ESL Telling the Time Game: Interactive Clock & Time Phrases Activity

Master telling the time in English with our interactive clock game. This activity is designed for ESL learners to practice reading analog clocks and using common time phrases. By interacting with clock hands and matching times to phrases, students build the essential skill of discussing schedules and daily routines in English.

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How to Play: Clock Mastery

Our online time activity features two interactive modes to help students visualize and practice the passage of time:

• Step 1: Explore the Clock – Move the hour and minute hands to see how the time phrase changes. The hands snap to 5-minute intervals, making it easy to see the relationship between the digits and the language.
• Step 2: The Cat on the Bridge – A time phrase appears (e.g., "Quarter past three"). Choose the correct clock from the options to help the cat cross the bridge. One wrong move and you have to start again!
• Step 3: Beat the Clock – Score points by identifying the correct clock quickly. Speed and accuracy are key to reaching the top of the leaderboard.

Time Phrases and 5-Minute Intervals

The game focuses on the most common ways to tell the time in English, using 5-minute increments for clarity. Here is the list of phrases practiced in the game:

Why Teachers Choose This Time Resource

Teachers recommend this English time-telling game because it effectively bridges the gap between digital numbers and analog concepts. By focusing on the "past/to" structure, students learn the traditional British and American way of speaking about time, which is often more difficult than simple digital numbers. It is a fundamental resource for Cambridge A1 Starters and A2 Key (KET) students who are learning to describe their daily routines and make appointments.

Classroom Tips

After playing, have students ask each other "What time is it?" using a toy clock or drawing on the board. For more practice with numbers, check out our Numbers Game, or apply your time skills to planning a schedule in the Months Game.

What time do you usually wake up? Let us know in the comments below!