The Time Train Craft is a bright and interactive activity designed to help students practise reading and representing time on an analog clock. By combining a creative train craft with time-telling skills, this resource makes learning to the hour, half-hour, and quarter-hour fun, hands-on, and memorable. The colourful format encourages engagement while reinforcing key mathematical concepts through visual and tactile learning.

Using the provided template, students cut, assemble, and paste their own Time Train. Each carriage includes an analog clock face where students will draw the correct hands to match specific times, then write the matching time in words. The labelled flaps add an interactive element, allowing students to check and reinforce their understanding. The finished trains can be displayed with the included banner to create a striking classroom feature that celebrates learning.

The Time Train Craft is adaptable to different ability levels. While designed for reading time to the hour, half-hour, and quarter-hour, teachers can easily extend learning by assigning times to the minute. The backing template helps keep carriages aligned for a polished display, and printing on coloured cardstock adds durability and visual appeal, making this an activity you can revisit year after year.

Key Learning Outcomes:

• ✅ Read and interpret analog clocks to the hour, half-hour, and quarter-hour
• ✅ Draw clock hands to represent given times
• ✅ Write times in words accurately
• ✅ Develop fine motor skills through cutting, assembling, and pasting
• ✅ Engage with time-telling skills in a creative, hands-on context

What’s Included:

• Detailed instructions with decorative suggestions
• Time Train template pieces
• Four analog clock faces per train
• Labelled flaps for interactive checking
• Backing template for display alignment
• Decorative banner for classroom display

Materials Needed:

• Printed templates (preferably on coloured cardstock)
• Scissors
• Glue sticks
• Pencils or markers for drawing clock hands

How to Use:

1. Print the Time Train template pieces for each student.
2. Students cut out the train engine, carriages, and clock faces.
3. Assign times for students to represent on each clock face.
4. Students draw the hands on each clock and write the matching time in words.
5. Attach clocks to the carriages using the labelled flaps, then paste the pieces together on the backing template.
6. Display the finished trains with the included banner for a bright, educational wall feature.

Ideas for Classroom Use:

• 💡 Use during a maths rotation focused on time-telling skills.
• 💡 Create a class “train station” wall where students can add their completed trains.
• 💡 Assign different times to groups for variety across the display.
• 💡 Pair with a mini-lesson on writing time in words before starting the craft.
• 💡 Use blank clock templates to extend learning to times to the minute.

Top Teacher Tips:

• 💛 Pre-cut smaller pieces for younger students to save time and reduce difficulty.
• 💛 Laminate clock faces for reuse with whiteboard markers.
• 💛 Encourage students to colour and decorate their trains for a personalised touch.
• 💛 Store templates in a labelled folder for quick access during time units.

The Time Train Craft offers a creative, hands-on approach to reinforcing time-telling skills while providing a lasting, interactive classroom display. Its flexibility, vibrant design, and adaptability make it a valuable addition to any maths program.