Fun with the Number 1

Materials Needed

• Large paper or a whiteboard
• Crayon or washable marker
• One small toy or household object
• Several safe objects to count, such as blocks, spoons, or socks
• Play dough or paper strips
• Optional: music for a movement game

Learning Objectives

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

• Recognize the numeral 1.
• Count one object correctly.
• Show one finger when asked.
• Trace or make the shape of the numeral 1.
• Find examples of “one” in everyday life.

Success Criteria

The child is successful when they can:

• Point to the numeral 1.
• Give or choose one object.
• Say, “One!” while holding up one finger.
• Make a numeral 1 with a crayon, finger, or play dough.

Introduction: One Special Thing

Time: 5 minutes

Place one favorite toy in front of the child.

Say: “Look! I have one toy. One means just one. Can you show me one finger?”

Invite the child to look around and find one thing nearby. It might be one shoe, one book, or one spoon.

Hook question: “What is one thing you would take on a picnic?”

Tell the child: “Today we will learn about the number 1. We will count one thing, find the number 1, and make a number 1.”

Body of the Lesson

I Do: Watch Me

Time: 5 minutes

1. Show the child one object.
2. Touch the object and say slowly, “One.”
3. Show a card or write the numeral 1 in large print.
4. Say: “This is the number 1. It tells us there is one thing.”
5. Hold up one finger and say, “One finger.”
6. Model writing the numeral 1: “Start at the top, go down, and make a little line at the bottom.”

Quick check: Ask, “How many toys do I have?” The child should answer, “One.”

We Do: Count and Move Together

Time: 8 minutes

Activity 1: One Object Hunt

1. Place several different objects nearby.
2. Ask the child to choose one object.
3. Count it together by touching it once: “One.”
4. Return the object and repeat with a different item.

Use playful directions such as:

• “Bring me one block.”
• “Find one soft thing.”
• “Touch one table leg.”
• “Pick one crayon.”

Activity 2: One-Finger Actions

Give the child simple movement directions:

• Clap one time.
• Jump one time.
• Turn around one time.
• Tap your knee one time.

After each action, ask, “How many times did we do it?”

You Do: Make the Number 1

Time: 10 minutes

Choice A: Draw It

Write several large numeral 1s on paper. Invite the child to trace them with a finger or crayon. Then let the child try making a 1 independently.

Choice B: Build It

Help the child roll play dough into a long snake and shape it like the numeral 1.

Choice C: Make a “One” Page

Write a large numeral 1 on paper. The child may draw, glue, or place one sticker beside it.

Say: “You made the number 1. You also showed one thing!”

Real-World Connection: One in My Day

Time: 5 minutes

Talk about things people often have or do one at a time:

• One nose
• One mouth
• One breakfast at a time
• One bedtime story
• One person’s turn

Ask: “Can you think of one thing you do in the morning?” Accept answers such as brushing teeth, eating breakfast, or getting dressed.

Formative Assessment: Show Me One

Ask the child to complete these tasks:

1. Point to the numeral 1.
2. Hold up one finger.
3. Give you one object.
4. Count one object.
5. Trace or make a numeral 1.

Give specific encouragement, such as: “You touched one object and counted it carefully.”

Summative Assessment: The Number 1 Challenge

Invite the child to complete a short challenge independently:

1. Find one object in the room.
2. Bring it to you and say, “One.”
3. Point to the numeral 1.
4. Show one finger.
5. Make a numeral 1 using a crayon, finger, or play dough.

Teacher or parent note: Record whether the child completed each task independently, with a little help, or with significant help.

Differentiation and Support

• For extra support: Use only one object at a time, guide the child’s hand, and repeat the phrase, “One means just one.”
• For visual learners: Use a large, brightly colored numeral 1 and place one object beside it.
• For movement-focused learners: Practice one jump, one clap, or one stomp.
• For children ready for more: Ask them to compare one object with a group of two or three objects and explain which group has one.
• For digital learning: Display a large numeral 1 on a screen and ask the child to show one finger or find one item nearby.

Conclusion and Recap

Time: 3 minutes

Review the lesson together:

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

Finish with a cheerful chant:

“One, one, number one! One little finger, learning is fun!”

Invite the child to share one thing they enjoyed about the lesson.

Optional Follow-Up Activities

• Look for the numeral 1 on books, signs, or a calendar.
• Count one snack item before eating it.
• Make a “one” collection with one leaf, one rock, or one toy.
• Read a counting book and pause whenever you see one object.