All About the Number 1
Materials Needed
- Large paper or a whiteboard
- Marker or crayon
- Number cards, including the number 1
- Small objects to count, such as blocks, buttons, or toy animals
- Play dough or clay
- Paper and crayons
- Optional: a short counting song or music
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 accurately.
- Show one object when asked.
- Trace or make the shape of the number 1.
- Find examples of “one” in everyday life.
Success Criteria
Success looks like this:
- “I can point to the number 1.”
- “I can show one toy.”
- “I can say one.”
- “I can try to make a 1.”
Introduction: One Special Thing
Hook: Hold up one favorite toy or object.
Say: “Look! I have one toy. One means just one. Can you show me one finger?”
Invite the child to hold up one finger. Say together:
“One means one. One is not two.”
Tell the child: “Today we will learn about the number 1. We will find it, count it, make it, and play with it.”
Body of the Lesson
I Do: Teacher or Adult Demonstration
1. See the Number 1
Write a large 1 on paper or a whiteboard.
Say: “This is the number 1. We say, ‘one.’ It looks like a straight line.”
Trace the number slowly while saying:
“Start at the top, go straight down. That makes a 1.”
2. Count One Object
Place one block on the table.
Touch it and say: “One.”
Explain: “There is one block because I see just one.”
3. Show One and Not One
Show one toy, then show three toys.
Say: “This group has one. This group has more than one.”
Remind the child: “One means just one thing.”
We Do: Learn and Play Together
Activity 1: Find the Number 1
- Place several number cards on the floor or table.
- Include the number 1 and a few other numbers.
- Ask: “Can you find the number 1?”
- Let the child point to or pick up the 1.
- Celebrate: “You found one!”
Quick check: Mix the cards and ask the child to find the 1 two or three times.
Activity 2: Give Me One
Place several small objects nearby.
Give simple requests:
- “Give me one block.”
- “Put one button in the cup.”
- “Choose one toy.”
- “Give one animal a home.”
After each turn, ask: “How many did you give me?” Encourage the child to answer, “One.”
Activity 3: Number 1 Movement Game
Invite the child to move one time for each direction:
- Take one big jump.
- Clap one time.
- Turn around one time.
- Tap your head one time.
Say: “We did each action one time!”
You Do: Child Practice
Activity 4: Make the Number 1
Let the child choose one way to make a 1:
- Trace a large 1 with a crayon.
- Build a 1 with play dough.
- Make a 1 using blocks or craft sticks.
- Draw a 1 in the air with one finger.
Ask: “Where do you start? Which way does your finger go?”
Activity 5: One Treasure Hunt
Ask the child to look around the home and find examples of one.
Possible examples include:
- One pillow
- One spoon
- One book
- One shoe
- One door
Each time the child finds an item, say: “You found one ____!”
Activity 6: Draw One
Ask the child to draw one favorite thing, such as one sun, one flower, or one pet.
Help the child add the numeral 1 to the picture.
Invite the child to describe the drawing: “I drew one ____.”
Formative Assessment: Quick Checks
Throughout the lesson, ask:
- “Which card is the number 1?”
- “Can you show me one finger?”
- “Can you give me one object?”
- “How many blocks are here?”
- “Can you make a 1 in the air?”
Notice whether the child can identify, say, show, and make the number 1. Give helpful feedback such as:
“You gave me 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 number cards.
- Show one finger.
- Give one object to the adult.
- Trace or make a number 1.
The child is successful when they complete at least three tasks with little or no help.
Differentiation and Support
For Extra Support
- Use only two number cards at a time: 1 and another number.
- Use large objects that are easy to see and hold.
- Guide the child’s hand while tracing, then let the child try independently.
- Repeat the phrase: “One means just one.”
- Keep practice short and include movement breaks.
For an Extra Challenge
- Ask the child to find the number 1 in a book, calendar, or sign.
- Ask the child to compare one object with a group of two or more objects.
- Invite the child to make a picture containing one of several different items.
- Ask: “What is one thing you like to do?”
Conclusion: Tell What We Learned
Show the numeral 1 again and ask the child:
- “What number is this?”
- “How many is one?”
- “Can you show one finger?”
Recap together:
“Today we learned that 1 means one. We found the number 1, counted one object, moved one time, and made a 1.”
Finish with a celebration: Give one clap, one high-five, or one sticker.
Optional Follow-Up
During the day, look for one more example of the number 1. Say:
“We found one! The number 1 is all around us.”