Family Heirloom Cuckoo Clock

It's time to explore Germany's Black Forest region and the history of the cuckoo clock.

• 1.

  Find information about the Black Forest area of Germany. Learn about the people who live there, natural resources in the region, and people's skills and crafts that have made the area famous. Locate examples of cuckoo clocks. Compare them to other clocks. What is different about the clocks? What is similar?

• 2.

  To make a base for your cuckoo clock, place a sheet of dark construction paper in a vertical position. Choose another sheet of construction paper for your clock's roof. With Crayola® Scissors, cut out a triangle that is wider than the clock base, and about half as tall. In the middle of the triangle, cut out a square for a cuckoo. With a Crayola Glue Stick, attach the triangle to the top of the rectangle.

• 3.

  With Crayola Construction Paper Crayons on white construction paper, draw a circle which will fit inside the rectangle. Cut it out and glue it onto the rectangle. This is your clock face. Write in numerals from 1 to 12.

• 4.

  Draw two clock hands-a larger minute hand and smaller hour hand-on construction paper. Cut out the hands. Insert a brass paper faster through the ends of both clock hands and then in the middle of the clock face. Spread the brad apart on the back of the clock.

• 5.

  Draw a cuckoo to fit the square opening on top of your clock. Color your bird with crayons. Cut out the cuckoo.

• 6.

  To make your cuckoo pop out from the clock, cut out a thin paper rectangle. Fold it like an accordion. Glue one end of the folded paper on the back of the clock just below the square opening. Pull the paper through the opening to the front of the clock an

• 7.

  Using crayons, decorate the roof and around the face of your clock with brightly colored clover, mushrooms, ladybugs, acorns, or other forest items.

Benefits

• Students research the Black Forest region of Germany to learn about its people, natural resources, products, and crafts.
• Students recognize cuckoo clocks and compare and contrast them to other types of clocks to see why they are unique.
• Students design and make their own replica of a Black Forest cuckoo clock.

Adaptations

• Learn, review, or assess telling-time skills with children's clocks.
• Discuss various types of clocks to see how clock making has changed over the years from wind-up clocks and watches to those that are digital, battery operated, solar, and waterproof. Create a display of different clocks!
• Research other crafts and natural resources from the Black Forest area of Germany. Discuss the many reasons why this area is so important to the country.