Music is a useful tool for learning in so many different ways, this telling the time song turns an important lesson into a fun action song. Although this song only covers the basics, it’s an ideal way to introduce the topic and it’s a good start!
Telling the Time Song
We can learn to tell the time,
Tell the time, tell the time,
We can learn to tell the time,
It’s so easy!
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12 o’clock points to the top,
To the top, to the top,
12 o’clock points to the top,
It’s so easy!
*
3 o’clock points to the right,
To the right, to the right,
3 o’clock points to the right,
It’s so easy!
*
6 o’clock is pointing down,
Pointing down, pointing down,
6 o’clock is pointing down,
It’s so easy!
*
9 o’clock points to the left,
To the left, to the left,
9 o’clock points to the left,
It’s so easy!
*
The big hand counts the minutes round,
Minutes round, minutes round,
The big hand counts the minutes round,
It’s so easy!
*
The short hand tell what hour it is,
Hour it is, hour it is,
The short hand tells what hour it is,
It’s so easy!
*
Can you see what time it is,
Time it is, time it is,
Can you see what time it is,
Can you tell us?
*
“The big hand’s pointing to the 12,
To the 12, to the 12,
The short hand’s pointing to the 3,
It’s 3 o’clock!”
*
” The big hand’s pointing to the 4,
To the 4, to the 4,
The big hand’s pointing to the 4,
It’s 4 o’clock!
(sing to the tune of London Bridge)
Time Song Actions
Verse 1 – Hold hands together palms together in front of your face, hold one at 12 o’clock and tick- tock the other one to 3 o’clock.
Verse 2 – Point both hands palms, together up to 12 o’clock.
Verse 3 – Point both hands, palms together to the right.
Verse 4 – Point both hands, palms together down to 6 o’clock.
Verse 5 – Point both hands, palms together to the left.
Verse 6 – Hold up only one hand and tick tock it round with small movements, like the minute hand of a clock.
Verse 7 – Hold up the other hand and tick tock it round slightly bigger movements, like the hour hand of a clock.
Verse 8 – The teacher sings this and points to one child, showing them a time on the toy clock.
Verse 9 – The child answers, by singing where the big hand is pointing, and where the small hand is pointing. They will probably need a bit of help, and sing along with them if needed.
To sing this song you need a child’s toy learning clock, any sort would do, if you don’t have one you could make a card board one here’s a printable template.
The teacher sets the clock to a different time, and repeats verse 8 before asking the next child to have a go, and then they sing the answer as in verse 9.
Keep it very simple, so that the children find it easy and build confidence, it’s a perfect introduction to the basic concept of telling the time.
And for another time telling activity, here’s a lovely little circle game to fit in with the clock theme – I particularly love the peeking cuckoos!
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