Telling Time in Spanish: Fun Activities and Games for Kids

Teaching telling time in Spanish is an essential skill for children. It helps them understand how long tasks take, manage their day, and develop both literacy and math skills. At the same time, it builds confidence and independence. The best part? Learning time doesn’t have to be boring, with songs, games, crafts, and hands-on activities, children can have fun while mastering this important skill!

Even though telling time is crucial, it can be tricky for young learners. Children need to multitask, recognize numbers, and apply math concepts all at once. That’s why I love using interactive, hands-on activities, they make learning memorable, engaging, and effective.

Concepts and Vocabulary

Before starting, focus on these basic concepts:

Vocabulary: hour (hora), minute (minuto), second (segundo)
Numbers: 1–60, including skip counting by 5s and 10s
Clock types: analog and digital

Tip: Use visual supports like posters, flashcards, or images. Visual aids help children retain information more effectively and make lessons interactive.

For other visual, hands-on strategies, check out my post on Body Parts in Spanish: Engaging Activities, Songs, and Games for Kids. Many of these strategies translate perfectly to teaching time!

Start with Songs

Songs are a fantastic way to introduce telling time in Spanish. Music paired with movement helps children remember vocabulary naturally.

Ideas:

• “Cabeza, Hombro, Rodilla, Pies” (Head, Shoulders, Knees, Toes)
• Spanish version of “Hokey Pokey”

How to use:

1. Sing together while performing actions.
2. Repeat often to reinforce the vocabulary.
3. Pair with flashcards or visuals to deepen understanding.

Hands-On Activities for Telling Time in Spanish

I love using hands-on learning, especially in stations or learning centers. Children rotate through activities, giving them the chance to experience time in multiple ways, which boosts retention and engagement.

Some of my favorites include:

Telling Time in Spanish Detectives

Students pick a digital clock card and write the time on an analog clock and in words.

Spin the Wheel

Students spin a number and cover the digital clock that matches the analog and written form.

Telling Time in Spanish Mini Book

Children look at the clock on each page, write a sentence about what time it is and what they do at that time, then draw a picture to match.

Telling Time in Spanish Memory Game/ Find the Match

Use cards to play the traditional memory game or find a partner with the same time card.

Telling Time in Spanish Puzzles Center

This activity can be used both as an independent and/or Center Activity. Students need to order the puzzle pieces to find the three pieces that match with a digital, analog and written form.

Telling Time in Spanish Puzzles Worksheet

In this independent activity, students need to order the puzzle pieces to find the two that match. They cut the pieces of the puzzle and glue them in a blank worksheet.

Telling Time in Spanish Spin the Wheel

Students will spin the wheel and draw the short and long hand on their clock according to the number shown on the Wheel. Then, they write the time they formed.

Picture- Word Match

In this Independent Activity, students match the time on the clock with the word.

Cut and paste

Students cut the pieces of a clock to create their own.

Tic Tac Toe Board Game

This activity could be used as an independent and/or Centers. Students take turns to cover the pictures. The student that makes a vertical, horizontal or diagonal line of 3, wins the game.

Telling Time in Spanish Dominoes

Each player gets 5 domino cards. The rest of the cards are placed face down in the table. The first player places any domino card face up in the center of the table. The next player takes another card from the center pile to find a matching card to add. The turn is over if they don’t find a match. The game continues until a player doesn’t have any domino cards left. 

Telling Time in Spanish Interactive Notebook

In this independent activity, students cut, sort and glue the corresponding time on the analog clock to the one on the digital clock.

Books and Stories

Stories are an excellent way to reinforce telling time in Spanish while practicing listening and comprehension. Some great options include:

Las partes del Cuerpo by Bev Schumacher — helps integrate visual learning for vocabulary
De la cabeza a los pies by Eric Carle — encourages movement and observation
Cabeza, Hombros, Piernas, Pies by Annie Kubler — classic nursery rhyme, fun for all ages

Tip: Ask questions about the times in the stories or have children act out daily routines at specific times to make the learning interactive.

Why These Strategies Work

By combining songs, games, hands-on activities, visuals, and stories, children:

• Stay actively engaged
• Reinforce vocabulary naturally
• Build confidence in telling time in Spanish
• Strengthen math and literacy skills
• Learn through movement, creativity, and play