Fun with the Number 1

Materials Needed

• Large paper or a whiteboard
• Crayon or washable marker
• Number cards, including the number 1
• Small objects such as blocks, buttons, or toy animals
• Paper and crayons
• Optional: stickers, play dough, or music

Learning Objectives

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

• Recognize the numeral 1.
• Count one object correctly.
• Show one object when asked.
• Trace or try to write the number 1.
• Use the word “one” in a sentence.

Success Criteria

I can:

• Point to the number 1.
• Give you one object.
• Say, “One!” when I see one thing.
• Make a number 1 with my finger, crayon, or play dough.

Introduction: What Is One?

Hook

Show the child one favorite toy or stuffed animal.

Say: “Look! I have one teddy bear. Can you hold up one finger?”

Invite the child to look around and find one item nearby.

Tell the Child What They Will Learn

Say: “Today we are learning about the number 1. One means just one thing. We will find it, count it, build it, and draw it.”

Body: Learn and Practice

I Do: Model the Number 1

1. Show the numeral 1 on a card or paper.
2. Say: “This is the number 1. We say, ‘one.’”
3. Hold up one finger and say, “One finger.”
4. Place one block on the table and say, “One block.”
5. Trace the number slowly while saying: “Down we go. This is 1.”

Quick Check: Ask, “How many blocks do you see?” Help the child answer, “One.”

We Do: Find One

Say: “Let’s find things that come in a group of one.”

1. Place one toy, two toys, and three toys in separate groups.
2. Ask: “Which group has one toy?”
3. Let the child point to the group with one toy.
4. Count together: “One!”
5. Repeat with blocks, crayons, or small safe objects.

Movement Game: Number 1 Says

Play a simple game like “Simon Says.” Use short directions:

• “Number 1 says touch one toe.”
• “Number 1 says clap one time.”
• “Number 1 says jump one time.”
• “Number 1 says find one blue thing.”

Celebrate each try: “You found one!”

We Do: Make the Number 1

Choose one or more activities:

• Finger: Draw a large 1 in the air.
• Play dough: Roll and shape play dough into a 1.
• Crayon: Trace a large dotted 1.
• Stickers: Put one sticker on a piece of paper.

Say: “Start at the top. Make one straight line down.”

You Do: Number 1 Treasure Hunt

Invite the child to complete a small treasure hunt.

1. Find one soft item.
2. Find one round item.
3. Find one red item.
4. Bring one item to the learning space.

After each find, ask: “How many did you bring?” Encourage the child to answer, “One.”

You Do: Draw and Tell

Give the child paper and crayons. Ask the child to:

1. Draw one large number 1.
2. Draw one object beside it, such as one sun, one flower, or one ball.
3. Tell you about the picture.

Prompt with: “I see one _____.”

Real-World Connection

Look for the number 1 during the day. Find it on a book, calendar, clock, food package, or house number.

Say: “The number 1 helps us talk about one thing. We use it when we have one cup, one shoe, or one friend.”

Formative Assessment

Check understanding during the lesson by asking the child to:

• Point to the number 1 among two or three number cards.
• Give you one block.
• Show one finger.
• Choose the group with one object.
• Say “one” after counting one object.

Summative Assessment: Show Me One

Place several objects in front of the child. Ask the child to complete these tasks:

1. “Show me the number 1.”
2. “Give me one object.”
3. “Show me one finger.”
4. “Make a number 1.”
5. “Tell me: How many?”

Goal: The child completes at least four of the five tasks with little or no help.

Differentiation

Support

• Use large objects that are easy to see and touch.
• Give only two choices at a time.
• Count slowly while touching the object once.
• Let the child copy your finger movement.
• Accept pointing, signing, or showing one finger instead of speaking.

Extension

• Invite the child to find the number 1 in a book or around the house.
• Ask the child to make a collection of one item in several colors.
• Compare one object with a group of more than one object.
• Practice writing the number 1 in sand, flour, or shaving cream.

Conclusion: Tell What We Learned

Hold up one finger and ask:

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

Say together: “One means just one. The numeral for one is 1.”

Finish with a celebration: clap one time, give one high-five, or sing a short counting song about one.

Optional Follow-Up

During snack time, offer one cracker or one piece of fruit and ask, “How many do you have?” Repeat the word “one” naturally throughout the day.