Telling Time with Four Analog Clocks - Coloring and Labeling Practice

Grade: Third · Subject: Art · Time: 30 min · Difficulty: Easy

Learning Objective

Students will learn to draw and color the hour and minute hands on analog clock faces to show specific times and write the time shown, enhancing their skill in coloring and understanding clock visuals in art.

Teacher-Selected Inputs

Grade: Third
Subject: Art
Skill: Coloring, fine_motor_skills, time_recognition
Educational Setting: General Education
Difficulty: Easy
Duration: 30 min

Why this printable fits

This printable includes four blank analog clock faces, perfect for art-centered time-telling activities that focus on coloring skills. The simple black-and-white design allows students to color the hands to indicate specific times, matching the third grade art and coloring focus while integrating practical time-telling

Vocabulary

PRE-TEACH

analog: A clock with hands that show time
hour hand: The short hand showing the hour
minute hand: The long hand showing minutes

USE DURING LESSON

clock face
hour hand
minute hand
time
coloring

Materials

Four Clocks printable
colored pencils or crayons
pencils
erasers

Prep

Print one copy of the Four Clocks printable per student
Prepare word bank card with terms: hour hand, minute hand, analog, clock face

Lesson Steps

Introduction and Modeling8 min
Teacher actions: 1. Show a sample analog clock with hour and minute hands drawn and colored; 2. Introduce vocabulary words with the word bank card; 3. Model how to color hour and minute hands in different colors; 4. Demonstrate writing the time shown on the clock.
Teacher script: Today, we are going to learn how to color the hands on these clocks to show different times. Watch how I color the short hour hand blue and the long minute hand red, then write the time below.
Example / model: Color the hour hand blue pointing at 3 and the minute hand red pointing at 12. Write the time as 3:00.
Printable use: Use the first clock face to demonstrate coloring and labeling hands to show a specific time.
Move on when: Check students can explain which hand is the hour and which is the minute and can point to the correct spots on the clock.
Support if needed: Use the word_bank_card to review terms and colors to use for hands.
Guided Practice with Coloring and Label8 min
Teacher actions: 1. Assign times for students to show on the next two clocks; 2. Guide students step by step to draw and color hour and minute hands; 3. Assist students to write the time shown under each clock; 4. Circulate and provide feedback.
Teacher script: Let's try drawing and coloring your own hour and minute hands to show 6:00 and 9:30. Remember, the hour hand is short, and the minute hand is long.
Example / model: For 6:00, color short hand at 6 blue and long hand at 12 red; write 6:00 below. For 9:30, short hand halfway between 9 and 10 blue, long hand at 6 red; write 9:30.
Printable use: Use the second and third clock faces for students to draw, color, and label the time as instructed.
Move on when: Students can correctly place and color the hour and minute hands on both clocks and write the times.
Support if needed: Provide sentence frame: 'The short hand points to ____ and the long hand points to ____.
Independent Practice with Coloring and T7 min
Teacher actions: 1. Ask students to choose their own time to show on the last clock face; 2. Have students draw, color, and write their chosen time independently; 3. Encourage students to use correct vocabulary and colors; 4. Collect or review work after completion.
Teacher script: Now, you will create your own time on the last clock. Choose any time you like, then color the hour hand blue and the minute hand red. Finally, write the time below the clock.
Example / model: Student draws short hand at 2 and long hand at 12, colors correctly, and writes 2:00.
Printable use: Use the fourth clock face for independent drawing, coloring, and writing of the chosen time.
Move on when: Students have drawn and colored both hands correctly and written the matching time on their last clock.
Support if needed: Refer back to word bank card and example clocks for reference.
Review and Share7 min
Teacher actions: 1. Invite several students to share their last clock and explain their chosen time; 2. Correct gently if needed; 3. Recap the vocabulary and coloring rules; 4. Praise students for their effort and accuracy.
Teacher script: Can someone show their clock and tell us the time you made? What colors did you use for your hands?
Example / model: Student shares: 'This is 4:15. The hour hand is blue on 4, the minute hand is red on 3.
Printable use: Review the last clock as students explain and share their work.
Move on when: Students verbally identify correct positions and colors of hands when sharing.
Support if needed: Provide sentence frame: 'My time is ____. The hour hand is ____. The minute hand is ____.

Formative Check

Step: Guided Practice with Coloring and Label
Ask students to: Draw and color the hour and minute hands for 6:00 and 9:30 and write the times
Look for: Correct placement and coloring of hands, accurate time labels written

Success Criteria

Students can identify at least 2 key details or vocabulary words connected to Art.
Students can write the correct time corresponding to the colored hands on at least three clock faces.

Differentiation

Support: Use the word bank card with clock parts terms and colors to support vocabulary and coloring instructions

Scaffold tool: Word Bank Card

Standard: Students complete drawing, coloring, and labeling tasks for three clocks as directed.

Extension: Students create an additional time problem by drawing and coloring clock hands for a fourth time and writing a short sentence describing the time.

Early Finishers: Students practice sequencing the times from the clocks they completed, explaining which comes first, second, and last in order.

Accommodations

Allow extra time for fine motor tasks if needed.
Provide pre-colored clock hands on one clock for visual support.
Offer verbal prompts and sentence frames to support explanations.
Use larger pencils or crayons if students have difficulty with grip.

Common Misconceptions

Confusing the hour hand with the minute hand (short vs. long).
Placing the hour hand exactly on numbers when it should be slightly between numbers for half-hours.
Mislabeling the time after coloring the hands.
Using the same color for both hands, causing confusion.

Assessment

Observe and note correct placement and coloring of clock hands during guided practice.
Review written times on the printable for accuracy.
Listen to student explanations during the review share step.
Check for correct use of vocabulary during discussions.

Teacher Notes

Standards

CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RI.3.4: Determine the meaning of general academic and domain-specific words and phrases in a text relevant to a grade 3 topic or subject area.

IF SHORT ON TIME

Keep: Introduction and Modeling
Skip or shorten: Reduce Independent Practice and Review steps

FOLLOW-UP OPTIONS

Use the printable to practice telling time to the quarter hour and five-minute intervals.
Create mixed media clock faces using cut paper and coloring to reinforce fine motor skills.
Incorporate storytelling by having students draw hands to show times in a daily routine and write simple sentences.

HOME CONNECTION

Ask your child to practice telling and drawing times on clocks at home using real clocks or paper templates.

Source summary

Based on: Four Clocks

Printable summary (sanity check): A printable featuring four blank analog clock faces designed for third grade students to practice coloring hour and minute hands and writing the correct time, integrating basic art coloring skills with time-telling concepts.