Bobby Pin + Hair Pin + Old Holiday Plates = ???

If you are anything like me, you have big hair and a lot of bobby pins laying around. 

:)

I'm also thinking that, as a classroom teacher, you have quite the collection of old holiday plates. 

They seem to stick around for quite some time, don't they?

Well, guess what?! Here's what you can do with your bobby pins and leftover plates!

You'll need: one bobby pin, one hair pin (a giant bobby pin), holiday plate, clock template, + scissors.

You can download a free clock template from {here} or {here}. 

Remember, though, you don't need the hands!

Super simple how to:

1. cut out the clock and glue it onto the plate (oh! you'll need glue, too! :))

2. use your scissors (a grown up task!) to create a hole in the middle of the clock.

3. slip the hair pin through the hole.

4. slip the bobby pin through the hole.

5. You have a clock! 

 (In the process of slipping the hair pin through the hole...)

Your kiddos will love this clock because it's a personal creation. You could also have them label the numbers and draw the tick marks...decorate it...etc.

Students can keep these little clocks in their cubbies or desks and it's a quick and easy formative assessment, game, or activity! Have a few minutes before lunch? 

Pull out your clocks and call out a time!

Hip Hop Around the Clock {Jack Hartmann}

Have you ever heard of Jack Hartmann?

He records educational songs that are primary friendly, standards aligned, and FUN!

I love love love his songs!

He has quite a few CD's out there (math, reading, classroom transitions, etc), but here are a few that my Mentor Teacher had in the classroom:

Thanks, Google images, for the pictures.

Obviously we didn't use every song from every CD (so many!), but what a great resource!

It was such a treat to hear the kiddos singing some of his songs as they were working on a project/trying to recall a piece of information. Precious!

Aside from The Vowel Sound Hound Dogs (absolutely hilarious), 

one of my favorite songs of Jack Hartmann's is 

Hip Hop! Around the Clock!

Telling time is a necessary skill, but it can be engaging and fun, as well!

The song goes a little something like this:

I love that one of the versions leaves space for the teacher to call out a time. 

How great that we can cater directly to our students' needs in such a simple yet engaging way!!

The little ones would sit on the carpet with a tiny clock and the music would begin...

I would fill in the blank space on the song with a time and they would adjust the clock to reveal the right time. The kids would then hold it up and show me that they had the correct time!

If their clock looked different than everyone else's, I could immediately tell that one little friend might need more practice with time to the half hour. 

More often than not, my friend would also figure out that their clock didn't look quite right. :)

I don't know Jack Hartmann and he doesn't know that I'm writing this, but I truly enjoy his songs and would definitely recommend a listen!

And {just for you}, I made a little clock activity that is helpful with those scissor skills as well!

Click the picture to grab the freebie.

Thanks kevinandamanda.com and fontpalace.com for the fonts!

Directions: Cut out the numbers at the bottom and glue them in the correct place on the clock. The kiddos can then use two crayons (red+yellow?) to draw the hour hand and the minute hand.

So, how do you make telling time fun for your kiddos??

Can't wait to hear from you!