Telling Time Card Game & Tick-Tock Solitaire

Punctuality is an important character trait that can be taught at home.  First, though, your child needs to know how to tell time.

• Review or teach telling time using both an analog and digital clock

• Practice by using flash cards, printed images of clocks from the Internet, or with a plastic clock with movable hands from an office supply store
• Show, say, and write time on the hour – 6:00; on the half hour – 6:30; quarter to the hour – 6:45; or quarter after the hour – 6:15; and to the exact minute – 6:23

Older children who can tell time enjoy this card game approach

• Using index cards make 4 sets of cards numbered 1 to 12 plus 4 cards with the words “Tick-Tock”

• Mix up the cards and deal them face down in a circle following the numbers on a clock, 1 to 12 and 1 card in the middle of the circle

• Deal all 52 cards in this manner so that when you're done, there are four cards in each of the 12 “number” piles, and 3 in the center
• Turn over the last card being dealt and put it under the pile where that number would be on a clock.  For example, if the last card is a 5, place it face-up on the bottom of the pile where “5” appears on the clock
• Continue like you are playing solitaire....take the top card from the “5” pile and place it at the bottom of its correct spot
• When a “Tick-Tock” card appears, place it in the center of the pile
• Continue playing until all the cards are face-up

Try using Roman Numeral numbers for a different challenge.  This is an easy game to make and playing it reinforces the placement of numerals on a clock for a little bit of learning.

MATH TIC-TAC-TOE

Dry erase boards are one of the best inventions ever to an educator.  They are inexpensive and easy to use for so many written activities.  Here is a variation of the favorite paper/pencil game of Tic-Tac-Toe using numerals instead of X's and O's.

• Begin by making your grid outline – 2 vertical lines and 2 horizontal lines
• Write the numbers 1 to 9 on the side and the number 15

• The goal is to be the first to finish placing 3 numbers in a row – horizontally, vertically, or diagonally that add up to 15.  Each of the 9 numbers may be used only once.  Cross out the numbers as they are used.
  • For example, Player A writes a 9 in the grid and crosses it out on the number line.  Player B writes a 4 on the gride and also crosses it out on the number line.  Back to Player A who writes an 8.  Player B writes a 7.  Player A writes a 6.  Player B writes a 5 and that vertical column of 5-4-6 adds up to 15 – so Player B won that round.

• There are many ways you can win but continually thinking and planning ahead are needed to achieve the outcome of the three numbers adding up to exactly 15.

This idea is simple yet practices both addition and critical thinking skills for all ages.  Take the dry erase board in the car for trips or keep in the kitchen while waiting for dinner and enjoy a little bit of learning.