English Language Arts: Reading for Understanding

K-12: Standard 2

• Students read a wide range of literature from many periods in many genres to build an understanding of the many dimensions (e.g., philosophical, ethical, aesthetic) of human experience.

English Language Arts: Communication Skills

K-12: Standard 4

• Students adjust their use of spoken, written and visual language (e.g., conventions, style, vocabulary) to communicate effectively with a variety of audiences and for different purposes.

Standards for the English Language Arts, by the International Reading Association and the National Council of Teachers of English, Copyright 1996 by the International Reading Association and the National Council of Teachers of English. Reprinted with permission.

Source: NCTE/IRA Standards for the English Language Arts

Fine Arts: Visual Arts

K-4 Standard 3: Choosing and Evaluating a Range of Subject Matter, Symbols and Ideas

• Students select and use subject matter, symbols and ideas to communicate meaning.

Source: National Standards for Arts Education

Create a Hickory Dickory Dock Clock to meet cross-curriculum needs. Using this visual aid, the teacher can retell nursery rhymes and check for understanding. In addition, students can create their own grandfather clocks and attach paragraphs or verses to continue the rhyme. Furthermore, the teacher can use this project for a lesson on telling time. Students can manipulate the clock hands to demonstrate their understanding of actual or elapsed time.

Figure A

Figure B

Figure C

Figure D

Supplies Used: Construction Paper, Black Marking Pen, Brad, Cereal Box, Colored Pencils, Glue

The teacher will die-cut the materials for student use prior to the lesson.

1. Cover the cereal box with brown construction paper, leaving the top open. glue the paper to the box (Figure A).
   
2. Cut two 4" x 5" tan pieces of construction paper or one long 8" x 5" piece to create the body of the grandfather clock. Place the pieces so that the 5" side of the smaller piece is along the bottom edge of the box and adhere (Figure B).
   
3. Cut a 3/4" x 7" rectangular molding and a unique scallop design to paste along the top of the clock. Write or print the title, "Hickory Dickory Dock" on a strip of tan paper. Center and adhere the title to the molding on the grandfather clock (see Main Photo).
   
4. Die-cut the Clock Face & Hands from colored construction paper. Adhere the Clock to the top half of the grandfather clock.
   
5. Using a brad, attach the Clock Hands to the Clock and secure them to the cereal box.
6. Die-cut the Fraction Fringe, 1/4 & 1/8 and separate one piece of the 1/8 Fringe for the pendulum arm (Figure C). Alternatively, cut a 2 1/2" x 1/2" rectangle from construction paper.
7. Die-cut a Circle, 1 1/2" for the pendulum. Assemble the Fringe piece and Circle to create the pendulum and adhere below the Clock Face (see Main Photo).
   
8. Using dark and light gray paper, die-cut the Mouse from the Mouse, Owl, Quail & Turtle. Leave the light gray Mouse whole and trim away the tail and ears from the dark gray Mouse. Layer the pieces and adhere. Use colored pencils to highlight facial features. Attach the mouse to the grandfather clock (Figure D).
   
9. Close the top of the cereal box and cover with brown construction paper. Position the clock hands to strike one o'clock (see Main Photo).
   

Note: The cereal box used for this project measures 10 3/4" x 7 1/2" on one side. When using a larger box, modify measurements of pieces as needed.