Telling Time Game
A free game for learning to tell time on an analog clock. In “Read the clock” students pick the time a clock shows; in “Set the clock” they drag the hands to a time – great on a smartboard, where students can come up and move the hands.
Five levels build up step by step, from o’clock and half past to quarter hours, 5-minute times and the exact minute, so it works from kindergarten through 3rd grade.
How to use it in class
- Pick a mode. “Read the clock” shows a clock with four times to choose from. “Set the clock” asks students to drag the hands to a time.
- Pick a level. Start with o’clock, then move on to half hours, quarter hours, 5 minutes and finally any minute.
- Move the hands. Drag the long blue minute hand or the short hour hand. Like a real clock, moving the minute hand past 12 moves the hour too.
- Learn from mistakes. Wrong answers include the classic mix-up of reading the hands the wrong way round. After a miss the clock shows the right time.
Classroom ideas
Class clock
Leave “Set the clock” on the board and invite students up to set the time of the next activity on the schedule.
Partner check
One student sets a time on paper clocks, the other reads it, and both check with the game.
Daily warm-up
Play one round at the start of math each day, moving up a level once the class gets 9 out of 10.
Frequently asked questions
What age is this for?
Kindergarten through 3rd grade. O’clock and half hours suit younger students; 5 minutes and 1 minute are usually 2nd and 3rd grade.
Can students drag the hands on a phone or smartboard?
Yes. The hands have large grab areas so they’re easy to move with a finger.
Does it use AM and PM?
No. An analog clock shows the same time twice a day, so answers are written like 3:45.
Is it free?
Yes. It’s free with no sign-up, and best scores are saved in the browser.