First Clocks introduces the clock as the thing that tells us the time, and the short hand as the hand that shows the hour. Children find the number the short hand points at, then read simple times like 3:00.
What your child will learn
- Recognise a clock and a watch as things that tell the time
- Find the number the short hand points at
- Begin to read times like 3:00, when the long hand points straight up
Just the short hand
At this age we only use :00 times, so the long hand always points straight up. That lets children focus on one thing: the short hand points at the hour.
Example questions
Here are a few questions like the ones in the first quest. Can you solve them?
1. Which number is the short hand pointing at?
- 3
- 6
- 4
Show answer
Answer: 4. Follow the short hand from the middle: it points at 4. The short hand tells us the hour.
2. Which one has sand that runs down to time a game?
- ⏳ sand timer
- 🏖️ beach
- 🎲 dice
Show answer
Answer: ⏳ sand timer. In a sand timer the sand takes the same time to run down every time — great for taking turns!
3. Which one rings to wake us up?
- 🥛 milk
- ⏰ alarm clock
- 🧦 socks
Show answer
Answer: ⏰ alarm clock. An alarm clock rings at the time we choose, to wake us up in the morning.
Tips for grown-ups
- At :00 times, point to a real clock: “The short hand is on 7 — it’s 7:00!”
- Link times to events: “At 12:00 we have lunch.”