I’ve always wanted a Judy Clock but never wanted to spend the money to buy one!  While the minute and hour hands of this clock don’t move together like a Judy Clock, it is very inexpensive to make!  I found the craft foam for $1 (and only used a few sheets of it) at Dollar Tree, and I cut-up some old business magnets I already had.

You need:
Craft foam
Scissors
Lid (or other circle template)
Pencil
Permanent marker
Magnets

1.  Trace twelve circles on craft foam.  Draw an hour and a minute hand.  Cut out.

2.  Write the numbers from one to twelve on the circles with a permanent marker.

3.  Glue a magnet on the back of each circle and hand.

4.  Arrange in a clock shape on a cookie sheet or other magnetic surface.

We read through Eric Carle’s The Grouchy Ladybug.  I would stop on each page after I read the time and allow the girls to match the time on our magnetic clock to the time in the book.  This was great for visual matching skills and a basic introduction to time (by the hour).

When you’re done practicing and exploring, the pieces are easily stored in a small plastic bag or other container!

          

This song is also a part of our circle time and is great for learning the months of the year in order.
 

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(Sung to the tune of Ten Little Indians)

January, February, March, and April,
May, June, July, and August,
September, October, November, and December.
These are the months in a year.
My oldest wanted to star in this video but had a bit of stage fright (she was convinced she needed me to write the song down on a piece of paper)!  Hopefully, you can still understand the words!

This is a simple little song we sing to practice the days of the week during our circle time!

(Set to the tune of Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star)
Sunday, Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday,
Thursday, Friday, Saturday.

I know the days of the week.
I can say the days of the week.

Sunday, Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday,
Thursday, Friday, Saturday.

Our morning circle time includes activities to help the girls understand time.  Preschoolers are concrete thinkers, but time is an abstract concept.  It may be a while before they will grasp it completely, but we can begin to lay the foundation now!

You need:
Calendar
Pen

1)  Post a calendar in your child’s room or other highly-trafficked area.

2)  As you go through the month, write words and draw pictures symbolizing something you did that day (i.e., a baseball for baseball practice) or activities that will happen (a trip to grandma’s, etc.).

3)  Cross off each day as it ends (or at the next morning’s circle time).  Talk about the words yesterday, today, and tomorrow.  For example, “Yesterday was Sunday.  We went to church.  Today is Monday.  We’re going to play with friends.  Tomorrow is Tuesday, and you are going to spend the night at Mimi’s.”

Do you have any calendar ideas or activities?