Learning to tell the time is an important part of primary school maths, but it can take plenty of practice. The key is to make it visual, practical and fun.

Here are a few simple ways to help children build confidence with time in the classroom.

🕐 Start with a Teaching Clock

Hands-on clocks are a great way for children to understand how the hour and minute hands work together.

Ask pupils to set a clock to different times, starting with o'clock and half past before moving on to quarter past, quarter to and five-minute intervals.

Our magnetic teaching clocks are ideal for this because children can physically move the hands and practise different times themselves.

🎲 Make Time Interactive

Learning doesn't have to mean worksheets!

Use time puzzles, flash cards and wipe-clean activity books to give children plenty of opportunities to practise reading and matching different times.

These are particularly useful for small-group activities, maths stations or independent work.

⏱️ Teach Children About Duration

Understanding time also means learning how long things take.

Sand timers are a simple, visual way to introduce concepts such as one minute, two minutes or five minutes. Try using them for classroom challenges, timed activities or transitions.

🏫 Use Time Throughout the School Day

Make time part of your everyday classroom routine.

Ask questions such as:

What time is break?

How long until lunch?

What time will it be in 30 minutes?

How long did that activity take?

Regular practice helps children connect what they learn in maths with real-life situations.

⏰ Make Learning Time Hands-On

From magnetic teaching clocks and wall charts to time puzzles, activity books and sand timers, practical resources can make learning to tell the time much more engaging.

Explore our Time & Clocks collection

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