Learning Science and Math with an Analog Watch
Advantages of Using Non-Digital Watches for Telling Time
Why should every child wear an analog watch? The answer is very simple, try asking someone who was raised using digital watches what time it is using an analog clock. In too many cases, they will say they do not know what time it is.
This is a common problem even among those in the late teens and early twenties. The old saying that a picture is worth a thousand words is true when it comes to analog watches.
Telling Time with an Analog Watch
Analog watches have specific advantages for learning. They are very helpful for learning fractions, which cannot be done with a digital watch. For example:
- When the hour hand is on 12 and the minute hand is on 9, it is 15 minutes to twelve or a quarter to twelve. The fraction quarter comes from 15 minutes is 1/4 of 60 minutes. The child sees and instant visual representation of the fraction 1/4.
- When it is half past 2 or 2:30. The half means the hour is half over or half way to the next hour. It also represents 30 minutes are gone in 60 minutes. These are again instant representations of the fraction 1/2.
Science Applications with an Analog Watch
Another application of analog watches is when learning the phases of the moon in science. For example:
- Phases of the moon uses terms such as 1/4 moon or quarter moon, 1/2 moon or half moon, and 3/4 moon or three quarters moon. These can all be visualized on an analog watch to represent the different fractional phases of the moon.
- Another science connection is when timing an experiment variable. A child can easily see the second hand sweeping around the clock face on an analog watch. With a digital watch, they do not have a second hand.
Practical Application of Analog Watches
Another advantage of an analog watch is the ability to create a make-shift compass to find north and south. To accomplish this you:
- Place the analog watch horizontal with the hour hand pointing at the sun.
- Next take a short blade of grass, piece of straw, or small thin stick and lay it on the face of the analog watch.
- Place the piece of straw or other object half between the hour hand and 12.
- Now the piece of straw is pointing to north and south.
- A child needs to know the sun rises in the East and sets in the West, to determine which direction you are heading.
- Students have now developed the ability to find the point on a compass for math, science, and social studies class. Try doing all this with a digital watch, it cannot be done.
It is difficult to visualize science and math concepts related to time, when looking at the face of a digital watch. Children have the opportunity to visualize and internalize these concepts using an analog watch, along with ability to tell time if a digital clock is not available. Visit An Interactive K-12 Math Website for online time telling simulations.
