Around the Clock with Harriet

A BOOK ABOUT TELLING TIME

Welcome to the STEMHAX Book Spotlight. Today we are exploring Around the Clock with Harriet written by Betsy and Giulio Maestro. This book is a great introduction to the o’clock on the hour with the use of an analog clock and watch.

Kids enjoy reading the same book over and over again. We usually recommend a physical copy of the book, however this book is out of print. Check your local used bookstore or online retailers to get one of your own.

HINT: After you have introduced and explored this book, kids can utilize the YouTube read aloud in a listening center or quiet activity.

Overview

This story features Harriet, a sweet elephant, who receives a watch from her grandmother. The story explores a day in her life; where Harriet was when her watch struck the o’clock of each hour.

Around the Clock with Harriet – Read Aloud

Exploring Around the Clock with Harriet with Young Learners

First, start with a book cover inspection. Show children the cover of the book, and ask, “what do you think this book is about?” Follow this with some open-ended questions to get their minds warmed up.

• Why is important to know what time it is?
• What is the purpose of a clock?
• Where can you find clocks?
• How important is a clock in school?

After reading the book for the first time, ask more open-ended questions. Remember there are no wrong answers. Some questions might include:

• Why did the author name the book Around the Clock with Harriet?
• How did Harriet feel about receiving her watch?
• What did you notice about the clocks?
• Why did the author write Around the Clock with Harriet?

Additional Explorations

There are other learning opportunities with Around the Clock with Harriet. If you don’t have a hard copy of the book, you can stop the video on the STEMHAX YouTube Channel; timestamps are in the description box.

• Shape Scavenger Hunt
  • How many circles are found in the illustrations at 10:00 o’clock?
  • What shape is the sign in the library at 11:00 o’clock?
  • At 2 o’clock Harriet passes the clock shop. Name the shapes of the clocks in the window.
  • Go hour-by-hour and let kids explore, or call out, shapes within the illustrations.
• Review questions to explore with the video or book:
  • What time did Harriet eat breakfast?
  • Who did Harriet play ball with at 10:00 o’clock?
  • What time was she at the library?
  • What time did Harriet take a nap?
  • What time did Harriet and Mouse eat cookies?
  • What time did Harriet eat dinner?
  • How many hours did Harriet sleep?
  • What time did Harriet wake up?

Vocabulary

• Morning – The period of time between midnight and noon, especially from sunrise to noon.
• o’clock – Abbreviation for “of the clock”.
• Noon – Twelve o’clock in the day; midday.
• A.M. – Abbreviated term for “Ante Meridiem” aka before noon or midday.
• P.M. – Abbreviated term for “Post Meridiem” aka afternoon or evening.

Extend the Lesson

The following videos are a great way to extend the lesson. It will help you to learn further what and where to take your lessons about time.

What’s the Time? – KidsTV123

This simple song video is a fun early introduction to visualizing time for young learners.

Telling Time: Reading Clocks to the Hour – Mr. R

Per his YouTube channel, Mr. R wrote this song to help students that were having difficulty reading hands on the clock.

The Telling Time Song – Scratch Garden

This cute video is a catchy way to reinforce telling time using both digital and analog clocks, for learner who have a basic understanding of time.

Hands-On Explorations

Finally, enjoy some hands-on explorations. Here are two to get you started.

Paper Clock for Teach the Teacher

The following video walks you through how to make a simple clock that you can use in lessons. Feel free to make adjustments to allow students to decorate their own!

The Hour

If your students keep a journal or if you have an art center kids can pick a time of day they like, and illustrate with this FREE downloadable mini-booklet.

About the Author

Around the Clock with Harriet was written by Betsy Maestro. She “…is the author of the American Story series, illustrated by her husband, Giulio. She has also written several other non-fiction picture books, including the Let’s-Read-And-Find-Out science books How Do Apples Grow? and Why Do Leaves Change Color? The Maestros live in Old Lyme, Connecticut.” – Excerpt from Harper Collins Publishers

FREE Read Aloud Book Report

Need accountability in a listening or iPad center? Check out this FREE Book Report available in my TPT Store for download. 

Thank you!

We appreciate you taking the time to learn about this read aloud book, Around the Clock with Harriet. Please consider following our YouTube Channel for more read aloud books relating to academic interest subjects.

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