You Need:
- Thick paper such as card stock or cardboard
- Construction paper
- Scissors
- Brass fastener
- Markers
- Glitter, glue, tempera paints, and brushes (optional)
What You Do:
- Have your child draw a circle on the cardboard or card stock (allow him to choose the size). The circle doesn't need to be perfect, but if you would like, this is a great opportunity to teach your child how to use a compass to draw a circle. For an additional lesson on reusing and recycling, try using an old cereal or packing box for this activity.
- Help your child to cut out the paper circle.
- Show him a real clock, and discuss the various parts and numbers. Ask him to recreate the number order on his paper circle.
- Cut out two paper hands from the construction paper. Make sure that one is smaller than the other.
- Attach the hands at the center of the clock with a brass fastener. This should be done by an adult.
- Encourage your child to decorate his clock in an imaginative way. He may want to add glitter or paint to the clock face. Make sure not to cover the numbers!
- Once he has finished decorating his on-of-a-kind clock, set it aside to dry.
- Now your child is ready to move the paper hands and tell you exactly what time it is!
Take this activity one step further and add a lesson about Roman numerals. Ask your child to create a second clock that uses Roman numerals, and then have him compare it to the first one. You can ask him questions like, "What time do you get up in the morning?" "What time does school start?" "What time do we eat dinner?" Go back and forth with each clock telling the particular time of day.
By Erica Loop
Erica Loop has a MS in Applied Developmental Psychology from the University of Pittsburgh's School of Education. She has many years of teaching experience working in early childhood education, and as an arts educator at the Carnegie Museum of Art in Pittsburgh.
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