Mastering the Clock: Free Worksheets to Teach Kids to Tell Time

The other day, I was chatting with a friend over coffee. She mentioned her little one kept asking, “Is it lunchtime yet?”—but had no idea what the clock actually said.

I totally get it. Telling time can be tricky for kids.

That’s exactly why I put together a few simple worksheets and activities around the idea of “Clock and Time.” Nothing too fancy—just things that make sense to kids. Things they can touch, color, and do.

Here’s what worked really well in my classroom.

1. Cut and Paste Clock Craft

We started with scissors and glue—because that alone gets them excited.

Each child got clock parts: numbers and a blank clock face.

Their task? Put the numbers in the right places.

Some got it right on the first try. Others flipped the numbers or squished everything on one side. That’s okay. They corrected themselves once we talked it through.

It became less about being perfect, and more about understanding how a clock feels when it looks right.

2. Color the Clock

Sometimes, the simplest tasks have the biggest impact.

I gave them a worksheet with several clocks.

Next to each one, I wrote a time (like 3:00, 5:00, etc.).

Their job? Color the clock that matched the time.

It was part memory, part matching, and all visual. They were looking at the shape of the hands, not just hearing explanations. That made a big difference.

3. Pick the Right Time

We flipped the idea:

This time, each clock showed a specific time.

And they had to choose the correct written time from three options.

It gave them a small challenge—but not so hard that they froze. Plus, multiple choice means they get to think before answering.

4. Draw the Hour and Minute Hands

Okay, this one needed some extra help.

We gave them times—like 2:00, 4:30, or 7:15—and asked them to draw the hour and minute hands on blank clocks.

I’ll be honest, some kids kept mixing up the two hands. But the more they practiced, the more they noticed the patterns.

5. Before and After an Hour

Now this got them thinking a little deeper.

We asked:

What time will it be one hour later?
What was the time an hour ago?

They had to draw the new time on a blank clock face.

It helped them connect time to sequence—what happens before and after. A few kids paused, looked confused, then suddenly lit up when it clicked. That moment is always the best part.

6. How Long Does It Take?

This one was fun—and surprisingly eye-opening.

I gave them pictures of everyday activities:

Brushing teeth
Drawing a picture
Dancing
Sleeping
Eating dinner

They had to decide: does this take minutes or hours?

Some of their answers made me laugh. One kid insisted brushing teeth takes an hour (I mean… it feels like it, right?).

It led to great conversations—about how time feels different depending on what you're doing.

Why I Think These Activities Helped

When kids do things—cutting, coloring, choosing—they learn better.

They’re not just hearing about time. They’re seeing it. Feeling it. Sometimes getting it wrong and fixing it.

That’s where the learning happens.

If you’re teaching your child or students about clocks and time, try mixing these kinds of activities in. Let them color outside the lines a little. Let them think it through at their pace.

Eventually, they’ll stop asking you what time it is—and start telling you.

Downloadable PDF: Your Time Toolkit

Before you go, make sure to download the PDF with all the worksheets mentioned here. Consider this your toolkit for unlocking the secrets of time!