Teaching Time

Time is one concept that is used by human beings on a daily basis, and perhaps in an instinctive way by animals and plant life too! The cock knows when to go ‘cock-a doodledoo’. Flowers know when to open their petals. Trees know when to shed their leaves. Children get exposure to the concept of time organically, well before they come to school. Yet the teaching and learning of time poses peculiar challenges. Time is an abstract concept. It involves measurement of something that is invisible and intangible. Consequently, challenges arise in understanding the concept of time. Learning the mechanics of reading time can also be a difficult task. It is therefore important to build the scaffolding carefully and match the activities to the children’s level of understanding