Hope everyone had a wonderful weekend and this week is super great!  Today, I was asked to review a product for ALEX Toys called “Ready, Set, Tell Time!”  I have to say it is adorable and very well made.  Of course, as soon as I got it, I had to take everything out of the box, so it didn’t stay in that super pretty box for very long.  :)

This isn’t just a clock and some directions, but rather several activities that could be done with your child or as clock centers in a classroom.  For example, the first item I cam across was this fun little puzzle.

The numbers popped out into different shapes.  You could literally do a dozen different things with just this piece of the set, such as work on numbers, number words, colors, shapes, and (of course) where the numbers go on a clock.  This would be a great hands-on activity for students as a filler item if all other work is complete or to introduce a unit and be used as a hook into the lesson.

Next up - flash cards.  They are two-sided and coated for durability (which is always good in a classroom!)  I also dig that they are super colorful.  In all of the activities, the clocks appear the same, and I do like that the hands are two different colors for new clock learners.  This is super tough if the hands are the same color.  On the front of the cards, it showed the word, digital, and analog forms of the time.  On the back, there are pictures showing what a child might be doing at that time, along with some questions for the teacher (or a parent volunteer to ask the student). 

Of course, we still haven’t looked at the clock itself.  Here it is, along with a matching game.  The matching game would be a fantastic partner activity between 2 students sitting quietly on the floor.  Flip all of the cards (both the clock faces and digital times) upside down and mixed up, and have students take turns trying to get a match. 

The clock hands also click into place, so they do not work like a Judy clock.  I feel that is a positive and a negative.  Sometimes Judy clocks can get “off-track” when they advance because students are too rough with them, and this clock needs a very sturdy hand to move the minute hand.  The hour hand only moves in tandem with the minute hand (which could be a negative if you are just trying to show different hours and you have to continuously go all the way around each time.)  But, because it is so sturdy, students are less likely to get the mechanism misaligned. 

Last up in this full-of-clock-activities set is a super fun sequencing board!  I think this is fantastic to work on at a table in a small group setting.  It could really lead to some great discussions about school and home life for your students.  Maybe you will find out that students don’t have a computer, or that they take a bath in the morning.  It would be wonderful to discuss similarities and differences amongst some of your students’ families to increase awareness and tolerance for others.

All in all, this “Ready, Set, Tell Time” activity kit was great and I can see it being utilized in many other ways in the classroom as well.  It does say for ages 4+, which I would agree with as it has small some small pieces.  It is definitely geared for younger children, as I could not envision a third grader playing with the puzzle or sequencing board, but it would be perfect for a pre-K or K classroom to implement!  Maybe even a winter recess activity!

Like it?  You’re in luck as ALEX Toys has generously offered to send this exact kit to one of The Organized Classroom Blog’s readers!  Yay!  All you have to do is like their facebook fan page (while you are there, please tell them thanks for hosting The OC Blog’s Giveaway), and then come back here and fill out the form.  I will randomly pick a winner from all the eligible entries on Wednesday night at 10 pm ET, so make sure you get your entry in quickly!  Good Luck!

Contest is now closed - thanks to all who entered!

Winner!  Jessi H. - notified via email - Congrats!

Disclaimer:  I was provided a free sample copy of the item to be reviewed, but all opinions are of my own and in no way compensated for other than by the company providing me with a sample product.