Young World 1, Unit 5: Around the Clock
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This unit covers time zones, school days around the world, and events that happen throughout the day. Here are some suggestions for native English speakers to delve deeper into this theme:
Non-Fiction Books
The Story of Clocks and Calendars, by Betsy Maestro
This book is all about the history of timekeeping. It goes through the various calendars and why the differences exist between them., It answers questions such as how clocks were first invented. (Lexile 1050L) what is this?
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Tick Tock, Banneker’s Clock, by Shana Keller
This picture book is about Benjamin Banneker, (1731) a free African American, born in a time when most were slaves. He was mostly self-taught and became a talented mathematician and scientist. He designed and built a strike clock after being inspired by a pocket watch. (lexile level 720) what is this?
Sea Clocks: The Story of Longitude, Louise Borden
Centuries ago, sailors could determine their latitude north or south of the equator, but measuring longitude, their location east or west, was incredibly difficult. After forty years, John Harrison (1693-1776) solved the problem by designing a clock that could function on rocking seas. Contains wonderfully detailed illustrations. (Lexile 910L) what is this?
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Fantasy Stories
The Happy Hollisters and the Cuckoo Clock Mystery, by Jerry West
This mystery adventure is about a cuckoo clock in which Peter Hollister finds a note that contains a riddle. The Hollister’s follow the note’s origin to Germany where they try to solve the riddle, attempt to find a golden cuckoo clock that was stolen from a museum and outwit a gang of thieves. (Lexile 740L) what is this?
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The Thirteen Clocks, by James Thurber
This book is more fantasy, word-play and adventure than clock related, but it’s such good fun. An evil Duke has been cursed with on his kingdom. In the kingdom of an evil Duke, it is so cold that all of the hands of the 13 clocks in the castle are frozen. He has “killed time”. The Duke sets up impossible tasks for the young men who come to ask for the hand of Princess Saralinda, with the result of such men being fed to the Duke’s geese. It’s actually good fun, as long as the kids can handle a bit of blood and guts and has as happy ending, as it should. (Lexile 800L) what is this?
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Time Villains, by Victor Pineiro
Javi gets a homework assignment to ‘Invite Any Three People to Dinner’. The family’s antique table brings to life the dinner guests which include the infamous pirate Blackbeard. All sorts of adventures follow in this thrilling read. (Lexile 700L) what is this? Buy on BookDepository
How to Survive Time Travel, by Larry Hayes
It’s up to Eliza and her brother Johnnie to save their parents by travelling back in time to 5,000 BC Egypt. They encounter many people and things during their journey including a rainbow Sphinx and a python. There are many laughs to be had reading this story, it’s a real page turner.
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My Watch, by Mark Twain
Mark Twain can tell a tale like few others. This funny short story about a man taking his watch into the watchmaker for repairs, which some say is one of the most dangerous things you can do to a watch.
Freely available here online. My Watch
Supplemental Activities
Climb a Clock Tower
There are some amazing and fascinating clock towers in Switzerland.
- Zug: The Zuger Zytturmis free to visit if you show up during regular working hours. Just request a key to the Tower in the gift shop below and ask for a free brochure.
- Bern: The Zytglogge. The Zytglogge Tours are available of the interior. Check the website for details.
- Lucerne: The Turmuhren
Visit a Clock Museum
Switzerland, world-famous for its clocks and watches, has 7 public museums focused on time-pieces! If you manage to see them all, there are even more private museums. Clock Museums in Switzerland
Extension Booklet
A booklet covering verb tenses, prepositions and other grammar and spelling has been designed to be used with this unit. Available by contacting Theresa Jäger at [email protected].
