What Time Is It?

Designed by: M.B. Wright, Satchel Ford Elementary School

Grade Level: Third        Subject: Math

Core Curriculum Objective: Students will tell time to the nearest five-minute and one minute interval, using analog and digital clocks.

Overview: Students will distinguish between an analog and digital clock and read time from both types of clocks. Students will also make analog clocks using paper plates and tell time in one and five minute increments.

Focus/Essential Question(s): What time is it? How can you tell time form two different types of clocks?

Time Frame: Four- Fifty minute classes.

Resource materials: 

Paper Plates 
Clips 
Tag board tacks 
Digital Clock 
Analog Clock 
Markers 
Ruler 
Attached Data Sheet 
Computer 
Aver Keys (optional) 

Suggested Web Sites: 
www.4time.com 
www.nba.com

Culminating Assessment: Students will be asked to make a clock using paper plates, and other materials. They will need to manipulate these clocks to match the times for the NBA schedule on the above web site. Students will also be asked to read the time from other places around the world using an analog clock from the web site www.4time.com

Rubric for Clock Lesson

Activity One: Students use prior knowledge to tell about what they know about time and clocks. Ask them about time from around the world and if it changes depending on where you are in the world. Using Averkeys show students the web site: www.4time.com Go to: What Time is it?, then go to: World Time Zone Map. Ask them to tell you what they notice about different places and how the times change. Notice that the times are written in digital clock format, and that there is a p or an after each time indicating p.m. and a.m. Ask the students what time it is in specific areas so you know that they can read a digital clock. (This lesson would work well if you had a computer lab, so that each child could have their own computer since the times on the map are written small). 

Activity Two: Ask students what they notice about the analog clock on the wall. What are some differences between this clock and the clock that they saw on the map? Introduce this as an analog clock and point out the five-minute increments that the numbers represents. Point out that the 12 means o'clock or :00, and it turns to the right. Have students use their arms to show you which way the clock turns. Ask students why they need to know how to read both kinds of clocks. Tell students that they are going to make an analog clock using paper plates, and manipulate the clock to show different times. Hand all students a paper plate, ruler, tag board paper, markers, and a tack. First have students draw in pencil a line straight down the middle of the plate, then another straight across the plate. Next they draw two diagonal lines in between each section. The plate should look like the picture below.

Have the students write the correct numbers on the lines starting with the top, being 12. After all students finish with the outside numbers, have them draw the minutes in between each number. They should have four small lines evenly between each number. Students use the tag board to draw a second hand and a minute hand and then cut these out. Before cutting they need to ask a friend which hand is which, if the friend cannot tell, the student needs to redo them so that the two hands are noticeably different. Students use tacks to push the two hands of the clock in the center of the plate. The minute hand should be on the bottom. Now that each student has made a clock, ask them to show you several different times by manipulating the hands of the clock and holding them up so you can see. Ask students what they know about clocks, and the difference between analog and digital clocks. Tell students that they will be using these clocks for the next lesson and they will be taking digital times and showing them on their clocks. Activity Three: Ask students to raise their hands if they like basketball. Tell students they will be looking up times of basketball games on the computer and writing them on the record sheet (see below). Show the students the following web site: www.NBA.com Click on U.S.-Global TV. To the right you will see television stations listed, when you click on a station the date, game and time are listed. In groups have students find a game time from each channel listed below.

Record Sheet for Basketball Schedule: 

Once the students have filled in the correct times, they will manipulate the clocks to show these times on their analog clock. They can help each other if needed. Once they have had some practice with this, students will be asked to show times relating to the basketball schedule. 

Example: 

1) If I live 4 minutes away from the Chicago stadium, what time do I need to leave the house in order to get there on time? (Students need to use chart to see when Chicago is playing). Have students show you the time on their clock. 

2) I am going to watch the LA Lakers play at 9:00pm, what time will it be 35 minutes after they start? (Students show you using clock).

After asking several questions like this, have students think of their own questions to ask to each other. Walk around the room to make sure all students are engaged. Once students have finished this activity, make a bulletin board of time charts, so that others who visit the classroom can see the times of different NBA games. As the year goes on you can come back to this activity by asking students if they saw a particular game on television the night before, and ask questions about time related events that happened.