All About the Number 1
Materials Needed
- Paper and crayons or washable markers
- One favorite toy or household object
- Small items to count, such as blocks, buttons, or toy animals
- Play dough
- Index cards or pieces of paper
- Optional: music for a counting song
Learning Objectives
By the end of the lesson, the child will be able to:
- Recognize the numeral 1.
- Say the number name “one.”
- Count one object correctly.
- Show one object when asked.
- Trace or make the shape of the numeral 1.
- Use the idea of “one” in a real-life activity.
Success Criteria
I can:
- Point to the number 1.
- Give you one object.
- Say, “This is one.”
- Make or trace a 1.
Introduction: Hook and Objectives
Time: 5 minutes
Hold up one special toy or object.
Say: “Look! I have one toy. Can you show me one finger?”
Invite the child to hold up one finger. Talk together:
- “One means just one.”
- “One is not two.”
- “Today we will learn about the number 1.”
Tell the child: “We will find one, count one, make one, and play with one!”
Body of the Lesson
1. I Do: Meet the Number 1
Time: 5 minutes
Write a large 1 on a piece of paper.
Say:
- “This is the number 1.”
- “We say its name: one.”
- “The number 1 tells us there is one thing.”
Place one object beside the numeral 1. Point as you say, “One block.”
Trace the number slowly while saying: “Start at the top, go down. That makes a 1.”
2. We Do: Find One
Time: 7 minutes
Place several groups of objects in front of the child. Some groups should have one object, and others should have two or more.
Ask:
- “Which group has one block?”
- “Can you touch one toy?”
- “Can you give me one button?”
Count slowly together. Touch each object only once.
Say: “This group has one because we counted just one object.”
3. Movement Game: One-Step Freeze
Time: 5 minutes
Give simple directions using the word one:
- “Take one big step.”
- “Clap one time.”
- “Jump one time.”
- “Tap your knees one time.”
After each action, pause and ask, “How many did you do?” Help the child answer, “One.”
4. We Do: Make the Number 1
Time: 8 minutes
Invite the child to make the number 1 using play dough. Model first:
- Roll the play dough into a long snake.
- Place it straight up and down.
- Add a short diagonal line at the top if desired.
Say: “You made a 1! Let’s count how many 1s you made.”
Next, the child may draw a large 1 in the air, on paper, or in a tray of rice or flour.
5. You Do: Number 1 Hunt
Time: 8 minutes
Give the child a number card with a large 1. Look around the home together for the number 1. Possible places include a book, clock, remote control, calendar, or measuring cup.
Each time the child finds a 1, ask:
- “What number did you find?”
- “Can you trace it with your finger?”
- “Where did you find it?”
For each discovery, celebrate with: “You found one number 1!”
6. Creative Choice Activity
Time: 10 minutes
Let the child choose one activity:
- One Picture: Draw one sun, one flower, or one favorite animal. Write a large 1 next to the picture.
- One Treasure Cup: Put one chosen object into a cup and decorate the cup with one sticker.
- One-Item Collage: Glue one paper shape onto a sheet of paper and decorate around it.
- Number 1 Road: Draw a large 1 and drive one toy car along its lines.
Ask the child to explain: “I made one ______.”
Formative Assessment: Quick Checks
Pause throughout the lesson and ask the child to:
- Point to the numeral 1.
- Hold up one finger.
- Give you one object.
- Choose which group has one object.
- Say the number name “one.”
Give specific feedback, such as: “You gave me exactly one block. You counted carefully.”
Summative Assessment: Show What You Know
Ask the child to complete these four tasks:
- Point to the number 1 from a group of different numerals.
- Place one object beside the number 1.
- Say, “One.”
- Trace or draw a number 1.
The child meets the lesson goal when they complete at least three of the four tasks with little or no help.
Differentiation and Support
For a Child Who Needs More Support
- Use only one object at a time.
- Guide the child’s hand while tracing the 1.
- Repeat the phrase, “One means just one.”
- Use large objects that are easy to see and touch.
- Offer choices: “Is this 1 or 2?”
For a Child Ready for More Challenge
- Find the number 1 in a book or around the home.
- Compare one object with groups of two and three objects.
- Make a set of one object independently.
- Practice writing 1 several times using different materials.
- Ask: “What happens if we add one more?” and introduce the idea of two.
Conclusion and Recap
Time: 5 minutes
Show the numeral 1 again and ask:
- “What number is this?”
- “How many objects does one mean?”
- “Can you show me one finger?”
- “Can you find one thing near you?”
Say together:
“One means just one. The number 1 shows one thing.”
Finish with one clap, one high-five, or one happy jump to celebrate learning about the number 1.
Optional Follow-Up
During the day, invite the child to notice “one” in everyday life: one spoon, one shoe, one pet, or one book. Ask, “What is one thing you see?”