Tock
The clock's hands tell you when
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Tock is a gentle tortoise, and the pattern on Tock's round shell looks exactly like a clock face — numbers around the edge, and two hands, a short one and a long one. Tock is never in a hurry, because Tock always knows when. "The hands point to the time," Tock says slowly. "The short hand tells the hour. When the long hand points straight up, it's o'clock. Straight down, it's half past."
Tock's friend Wex the vole is having a rough day. Wex missed snack time. Then Wex was too early for the story circle and had to wait and wait. "I never know when things happen," Wex groans. "It's like time is playing tricks on me." Wex feels muddled and out of step with the whole day.
"Time isn't tricking you," says Tock kindly. "You just haven't read the clock yet. Look at my shell. Snack is at three o'clock — that's when the short hand points to the three and the long hand points straight up. See? Now you can watch it coming, instead of being surprised." Tock turns slowly so Wex can study the hands.
Wex watches the long hand climb. "It's almost pointing up... and the short hand is near the three..." Wex's eyes go wide. "It's almost three o'clock! Snack is almost here — and I know it!" No surprise, no missing it. Wex can see the time coming, like watching a friend walk up the path.
All afternoon, Wex checks Tock's shell — half past three for the story, four o'clock for the pond. Knowing when makes the whole day feel smooth and steady, instead of jumbled. A calm, in-step feeling settles over Wex, unhurried as Tock itself. And Tock, happy to help, tucks in for a slow and peaceful rest, right on time.
Hear it as an audio drama
A short play starring Tock, from MeasurePals. Different voices, same idea. Listen any time after you read.
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Read the drama script
- Narrator: From Spark and Anvil and Measurepals — this is Tock, in chapter 1 of the Measurepals cast.
- Narrator: This drama uses an AI-generated voice. Voiced via Gemini 2.5.
- Narrator: Tock is a gentle tortoise, and the pattern on Tock's round shell looks exactly like a clock face — numbers around the edge, and two hands, a short one and a long one.
- Tock: I am never in a hurry, because I always know when. The hands point to the time.
- Narrator: A little rabbit wanted to know when snack time came.
- Tock: The short hand tells the hour. When the long hand points straight up, it's o'clock. Straight down, it's half past.
- Narrator: The short hand pointed at three, the long hand straight up.
- Tock: Short hand on three, long hand straight up — three o'clock.
- Narrator: Then the long hand moved to straight down.
- Tock: Now half past three. Same hour, halfway along.
- Rabbit: So I know when snack is coming!
- Tock: Yes. Read the short hand for the hour, the long hand for o'clock or half past — and you always know when. That's what makes Tock, Tock.
- Narrator: You've been listening to a Spark and Anvil chapter, written by the Spark and Anvil writing team for ages 9 to 14.
- Narrator: Apps stay free forever.
- Narrator: Curriculum aligned to Common Core and Next Generation Science Standards.
- Narrator: Released under Creative Commons BY-NC-SA 4.0 for educational reuse. Visit Spark and Anvil for the full transcript.
Reading together with a grown-up? A card for the grown-up
For the grown-up: ask one question, then wait. When they answer, add one word to what they said. Tap the button when they have said something — that is one turn each, a circle. Nothing is recorded or kept.
Let them finish it
Say “Tock: the clock's hands tell you WHEN — the short hand …” and stop. Let them finish it.
Now wait. Count slowly to five in your head. Their answer is worth the quiet.
Circles together: 0
The MeasurePals ensemble
Tock is one of the friends in MeasurePals. Each friend shows you one idea by how they act; meet them all and you have the whole subject.
