Fun with the Number 1
Materials Needed
- One large paper or small whiteboard
- Crayon or washable marker
- Small objects, such as blocks, buttons, toy animals, or cereal pieces
- Paper
- Optional: number cards from 1 to 3
- Optional: a favorite 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.
- Trace or draw the numeral 1.
- Find examples of “one” in everyday life.
Success Criteria
Success looks like this:
- “I can point to 1.”
- “I can show one object.”
- “I can say one.”
- “I can try to draw 1.”
Introduction: Meet One
Hook: Hold up one favorite toy and ask, “How many toys do I have?”
Say: “I have one toy. One means just one. Today we will play and learn about the number 1.”
Talk together:
- “Can you hold up one finger?”
- “Can you find one toy?”
- “How many noses do you have?”
Tell the child: “Today we will see the number 1, count one thing, and make our own number 1.”
Body of the Lesson
I Do: Show and Explain
Write a large 1 on the paper or whiteboard.
Say: “This is the number 1. We say, ‘one.’ The number 1 tells us there is one thing.”
Slowly model counting one object:
- Place one block on the table.
- Touch the block.
- Say, “One.”
- Point to the numeral 1.
Model how to draw the number:
“Start at the top. Go down. Now we made a 1!”
Quick check: Ask, “Can you show me one finger?” Praise the effort: “You showed one finger. Great counting!”
We Do: Play and Practice Together
Activity 1: Find One
Ask the child to find one item in the room. Give choices such as:
- One shoe
- One book
- One stuffed animal
- One pencil
Each time, help the child touch the item and say, “One book” or “One shoe.”
Activity 2: One or Not One?
Place groups of objects on the table: one block, two blocks, and no blocks.
Point to each group and ask, “Is this one?”
Invite the child to point to the group with exactly one object.
Think and talk: Ask, “How do you know this group has one?” Encourage the child to say, “I see one.”
Activity 3: Number 1 Movement Game
Say, “When I show the number 1, do one action!”
- One jump
- One clap
- One spin
- One stomp
Pause after each action and count aloud: “One!”
You Do: Try It Yourself
Activity 4: Make a Group of One
Give the child several small objects. Say:
“Please make a group with one object.”
Then ask:
- “How many objects are in your group?”
- “Can you touch the one object?”
- “Can you put the number 1 next to it?”
Activity 5: Trace and Create the Number 1
Draw several large dotted number 1s for the child to trace. Then invite the child to make a number 1 in one or more ways:
- Draw it with a crayon.
- Make it with a finger in the air.
- Build it with a block or craft stick.
- Trace it in flour, sand, or shaving cream, if available.
Let the child choose which way to practice. Celebrate trying, even if the number is not perfect.
Real-World Connection
Take a short “One Hunt” around the home. Look for things that come in ones:
- One front door
- One television remote nearby
- One family pet, if applicable
- One sun in the sky
- One child doing the activity
Say: “We can find the number 1 everywhere!”
Formative Assessment
During the lesson, notice whether the child can:
- Point to the numeral 1 when shown several numerals.
- Show one finger.
- Give one object when asked.
- Count one object without adding more.
- Attempt to trace or draw 1.
If the child needs help, use fewer choices, demonstrate again, and guide the child’s hand or finger gently. Ask one question at a time.
Summative Assessment: Show What You Know
Invite the child to complete this short challenge:
- Point to the number 1.
- Show one finger.
- Choose one object.
- Say, “One.”
- Draw or trace a 1.
Give specific feedback, such as: “You found one block and counted it carefully. You know that 1 means one thing.”
Differentiation and Choice
For Extra Support
- Use only one object and one numeral at first.
- Count slowly while touching the object.
- Use hand-over-hand guidance for tracing, if the child welcomes it.
- Repeat the same activity during another short play session.
For More Challenge
- Ask the child to find the numeral 1 in a book or on a calendar.
- Ask, “Can you find something that comes in twos? How is that different from one?”
- Invite the child to make a page with one drawing and the number 1.
- Mix numeral cards from 1 to 3 and ask the child to find 1.
Conclusion and Recap
Hold up the numeral 1 and ask:
- “What number is this?”
- “Can you show one finger?”
- “Can you give me one object?”
Say together:
“1 means one. One is just one!”
End with one clap, one high-five, or one favorite movement. Ask the child to tell someone else one thing they learned about the number 1.