Telling Time Matching Printable + Sensory Bin

Time can be a tricky skill to master!  It is just one of those skills you need to keep practicing over and over again to get the hang of.  Doing worksheet after worksheet probably won’t motivate your child to learn time, but there are plenty of other options to make it fun!  This Telling Time Matching Sensory bin is a fun and interactive way to practice the skill of telling time.  This activity is one of my favorite ways to work on the skill of time because you get the benefit of mastering a math skill and the benefits of a sensory bin all in one activity!

Telling time can be a complicated skill for some children, and may not be your child’s favorite skill to practice.  When I know a concept can be a little tricky for my students, I love to pair the activity with something fun, like a sensory bin!  Sensory bins have so many benefits for kids, and there are so many possibilities for creating them.  Check out some of our favorite sensory bin ideas here!

The possibilities are truly endless when it comes to learning with sensory bins.  There are so many activities and so many options for sensory bin filler.  Don’t be intimidated by sensory bins or think they will be expensive to make!  Beans, pasta, sand, and water are all inexpensive sensory bin fillers.  We have even used coconut for a sensory bin filler before!

How Do I Prepare This Time Telling Matching Sensory Bin?

There are two parts to preparing this activity. First, you need to prepare the time matching cards and then you need to get your sensory bin ready.  To get the matching cards ready, print and laminate the clock mat and the digital clock cards.  (As always, laminating is optional, but highly recommended!)

Another optional step is to put clear velcro dots on the matching pairs.  This helps the pieces not to slide off of the clock mat.  It also makes for easy storage since you can easily see if you are missing any pieces!

The second part of preparing this activity is getting your sensory bin ready.  If you already have a sensory bin in storage you can just add this time matching activity to it and you are ready to go!  If you need to prepare a sensory bin, follow the directions below!

Scoop some rice into your gallon zip lock baggie.  Add the food dye and vinegar.  Shake the bag until all of the rice is coated with the food dye.  Pour the rice out into a thin layer onto a baking sheet lined with parchment paper.  Allow the rice to dry and then pour it into a shallow clear container or tray.  Your sensory bin is now ready to go!

For more tips and tricks for dying rice for a sensory bin, check out these Easy Rice Sensory Bin Ideas Kids Love! 

My Time Matching Cards And Sensory Bin Are Ready!  What’s Next?

Once your sensory bin and cards are ready, you can place the digital clock kids in the bin and have your students match the digital clocks to the corresponding analog clocks.  As your child picks out one of the times shown in numbers, see if they are able to match it to the clocks on the time mat.  Keep going until all of the clocks and times have been paired!

Need More Activities to Practice Telling Time?  Check Out These: 

• Free Printable Time Puzzles Apple Theme
• Pumpkin Theme Time Clip Cards
• New Year’s Eve Paper Plate Clock Craft for Kids
• Time with Pumpkins:  Free Printables for Telling Time

Why Should I Use Sensory Bins With My Child?

There are tons of incredible reasons for using a sensory bin with your child!  Here are a few:

Sensory Exploration:  Sensory bins are an excellent way for your child to stimulate multiple senses at the same time.  Sensory bin filler makes fun sounds and is wonderful for little hands to touch and manipulate.  Dying your sensory bin filler is an easy way to make a colorful sensory bin that is visually appealing!  

Language Development:  Sensory bins provide an opportunity for children to talk and bring their creative ideas to life.  They are a safe space for children to talk about what they are seeing, hearing, and feeling.  Sensory bins take the pressure off of kids talking and make it about play, which can make some children that are a little more shy begin to open up and talk more.

Social Skills:  When multiple children are using a sensory bin, it can be fantastic for social skill development.  While using a sensory bin, kids are presented with opportunities to talk, share materials, and take turns.  

How Do I Use This Sensory Bin?

You can use this sensory bin as an individual activity, partner activity, or even in small group instruction!  Kids will love working together to search for the matches and make pairs of clocks and times.

Here are some other fun ways to use this sensory bin:

• Pair this activity with a small adjustable analog clock that kids can show the time on as they pair the cards up with the clock mat.  This adds another great hands-on component to this activity!
• Use a whiteboard to practice writing the numbers for the times. 
• Add a scooper, tongs, or play tweezers to this bin to help strengthen fine motor skills.
• Pair a book about telling time with this sensory bin.
• To promote language development, talk about the times of the day and what your kids normally do at that time.  (For example, what do you normally do at 10:00 in the morning?)
• Practice storytelling while you are pulling the times out of the bin.  (Once upon a time there was a rabbit who woke up at 9:00, he ate breakfast at 9:30, and went to the grocery store at 10:00…)
• Get moving and work on those gross motor skills!  Can your child use their arms to make the hands of a clock and show the time?

What Are Some Other Ways To Use The Telling Time Matching Activity?

• Set the time cards up as a scavenger hunt.  Hide the time cards around your classroom or playroom.  As your child finds the cards, have them bring them back to the clock mat and match it to the correct clock.  If your children love scavenger hunts as much as mine do, check out this HUGE List of Free Printable Scavenger Hunt Ideas for Kids!
• Use the time matching cards for a whole group math activity.  Cut the clocks out and paste them onto index cards.  Give every student a clock or a time.  Have them walk around the classroom and find their matching clock or time.

More Of Our Favorite Sensory Bins:

• Mini Farm Sensory Bin for Kids
• Easy Dinosaur Pasta Sensory Bin for Kids
• Colorful Bug Sensory Bin with Dyed Beans
• Beautiful Color Sorting Rainbow Sensory Bin for Kids

Frequently Asked Questions:

These are frequently asked questions about our Telling Time Matching Sensory Bin Activity:

Time Activities You’ll Love:

More Sensory Bins:

• Fruit & Vegetable Hunt for a Sensory Bin
• Bee Sensory Bin
• Pirate Sensory Bin
• Ocean Sensory Bin with Sand Foam
• Dinosaur Pasta Sensory Bin