Fun With the Number 1
Materials Needed
- Large paper or a whiteboard
- Crayon or washable marker
- Number cards, including the number 1
- Small toys, blocks, or household objects
- One small container, such as a cup or bowl
- Play dough or modeling clay
- Optional: music for a counting song
Learning Objectives
By the end of the lesson, the child will be able to:
- Recognize the numeral 1.
- Count one object.
- Show one object when asked.
- Trace or make the shape of the number 1.
- Connect the number 1 with real-life examples.
Success Criteria
I can:
- Point to the number 1.
- Say, “One!”
- Give you one object.
- Make a number 1 with a crayon, finger, or play dough.
Introduction: Meet Number 1
Time: 5 minutes
Hold up one finger and say, “Look! I have one finger up. Today we are learning about the number 1!”
Show the child the numeral 1 and say:
“This is the number 1. One means just one. Not two. Just one.”
Warm-Up Questions
- “Can you hold up one finger?”
- “Can you find one toy?”
- “How many noses do you have?”
Tell the child: “We will find one, count one, and make the number 1.”
Body of the Lesson
1. I Do: Model the Number 1
Time: 5 minutes
Draw a large number 1 on paper. Slowly say:
“Start at the top. Go down. This is number 1.”
Place one block in front of the child. Touch it and count:
“One.”
Show a group of two or three blocks and say:
“This is more than one. We want just one.”
Quick check: Hold up one block and then two blocks. Ask, “Which group has one?”
2. We Do: Find One
Time: 7 minutes
Invite the child to search around the room for things that come in groups of one.
Use prompts such as:
- “Can you find one book?”
- “Can you bring me one sock?”
- “Can you touch one table?”
- “Can you show me one finger?”
Each time, count the object together: “One book. We found one!”
3. We Do: Number 1 Movement Game
Time: 5 minutes
Say a movement and have the child do it exactly one time:
- Clap one time.
- Jump one time.
- Spin one time.
- Tap the table one time.
After each movement, ask, “How many times?” Encourage the child to answer, “One!”
4. You Do: Make the Number 1
Time: 8 minutes
Let the child choose one way to make the number 1:
- Trace a large 1 with a crayon.
- Trace a 1 in the air with a finger.
- Build a 1 with blocks.
- Roll play dough into a long line and shape it like 1.
- Draw a 1 using a finger in a tray or on a table.
Use the simple direction: “Start at the top and go down.”
5. One-Object Challenge
Time: 7 minutes
Place several objects in front of the child. Ask the child to put exactly one object into the container.
- “Pick one toy.”
- “Put one toy in the cup.”
- “How many toys are in the cup?”
Repeat with different objects, such as one block, one spoon, or one crayon. Let the child choose which object to use.
Formative assessment: Watch whether the child selects exactly one object and counts it correctly.
Real-Life Connection
Explain that we use the number 1 every day:
- One sun in the sky.
- One nose on your face.
- One person can hold one toothbrush.
- One child can choose one snack.
Ask, “What is one thing you would like to do today?”
Summative Assessment: Show Me One
Time: 5 minutes
Ask the child to complete these tasks:
- Point to the number 1.
- Hold up one finger.
- Give you one object.
- Count one object.
- Make or trace the number 1.
Celebrate each success with specific feedback:
“You gave me one block. You counted carefully!”
Conclusion and Recap
Hold up the number 1 and say:
“Today we learned about number 1. Number 1 means one. We found one, counted one, and made a 1.”
Invite the child to finish this sentence:
“One means ______.”
End with a short chant:
“One little finger, hold it up high! One means one—give it a try!”
Differentiation and Support
- For extra support: Use only one object at a time. Guide the child’s hand while counting and tracing.
- For visual learning: Use a large, colorful number 1 and place one sticker beside it.
- For movement learning: Practice one jump, one clap, and one step.
- For language support: Repeat the words “one,” “number 1,” and “just one” often.
- For an added challenge: Ask the child to find three different things that come in groups of one or sort groups containing one object from groups containing more than one.
Optional Follow-Up Activity
Take a short “Number 1 Hunt” around the home. Look for one item in each room, such as one pillow, one door, or one lamp. The child may draw one favorite item and write or trace the number 1 beside it.