All About the Number 1
Materials Needed
- Large paper or a whiteboard
- Crayon, marker, or pencil
- Five small objects, such as blocks, buttons, or toy animals
- Number cards or paper cards labeled 1–3
- Play dough or modeling clay
- Optional: a favorite song or music for counting
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.
- Trace or make the shape of the numeral 1.
- Find examples of “one” in everyday life.
Success Criteria
“I know I am successful when I can:
- Point to the number 1.
- Show one object.
- Say, ‘This is one.’
- Try to write or build a 1.”
Introduction: The Number 1 Adventure
Hook: Hold up one toy or object.
Say: “Look! I have one toy. Can you show me one finger?”
Invite the child to hold up one finger. Celebrate the response with a high five, song, or cheer.
Tell the child: “Today we are going on a number adventure. We will learn about the number 1. One means just one thing.”
Body of the Lesson
1. I Do: See and Hear One
Show the numeral 1 on paper or a card.
Say slowly: “This is the number 1. We say ‘one.’”
Show one object and say: “I have one block.”
Place several objects nearby. Touch only one object and say: “One block.”
Quick Check:
- “Can you point to the number 1?”
- “How many blocks am I holding?”
- “Can you show me one finger?”
2. We Do: Find One
Place one, two, and three objects in separate small groups.
Say: “Let’s find the group with one object.”
Help the child touch and count each group. Emphasize that the group with one object has only one thing.
Repeat with familiar objects:
- “Find one spoon.”
- “Find one shoe.”
- “Find one toy.”
- “Find one book.”
Think-and-Say: Ask, “What is one thing you see in this room?” Accept answers such as “one table,” “one lamp,” or “one window.”
3. Movement Game: One-Step Robot
Invite the child to pretend to be a robot.
Give one-step directions:
- “Take one step.”
- “Clap one time.”
- “Jump one time.”
- “Touch one toy.”
After each action, ask: “How many times did you do it?” Help the child answer, “One.”
4. I Do: Make the Number 1
On paper or a whiteboard, model how to write the number 1.
Say: “Start at the top. Go down. Now we have 1.”
Trace the number slowly with your finger while saying, “Down, down, 1.”
5. We Do: Build a Number 1
Use play dough, a craft stick, or a finger to make the shape of 1.
Say: “Let’s make a tall line. This is our number 1.”
Invite the child to build the number 1 several times.
6. You Do: Number 1 Treasure Hunt
Ask the child to look around the home and find three things connected to the number 1.
Examples include:
- One pillow
- One red object
- One stuffed animal
- One book
For each item, ask the child to say, “I found one _____.”
7. You Do: Number 1 Art
Invite the child to draw a large number 1 and decorate it with one type of mark, such as dots, lines, or stickers.
Give the child a choice:
- “Would you like to use crayons or stickers?”
- “Would you like to draw one star or one flower beside your 1?”
Encourage effort rather than perfect writing.
Formative Assessment
During the lesson, observe whether the child can:
- Identify the numeral 1.
- Show one finger.
- Give one object when asked.
- Count one object correctly.
- Attempt to trace, build, or draw the number 1.
If the child is unsure, provide a gentle prompt: “Let’s touch the objects together. One.”
Summative Assessment: Show Me One
Place several objects in front of the child and ask the child to complete these tasks:
- Point to the number 1.
- Give you one object.
- Show one finger.
- Make the number 1 with a finger, crayon, or play dough.
- Say, “One.”
Simple success goal: The child completes at least four of the five tasks with little or no help.
Differentiation and Support
- For extra support: Use only one and two objects. Model each answer and let the child copy you.
- For sensory learning: Trace a large 1 in rice, sand, shaving cream, or play dough.
- For movement learners: Make a giant 1 on the floor with tape and walk along it.
- For advanced learners: Ask the child to find the number 1 in a book, on a clock, or on a calendar.
- For digital learning: Show number cards on a screen or take photos of one object at a time during the treasure hunt.
Conclusion: Tell What We Learned
Show the number 1 again and ask:
- “What number is this?”
- “How many is one?”
- “Can you show one finger?”
Say: “Today we learned that 1 means one. We found one thing, moved one time, and made the number 1.”
End with a short chant:
“One, one, number one!
One small step, and learning’s fun!”
Optional Follow-Up
Throughout the day, invite the child to notice “one” naturally: one cup, one snack, one nose, one sun, or one favorite toy.