How do i teach pupils of grade three about telling dates?

Question

How do i teach pupils of grade three how to tell dates?

Answer 1

This question somewhat surprises me, since calendar and date work is, from my recollection, a 1st grade skill and GLE.  By 3rd this skill should be mastered...but I'm also realistic and have had students myself in older grades who did not know some basic elementary concepts.

I have seen teachers in 1st grade who had a 'wall calendar' that had velcro numbers and days on it, and each of the squares had a pocket and such so the student could move a popsicle stick or small straw to the current date/day and then there was a counter at the bottom where the students would count the total days they had been in school in that month.

This was done as a whole class activity, so all the students could count along out loud and it made the student of choice for the day feel very special and honored.  This practice was done as part of a morning routine everyday.

Answer 2

How I taught my children ...

Start by getting a big desk calendar, Put the pages up on the walls (all 12). Help the children mark on them their birthdays, school holidays, and any other special dates you can think of.

Each day have one of the students go up to the current months calendar and mark an "x" through the box. Then ask the lucky child to tell you what day of the week it is. As soon as they have this understood, start asking the lucky child to give you the full date: "Friday July 3rd" Then make a big deal about the next special day that's coming up. Start helping them to count the days till the next special date. This is especially fun counting down the days until the summer break arrives.

If you can do it, an advent calendar before Christmas is another fun tool to teach calendars.

Also research fun facts about calenders and add them to your course work every now and then.

You'll be surprised how fast they pick up just how much "fun" and help a calender can be.