Telling the time for ESL Learners

Telling Time ESL Activities for Elementary ELLs (Flashcards, Games & Worksheets) is available here :    https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Telling-the-time-for-ESL-4532035

Teaching students how to tell time in English can be both challenging and exciting. This post shares classroom-tested activities using flashcards, worksheets, crafts, and games to help elementary English language learners understand analog and digital clocks while building speaking, listening, reading, and writing skills.

Watch the video of the resource:

                                                       

Preparing Students to Learn Time

 Start by reviewing the numbers 1 to 60 perhaps. Students review numbers 1–60 to build the numerical foundation required for telling time.

Check my blog post with many ideas for a nice practice.  https://eflelementaryresources.blogspot.com/2019/01/numbers-1-to-100-for-esl-learners-part-2.html

Teaching Clock Parts

Students learn the function of hour and minute hands, developing conceptual understanding of time representation.

As for my experience I teach both the analog and the digital clock. I made both in flashcards. Leave a comment as in which one you teach the most. 

Make sure that students understand the hands of the clock.

O’clock Practice Activities

Start with o’clock. Place a random flashcard on the board.

                       Teacher: It’s one o’clock.

                       Students:  It’s one o’clock.

Have the students try with the other flashcards.

Then, place the flashcards in random places around the classroom.  Say a time and have a student go find it.

Teacher: (Patricia). It’s twelve o’clock.

Make a reference to the digital clocks.

Analog and Digital Clock Matching

Visual clock representations combined with hands-on manipulation help learners connect abstract time concepts with concrete experiences.

Have the students match the digital clocks to the analog clocks.

Continue with more time telling flashcards.

Students repeat time expressions such as “It’s  half past three ”, strengthening pronunciation and pattern recognition.

I made a bigger analog clock to place on the board and write the vocabulary next to each number or the digital numbers. Students will create their own clock and words with a smaller worksheet.

Write different times on the board and have the students come to the front and put the corresponding flashcard.

Worksheet Listening and Writing Practice

Hand in the worksheet for multiple listening practice. Insert the worksheet into a clear plastic sheet for next use.

Or cut them and place contact paper on each one to write the time.

               

And another worksheet for writing practice.

Listening is another skill that show be reinforced for teaching the time.

Craft Clock Activity

On the art side of the lesson plan include creating a clock. It will be fun to do an analog clock. Have them decorate their clock as they wish using glitter, sequins and any other decoration. Students can glue the printable onto construction paper, cardboard or fun foam. After cutting the clock hands, they can attach them using a butterfly clip.

Have the students play in pairs using the clock they made.

Student A: It’s a quarter to three.

Student B: (demonstrates using his clock)

           Or do a label the clock. Either digital or analog.

Interactive Games for Time Practice

 Hand in a small clock and a slip of paper to each student. Have them write the time on the slip of paper. Get all the slips of paper and small cards.  Divide the class into two groups, one with the clock cards and another with the slips of paper. At your signal, students stand up and walk around finding the correct pair.

Dictation using the flashcards. Grab all the flashcards that you want to review and without showing them, dictate to the students the time. They write them down on the down on their notebooks. Then place them on the board and have the students correct their work.

        Match the digital clock and the analog clock cards.

              A worksheet that is game board. Play with dice.

Role-Play Conversations

After all this, model a small role play and then have students practice in pairs.

Teacher: Excuse me, What time is it ?

Student A using his clock: It’s three o’clock.

Teacher: Thank you.

Student A: You’re welcome.

Take extra time for teaching: Morning, noon, afternoon, evening, night, midnight. Use the flashcards and the digital cutout clocks. You might want to point out Good morning! And I defined some hours. Usually morning starts at sunrise and night starts at sunset but it varies depending on the country.

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