Layiba aslam d 16374 module 8

Question 5:
How are children trained to tell the time in a
Montessori house?
The purpose of the following exercise is to help enable
the children to understand the concept of time and to be
able to know as well as tell the time on a clock.
Material:
● A model clock with movable arms and changeable
numerals in a box
● A series of cards, set of corresponding labels and stand
Exercise 1:
The teacher invites a small group of children who can
count and identify numerals. She familiarizes the children
with the place where the material is kept, and with their
helps, shifts it to the workplace. She points to the empty
slot for numbers on the clock face and shows how to put
the numbers in order, one by one, starting with ‘1’. She
tells them that these numbers on the clock face
represent hours.
Exercise 2:
Layiba aslam d 16374 module 8

The directress asks the children to arrange the numerals

on the clock. Once the children can comfortably arrange
the numbers on the clock face from 1 to 12, she
demonstrates how the clock arms can move around.
Pointing to the short arm, she says, “This is the short
arm. It shows what hours it is.” She moves the short arm
onto number 1 and say, “One o’clock.” Finally, she asks
the children to make different times for her, for example,
“Can you please make six o’clock for me?” As an
extension, the children may be asked to draw various
clock faces and to label them. When they have learned
the concept of fractions, they are introduced to half past,
quarter past, quarter to, etc.