All About the Number 1

Materials Needed

• One large piece of paper or a whiteboard
• Crayon, marker, or pencil
• Small objects to count, such as blocks, buttons, or toy animals
• Number cards or homemade cards showing 1, 2, and 3
• Play dough or clay
• One favorite toy
• 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 word “one.”
• Count one object correctly.
• 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 number 1 when shown several numbers.
• Give one object when asked.
• Make or trace a recognizable 1.
• Explain that “one” means just a single thing.

Introduction: Hook and Objectives

Time: 5 minutes

Hold up one favorite toy and say:

“Look! I have one toy. Can you show me one finger?”

Let the child hold up one finger. Then say:

“Today we are going to play with the number 1. We will find one thing, count one thing, and make the number 1.”

Quick Conversation

• “How many noses do you have?”
• “How many moons do we see in the sky?”
• “Can you find one toy near you?”

Body: Learn and Practice

1. I Do: Meet the Number 1

Time: 5 minutes

Draw a large numeral 1 on paper or a whiteboard. Point to it and say:

“This is the number 1. We say ‘one.’ One means just one thing.”

Place one block beside the numeral 1. Touch the block and count slowly:

“One.”

Show the child two or three blocks, then show only one block.

“This group has one block. This group has more than one block.”

Quick Check

Ask:

• “Which card shows 1?”
• “Can you point to one block?”
• “How many blocks are in my hand?”

2. We Do: One-Object Hunt

Time: 8 minutes

Tell the child:

“Let’s go on a one-object hunt. We will look for one thing at a time.”

Choose several safe objects around the home. For each object, ask the child to bring exactly one.

Try prompts such as:

• “Bring me one spoon.”
• “Find one sock.”
• “Choose one stuffed animal.”
• “Pick one crayon.”

Each time, touch the object together and say:

“One spoon. We have one.”

Think and Talk

Ask the child to choose one object and complete the sentence:

“I found one __________.”

3. We Do: Finger and Movement Game

Time: 5 minutes

Say a movement and have the child do it one time:

• Clap one time.
• Jump one time.
• Stomp one time.
• Spin one time.
• Give one high-five.

After each movement, ask:

“How many times did we do it?”

Encourage the child to answer, “One!”

4. I Do: How to Make the Number 1

Time: 5 minutes

Draw the numeral 1 slowly while saying:

“Start at the top. Go down. Now we made a 1!”

Make the motion large in the air with your finger. Invite the child to copy you.

Use simple directions:

1. “Put your finger at the top.”
2. “Slide your finger down.”
3. “Stop at the bottom.”

5. You Do: Make a Number 1

Time: 10 minutes

Let the child choose one way to practice:

• Trace a large 1 with a crayon.
• Make a 1 with play dough.
• Draw a 1 in the air.
• Build a 1 using blocks.
• Make a 1 with a finger in sand, rice, or flour.

Give specific encouragement:

• “You started at the top.”
• “Your line went down.”
• “You made a number 1.”

Independent Practice

Show the child cards with the numbers 1, 2, and 3. Say:

“Circle the number 1.”

Then place several objects in front of the child and say:

“Give me one.”

6. Creative Activity: One Special Thing

Time: 8 minutes

Ask the child to draw one special thing, such as one sun, one flower, or one toy.

Help the child add the numeral 1 to the picture. Say:

“You drew one special thing. Can you write or trace a 1 beside it?”

Invite the child to describe the picture:

“I drew one __________.”

Formative Assessment

Check understanding throughout the lesson by asking the child to:

• Show one finger.
• Choose the numeral 1 from a group of numbers.
• Give exactly one object.
• Count one object aloud.
• Trace or make a 1.

If the child gives more than one object, gently say:

“Let’s check. Touch just one. One means a single thing.”

Summative Assessment: Number 1 Show-and-Tell

Time: 5 minutes

Ask the child to complete this short challenge:

1. Point to the numeral 1.
2. Show one finger.
3. Give you one object.
4. Make a 1 using a crayon, play dough, or a finger.
5. Say, “One means just one thing.”

Celebrate the child’s work with praise, a high-five, or a small movement celebration.

Differentiation and Support

For Extra Support

• Use only the numeral 1 at first, then add one other number.
• Use large objects that are easy to touch and move.
• Guide the child’s hand while tracing, if needed.
• Repeat the phrase, “One means just one.”
• Allow the child to answer by pointing, speaking, or showing one finger.

For More Challenge

• Ask the child to find the numeral 1 in a book or on a calendar.
• Invite the child to draw one object and label it with a 1.
• Ask, “What would happen if we added one more?”
• Have the child find one example of the number 1 in each room.

Conclusion: Closure and Recap

Time: 3 minutes

Hold up the numeral 1 and ask:

• “What number is this?”
• “How many things does one mean?”
• “Can you show me one finger?”

Say together:

“One means one thing. The number 1 looks like a straight line. We can find one all around us!”

Finish with a simple chant:

“One nose, one sun, one little lesson done!”

Optional Follow-Up Activities

• Look for the number 1 on signs, books, clocks, or packages.
• Serve one snack item and count it together.
• Sing a counting song that includes the number 1.
• Make a “Number 1” page with one sticker, one drawing, and one traced numeral.