DIY Paper Plate Clock Craft for Kids Learning How to Tell Time

How to make a clock for kids? This traditional paper plate craft for kids of all ages has a twist…it is a paper clock craft that kids can use to practice how to tell time on a clock with a secret place to check their time telling skills. This telling time teaching clock is great for kids – preschool, Kindergarten & beyond – learning how to read an analog clock.

DIY Clock Craft for Kids

Have you ever wondered how to teach your kids to tell time? Try making this paper plate clock with things you already have at home. It is easy how to make a clock for kids…it takes just a few minutes to make and your kids will have fun learning to tell time. 

Related: How to Tell Time

This preschool clock craft is great fun to make and works well for kids in the classroom or at home.

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Supplies Needed for Making Paper Plate Clock Craft

• Paper plates -2 
• Markers
• Paper brads or you can use pushpin or thumbtack with pliers
• Foam sheet or any thick card stock
• Glue gun
• Ruler
• Pencil or pen
• Scissors or preschool training scissors

Instructions for Making Paper Plate Clock Craft

Step 1 – Number the Clock Face

Take a marker and write the numbers for the clock on one paper plate. Follow a clock you have at home as your clock template.

Step 2 – Craft the Clock Hands

Make clock hands on a foam sheet using a ruler and a pencil or pen. One tall hand as minute hand and one shorthand as the hour hand. Cut them using scissors. 

Step 3 – Assembling the DIY clock 

1. Stack the two paper plates on top of each other with the one showing the clock face on top.
2. Place the minute hand on the top of the hour hand and poke a hole on one side using a push pin.
3. Then mark the center of the paper plate and poke a hole.
4. Attach the clock hands through the center hole of the paper plate that extends through both paper plates stacked together.

Step 4 – Make the Minute Peek Windows

Now use scissors and cut between each number as shown.

Make sure you don’t go beyond the center circle of the paper plate where the clock hands are. 

Step 5 – Add the Minutes Under the Flap

Use colorful markers to write the corresponding minutes under each number on the second paper plate below.

Your DIY paper plate clock is now ready!

If you are feeling more crafty and wanted to try a different type of DIY clock that rotates to view the minutes. Keep reading. 

Another Variation of How to Make a Clock for Kids

We thought it would be fun to make a variation of this paper plate craft for older kids or that works well as a learning tool in the preschool classroom. Here are the steps you can take to make this paper clock.

Supplies Needed

• Paper plates – 2
• Two different color card stock
• Page protector or any clear plastic bag
• Black marker
• Foam sheet or anything card stock for clock hands
• Paper brads or Pushpin or thumbtack with pliers
• Glue gun & glue stick 
• Pencil or pen
• Ruler
• Compass or any round objects around the house for circle template
• Craft knife

How to Make the Paper Clock Variation

Step 1

Draw two circles- one big for the clock and another small one about 1/2″ diameter for minutes using a pen or pencil on one of the paper plates. I am not mentioning the size here as it depends on the size of the paper plate you are using.

Use a craft knife to cut the circles.

Step 2

Next, use two different color cardstock to cut two circles to glue on the other paper plate. One circle should be of the size that fits the center part of the paper plate and another circle that is 1/8″ larger than the big circle that you drew in the previous step.

Glue the cardstock one above the other on the paper plate using a glue stick. 

Step 3

Place the other paper plate on top of the paper plate you just glued with cardstock. Use markers to write the numbers for the clock and also rotate the paper plate and write the corresponding minutes to each number in the small circle. 

Step 4 – Assembling the plate clock

• Remove the top plate and glue the plastic sheet on the inside of the paper plate using hot glue or clear tape. 
• Now place the plate covered with a plastic sheet on the other paper plate.
• Use the same method as the previous one to make clock hands and attach them in the center to complete the clock. 

MORE TIME, CLOCK & SCHEDULE FUN FROM KIDS ACTIVITIES BLOG

• We love this idea for a routine clock, a visual reminder of a kids schedule.  You can easily make this school clock that could be used for all sorts of different kid routines.
• We talked about counting down to a special event…here is a Christmas countdown clock to keep kids anticipating AND counting!
• Need help keeping track of a Kindergarten homeschool schedule?  Check out these ideas for things that really work!
• We have some mom-tested, kid-tested kids schedule ideas that really work in the real world.
• And if you have a preschooler at home, check out our easy to follow preschool schedule.

Related: How to read a thermometer is fun with this printable, craft & learning activity!

Which one of the two is your favorite Homemade paper clock to teach kids how to tell time? Tell me in the comments below.