Learn basic time concepts with the changing faces clock. Teach individual time units with
two double-sided, interchangeable clock faces featuring hours, minutes, quarter hours
with minutes, and analog display. Customize lessons with the blank clock base and a
wet-erase marker.
Caution:
To ensure that your marker doesn’t leave a permanent mark, test it on a corner
of the clock. Do not use a dry-erase marker.
Involve students in class demonstration or have them explore the clock in small-group
settings. The geared hands maintain correct hour and minute relations.
Changing the Clock Faces
1. To change clock faces gently squeeze the two tabs
together on the minute hand and pull the minute hand
away from the clock. (See figure A.)
2. Turn the top face counterclockwise, and tip clock
forward to remove face from the base.
3. Remove second clock face in the same manner.
4. Remove both rings to access the blank clock base.
5. Once the desired clock face is found, place the unused
face on the base and turn clockwise to secure it.
6. Place the desired clock face on top, securing it in the
same manner.
7. Replace the minute hand by gently inserting atop the
hour hand, aligning the notches. (See figure B)
8. The minute hand will snap into place and the clock is
ready to use.
9. If using the blank base, first write the desired times on
the clock and replace the minute hand in the same way.
AM versus PM Hours
Explore the concept of AM and PM using the hours-only clock face. Begin by asking students
how many hours are in a day (twenty-four). Ask students how many hours are shown on an
analog clock.
Explain that there are twelve hours for AM and PM. Ask students what happens in the
elapsed time from 12 AM to 1 PM. To demonstrate this concept, move the hands clockwise
from 1 AM. Have students count aloud as each hour elapses. Upon reaching 12 AM, ask
which hour occurs next (1 PM). Continue in the same manner.
Perform this lesson with the minute clock face to reinforce minute-counting concepts.
Quarter Hours
As students become familiar with time concepts, introduce quarter hours with the quarter
hours and minutes clock face. Discuss terms such as quarter hour, quart to and quarter after,
and ask students what these terms mean. Display the clock and explain that hours represent
fifteen-minute intervals. Explain the clock’s four-hour display and the equal spacing of
the numbers.
Set the clock hands to 3:45 and say that this time can also be stated as a quarter to four. Set a
new hour and ask students to give the time. Repeat additional times using the term “quarter
to” until they are comfortable with this concept. Set the clock to 3:15 and explain how this
time refers to quarter after three. Reinforce the fact that specific times are referred to in
many ways.
Expand this lesson by using the blank clock base to write out specific times, such as one
o’clock, two o’clock and so on. Discuss additional ways to relate time, such as half past, past
the hour, twenty to, ten after, and so forth.
figure A
figure B
