Telling Time Fun

Overview

• Grade Level: 3rd Grade
• Subject: Languages (Spanish)
• Lesson Duration: 30 minutes
• Curriculum Alignment: World-Readiness Standards for Learning Languages (ACTFL), focusing on Interpretive and Presentational Communication for novice-level learners

Lesson Objective

By the end of this lesson, students will be able to:

1. Recognize and say the time in Spanish (o’clock, half past, quarter to, and quarter past).
2. Begin to understand cultural differences in discussing time in Spanish-speaking countries.

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Materials Needed

• A classroom clock with movable hands
• Flashcards with clock images and corresponding Spanish phrases
• Digital or analog visual timer for whole-class participation
• A brightly colored sombrero (or any fun prop) as part of a time-telling game

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Lesson Plan

1. Warm-Up Activity (5 Minutes)

• Teacher Action: Begin by greeting students in Spanish, "¡Buenos días, clase!" Write the current time on the board (e.g., 9:00) and say, "¿Qué hora es?" (“What time is it?”).
• Student Engagement: Ask students to guess the time in Spanish based on prior knowledge (if any). Encourage them to repeat after you: "Son las nueve."
• Note to Teacher: Even if students guess wrong, praise their participation to build confidence.

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2. Step-by-Step Instruction (10 Minutes)

Introduction to Key Phrases (5 Minutes)

1. Write the following on the board and repeat each aloud:
   • "Es la una" = It’s 1:00
   • "Son las dos" = It’s 2:00 (and subsequent numbers through "Son las doce")
   • "Y media" = Half past
   • "Y cuarto" = A quarter past
   • "Menos cuarto" = A quarter to
2. Lead students in choral repetition, ensuring proper pronunciation.

Interactive Demonstration (5 Minutes)

• Use the movable clock to physically demonstrate times. Ask students:
  • "¿Qué hora es?" ("What time is it?")
  • Point the clock hands to 5:30 and say, "Son las cinco y media.”
  • Challenge individual students to create times on the clock and say phrases back to you.

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3. Fun Group Activity (Sombrero Time Game) (10 Minutes)

• Setup: Place the sombrero (or selected prop) in the center of the room.
• How to Play:
  1. Students form a circle.
  2. The teacher whispers a time in Spanish to a student (e.g., "Son las tres y cuarto").
  3. The first student loudly says the phrase and sets the classroom clock to match it, then passes the sombrero to the next child.
  4. Repeat the process quickly, making it a race against the teacher’s timer. If the entire group finishes before the timer beeps, they win!
• Differentiation Option: Double-points round for students who can explain what the time would be in English after giving the Spanish response.

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4. Cool-Down & Check for Understanding (5 Minutes)

Quick Exit Ticket Game

• Distribute mini-whiteboards or sticky notes to students.
• Pose 3 time scenarios one by one, such as:
  1. Write “6:15” and ask, "¿Qué hora es?" (Students should write, "Son las seis y cuarto.")
  2. Write “9:45” and ask, "¿Qué hora es?" (Students should write, “Son las diez menos cuarto.”)
  3. Write “1:30” and ask, "¿Qué hora es?" (Students should write, “Es la una y media.”)
• Collect their responses to gauge comprehension.

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Extension & Homework Ideas

• For Early Finishers: Provide them with an analog worksheet where they can match clock faces to Spanish phrases.
• Homework: Ask students to talk to their parents and use Spanish phrases to tell the time at home.

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Teacher Reflection Question

• How well did students grasp the connection between the clock visuals and the Spanish words?
• Did the sombrero game enhance engagement?

This lesson ticks off key communication goals while adding a layer of playfulness, making it memorable and age-appropriate for 3rd graders.