How to Make a Cardboard Clock: A Learning Tool for Kids

This cardboard clock is a fun learning tool to help teach kids how to tell time. Knowing how to read an analog clock is a life skill that’s still important to know in this digital age. By making a DIY clock kids can easily understand the components of a clock and how each part works. They can then decorate their room with their cardboard model of a clock and use it during creative play time.

How to Make a Cardboard Clock

My daughter Chloe is 6 and a half and has suddenly taken a strong interest in learning how to tell time on an analog clock. She has a watch that she recently found in her room that she wanted to wear and has been quizzing me non-stop about what time it is. It was hard to explain so I pulled up a YouTube video for kids that explained it pretty well but I thought it would be fun to take it further and make a clock together. If this proves too challenging, I might just write papers for me to explain the concept in depth.

I’ve been trying to show her how clocks work and I think it’s important for kids to understand how to read an analog clock as well as a digital. We also have a clock in our house that tells 24 hour military time but learning that will be a long way off 🙂

I’ve shared a few different clock projects on this blog over the years. Some of my favorites are my school clock made from pencils and drum clock made from my husbands old tom drum.

Many DIY clock tutorials keep the design pretty minimalist which is fine for adults who already know how to tell time but kids need all the details so that they can understand how they actually work.

 By helping you build a simple clock out of cardboard it helps reinforce the of how to tell time. Although this clock doesn’t actually work it is fun for kids to play with and learn about how hours and minutes work.

Materials to make a cardboard clock with moving hands:

• 2 dinner plates. One place needs to  be at least an inch smaller than the other one in diameter
• Number stickers
• Pencil
• 2 square feet of cardboard
• 2 colored craft sticks
• Scissors
• Pushpin- I like these wood ones
• Construction paper
• Glue stick
• Ruler

Clock design instructions:

1. Flip the plates upside down on the cardboard and trace them with pencil onto the cardboard
2. Then, cut the circles out.
3. Glue colored construction paper onto the front to make the face of the clock.
4. Use a ruler and start by marking 12, 3, 6, and 9 on the small circle. Stick on the corresponding number stickers in those areas.
5. Then using the ruler to make sure all the spaces are even add the rest of the number for the face of the clock.
6. On the larger cardboard circle you can add numbers around the perimeter increments of 5 from 5 to 60.
7. Glue the smaller cardboard circle onto the larger one.
8. Find the very center of the cardboard clock and make a hole.
9. To make the hands of the clock use 2 colored popsicle sticks. One full sized, one cut to two thirds length for the hours and minute hands.
10. Poke a hole on end of each of them.
11. Use the pushpin to attach them to the center of the cardboard clock.
12. Either hang the clock on a wall or prop it on a shelf when not it use.
13. Use is as a tool to help your kids tell time.

More clock tutorials that you may like:

DIY Sunburst School Clock Made from Pencils

DIY Drum Clock

More kids crafts you may like

How to Make Paper Plate Awards

Botanical Suncatcher Craft for Kids

Paper Bag Gift Wrap

Have you made a clock before? Let me know how you made it in the comments.