The Number Story 7 and 8

Stories and facts from bygone history

Help children attain clock reading mastery!

The Numbers are concerned and visibly upset. They see children do worksheet after worksheet of clock reading drills, memorizing by rote how to read the clock hands—the hour, minute, and second hands. “But, these written exercises simply aren’t enough!” Number Seven moans, shaking its sharp pointy head. “They don’t tell the whole story!” Number Two wails as it thumps its ‘tail’ dolefully. The Numbers are all crestfallen, quiet and sullen. As the Numbers pace about listlessly, Number Three, with eyes all a sparkle, suddenly bounces to and fro. “A museum!” It cries. “Let’s build a Clock Museum at Numberland!” Now THIS was a vision! A viable proposition! All the Numbers perk up as hope fills their hearts. Excited voices and chatters fill the air as each Number proposes idea after idea of what the Clock Museum would be like. “We can guide them around!” “How about exhibits of the wonderful ‘clock’ stories from history!” “Let’s make it a hub for all clocks! We can have a clock repair shop!” “I can’t wait to answer the questions children have about clocks!” “A place like that should be huge! We need a restaurant or a café for sure!” A jolly time of talking and dreaming passes by, and, sure enough, steadfast to their plan and purpose, the construction of the Clock Museum goes underway.

Miss Anna’s Number Story 7 & 8 is an absolute treasure! All of Miss Anna’s Number Stories serve to introduce number concepts in a different light, and this is no different. Her fourth book in the educational fiction Number Story series, Number Story 7 and 8 are two stories that sweep children into the world of clocks. As they walk around the Clock Museum with Dr. Zee (Zero) and the Numbers, children not only get to learn the rich history of the beginnings of clocks but also indirectly get to learn how to read the clock hands all the while getting their WHYs answered. WHYs such as:

“Why do clocks have numbers that go from 1 to 12?”

“Who uses the 24-hour system?”

“In addition to the hour hand, why do clocks have a minute and a second hand?”

“Why are the ‘minute’ and the ‘second’ divided into 60 parts?”

“Why does a new day start at midnight?”

Parents/educators are invited to be the chaperone, exploring with the children the many rooms in the museum. No more simply going through the motion of reading the hour hand and the minute hand! Here in the Number Story 7 & 8, children are introduced to the reading of clocks within a framework of a bigger picture! This, indeed, is a new approach of teaching children how to tel...