Number 1 Adventure: One Wonderful Thing

Materials Needed

• Number card or paper with the number 1
• One small toy, block, stuffed animal, or household object
• Paper and crayons or washable markers
• Play dough, string, or craft sticks
• Small bowl or basket
• Optional: music for a movement game

Learning Objectives

By the end of the lesson, the child will be able to:

• Recognize and name the number 1.
• Count one object accurately.
• Match the number 1 to a group with one object.
• Trace or make the shape of the number 1.
• Use the idea of “one” in a real-life situation.

Success Criteria

I can:

• Point to the number 1 when I see it.
• Say, “One!” when I see one object.
• Put one object in a basket.
• Make a number 1 with my finger, crayon, play dough, or craft materials.

Introduction: The One-Object Surprise

Hook: Hide one special object in a small basket. Say:

“I have a surprise. How many things are hiding in my basket? Let’s find out!”

1. Invite the child to take out the object.
2. Ask, “How many objects do we have?”
3. Touch the object once and say, “One!”
4. Show the number card and say, “This is the number 1. The number 1 tells us there is one thing.”

Tell the child: “Today we are going on a number 1 adventure. We will find one thing, count one thing, and make the number 1.”

Body of the Lesson

1. I Do: Meet the Number 1

Show the number card clearly.

Say:

“This is 1. We say, ‘one.’ When we see one teddy bear, one block, or one apple, we can use the number 1.”

Model counting:

1. Place one object on the table.
2. Touch it once.
3. Say, “One.”
4. Place the number card beside it.

Model writing:

“Start at the top. Go down. Now we have 1.”

Trace the number 1 in the air with a large arm movement, then trace it on the table with one finger.

Quick Check: Ask, “Can you point to the number 1?”

2. We Do: One or Not One?

Place different groups of objects in front of the child: one object, two objects, and three objects.

For each group, ask:

• “How many do you see?”
• “Is this one?”
• “Should we put the number 1 next to it?”

Help the child touch each object while counting. Emphasize that a group receives the number 1 only when it has one object.

Think and Share: Ask, “Can you find one thing near you?” Let the child look around and bring or point to one safe object.

3. We Do: One-Step Movement Game

Give simple directions using the word “one.” Demonstrate first.

• Take one jump.
• Clap one time.
• Turn around one time.
• Touch one toy.
• Give one high-five.

After each action, ask, “How many did you do?” Encourage the child to answer, “One!”

4. You Do: Number 1 Treasure Hunt

Invite the child to find one item from each safe location. The child may choose the locations.

1. Find one soft thing.
2. Find one red thing or another chosen color.
3. Find one toy.
4. Find one thing that can fit in the child’s hand.

After each discovery, have the child place the item in a basket and say, “I found one.” Return each item before finding the next one so the child focuses on one object at a time.

5. You Do: Make the Number 1

Let the child choose one way to make the number 1:

• Trace a large number 1 with a crayon.
• Make a number 1 from play dough.
• Build a number 1 with craft sticks or string.
• Paint or finger-trace a number 1 in the air or on paper.

While the child works, use simple prompts:

• “Where do we start?”
• “Which way does your line go?”
• “What number did you make?”

6. Real-World Practice: One for Me

Use a snack, toy, or pretend store activity.

Say:

“You may choose one snack,” or “Please put one block in the box.”

Ask the child to:

1. Choose one item.
2. Count it by touching it once.
3. Match it with the number 1 card.

Explain: “We use numbers every day. One can tell us how many snacks, toys, or steps we need.”

Formative Assessment

Check understanding throughout the lesson by asking the child to:

• Point to the number 1.
• Show one finger.
• Give one object.
• Choose which group has one object.
• Say “one” after counting one object.

Summative Assessment: One-Minute Number 1 Challenge

Invite the child to complete these tasks independently, offering only gentle reminders:

1. Point to the number 1.
2. Place one object beside it.
3. Say, “One.”
4. Make or trace a number 1.
5. Find one object in the room.

Mastery: The child completes at least four of the five tasks successfully.

Differentiation and Support

For a Child Who Needs More Support

• Use only one object at a time.
• Guide the child’s hand while touching and counting.
• Use large number cards and thick crayons.
• Repeat the phrase, “One means just one.”
• Allow pointing, gestures, or showing one finger instead of speaking.

For a Child Ready for More Challenge

• Ask the child to draw one object beside the number 1.
• Ask the child to find one object in several different rooms.
• Invite the child to explain why a group has one object.
• Compare one object with a group of two objects.
• Let the child create a “Number 1” page with one favorite thing.

Conclusion: Tell What We Learned

Gather the materials and review the number card together.

Ask:

• “What number did we learn today?”
• “How many things does 1 mean?”
• “Can you show me one finger?”
• “What was one thing you found?”

Say:

“Today we learned that the number 1 means one thing. We found one object, counted one object, moved one time, and made the number 1.”

End with one clap, one high-five, or one cheerful jump and say, “Great number 1 work!”

Optional Follow-Up Activity

During the day, invite the child to notice examples of one: one shoe, one spoon, one pet, one tree, or one book. Each time, have the child say, “I see one!”