A very simple activity that could form a whole lesson in itself. It's something fun to do which will not 'feel' like learning, and yet by actively being creative, it helps to reinforce what is being taught to the child. More than that you end up with something that can be kept, bright and clear, on the wall for as long as is needed until the child is confident in being able to tell the time (for o'clock, half past, quarter past and quarter to).
You will need:
- brightly coloured paper or card for the backgrounds
- plain white paper (or a light coloured contrast to the background colour - not too bright and colourful, because the aim is for the child to be able to read and see the numbers easily afterwards) for the clock faces.
- a plate to draw round
- pre-cut four 'big hands' in a nice bright contrast colour to any other colour chosen (such as our blue card ones in the picture)
- get ready four labels on card with 'o'clock', 'half past', 'quarter past' and 'quarter to' on.
- glue
- scissors
- For the 'title' (which is optional): some magasines and newspapers, or the child can write the title themselves, or make your own 'outlined' large text version on a computer for them to colour in, or... anything else you can think of!
Step 1 - Draw round the plate in pencil. The child can do this or help you do it (depending on their age). Do this four times and cut out each circle.
Step 2 - Gently in light pencil mark the top, bottom and quarter places on each circle approximately where the numbers 12, 3, 6 and 9 will be. Get the child to write these numbers in, and then to fill in the others. It's easier to do it like this to make sure that the numbers are evenly spaced and that the key numbers of 12, 3, 6 and 9 are as accurately placed as possible. Do this for each of the four 'clock faces'.
Step 3 - Present the child with the four long hands. Ask them to place the hands at the positions for o'clock, half past, quarter past and quarter to. (This is why the activity is best done when you have already had a few lessons on this already insha'Allah, so that it's a revision and reinforcement (through self-testing by the child) than a 'first time' tuition.) When you are ready, glue each one on so each 'clock' tells a different 'time'.
Step 4 - Now glue the four clocks onto four pieces of bright paper, or two strips of bright paper (the backgrounds). Let the child choose the order that the clocks will be in, which ones on the left and right, and which ones on the top and bottom.
Step 5 - Glue on the labels for each clock. Again, present the child with the four labels and get them to place them next to the correct clock.
Step 6 - If you want to make a title, then do so. There are a variety of ways you could do this - be creative! Our way was to cut out interesting letters from a free local newspaper waiting to be recycled and glue them down.
Finished! - Now stick up your clocks next to a large clear clock on the wall, so that every time the child looks at the clock they have these clear, bright reminders right next to it. When they get confident with telling the time, you can take them down insha'Allah!