All About the Number 1
Materials Needed
- Large paper or a whiteboard
- Marker or crayon
- Number cards, including the number 1
- Small objects such as blocks, buttons, toy animals, or cereal pieces
- Paper and crayons
- Play dough or modeling clay
- A small basket or bowl
- Optional: music for a movement activity
Learning Objectives
By the end of the lesson, the child will be able to:
- Recognize the number 1.
- Say that 1 means “one.”
- Count one object correctly.
- Show one object when asked.
- Trace or make the numeral 1.
- Connect the number 1 to real-life examples.
Success Criteria
The child is successful when they can:
- Point to the number 1.
- Give the teacher or adult one object.
- Count one object using the words “one.”
- Make a recognizable number 1 with a crayon, finger, or play dough.
Introduction: The Number 1 Is First
Time: 5 minutes
Hold up one finger and say:
“Look! I have one finger up. One means just one.”
Invite the child to hold up one finger too. Ask:
- “How many fingers are up?”
- “Can you show me one finger?”
- “Can you find one toy near you?”
Tell the child:
“Today we are going to learn about the number 1. We will find it, count one thing, and make it.”
Body of the Lesson
1. I Do: Meet the Number 1
Time: 5 minutes
Show the child a large number card with the numeral 1. Trace the number in the air with your finger while saying:
“This is the number 1. It means one. We start at the top and go straight down.”
Model counting one object. Place one block on the table and say:
“I have one block. One.”
Show the child that more than one object does not mean one. Place two blocks on the table and say:
“Now I have two blocks. That is more than one.”
Quick Check
Show the child groups of one, two, and three objects. Ask:
“Which group has one?”
Give praise for effort and gently recount the objects if needed.
2. We Do: One or More?
Time: 8 minutes
Place small groups of objects on the table. Make some groups contain one object and other groups contain two or three objects.
Take turns with the child:
- Choose a group of objects.
- Touch each object while counting.
- Say whether the group has one object or more than one.
Use simple prompts:
- “Touch and count.”
- “How many are there?”
- “Can you find the group with one?”
- “Can you give me one?”
Think and Talk
Ask the child to name things they see one at a time:
- “Can you find one chair?”
- “Can you find one spoon?”
- “Can you show me one shoe?”
3. We Do: Number 1 Movement Game
Time: 5 minutes
Explain:
“When I say 1, do one movement. When I say stop, freeze.”
Call out movements such as:
- One jump
- One clap
- One turn
- One stomp
- One big stretch
After each movement, count aloud together: “One!”
For an extra challenge, sometimes say “two” or “three.” Ask the child to notice that those numbers require more movements than one.
4. You Do: Number 1 Treasure Hunt
Time: 8 minutes
Give the child a small basket or bowl. Explain:
“Let’s look for things that come in groups of one. Each time, put only one item in your basket.”
Invite the child to find one safe household item at a time, such as:
- One soft toy
- One block
- One spoon
- One sock
- One book
After each item, ask the child to count it:
“How many did you find?”
Encourage the child to answer, “One.”
5. You Do: Make the Number 1
Time: 8 minutes
Offer the child a choice of activities:
Choice A: Draw the Number 1
Write several large number 1s on paper. Invite the child to:
- Trace the number 1 with a finger.
- Trace it with a crayon.
- Try making a number 1 independently.
Use the words:
“Start at the top. Go straight down.”
Choice B: Build the Number 1
Help the child roll play dough into a long snake. Use it to make the shape of the number 1.
Choice C: Decorate One
Draw a large number 1. Let the child decorate it with crayons, stickers, or small pieces of paper.
Choice D: Make a Group of One
Ask the child to draw one favorite object next to the number 1. For example, the child might draw one sun, one cat, or one flower.
6. Real-World Practice: One at a Time
Time: 5 minutes
Connect the lesson to everyday life. Ask the child to help with a simple task:
- Put one napkin on the table.
- Choose one snack.
- Bring one book.
- Place one toy in the basket.
Say:
“You used the number 1 to help us!”
Formative Assessment
Check understanding throughout the lesson by asking the child to:
- Point to the number 1.
- Hold up one finger.
- Choose one object from a group.
- Count one object.
- Show which group has one object.
- Tell what number they made.
Summative Assessment: Show Me One
Time: 5 minutes
Place several number cards and groups of objects in front of the child. Ask the child to complete these tasks:
- “Point to the number 1.”
- “Give me one object.”
- “Count this group.”
- “Show me one finger.”
- “Make the number 1 with your finger, crayon, or play dough.”
Celebrate the child’s work with specific feedback:
“You found the number 1 and gave me one block. You counted carefully!”
Differentiation and Support
For a Child Who Needs More Support
- Use only groups of one and two objects.
- Use large objects that are easy to see and touch.
- Guide the child’s hand while tracing the number 1.
- Repeat the same phrase: “One means just one.”
- Allow the child to answer by pointing or holding up one finger.
For a Child Ready for More
- Ask the child to find the number 1 in books, signs, or calendars.
- Invite the child to compare one object with groups of two, three, and four.
- Ask the child to draw one object and write the number 1 beside it.
- Play a matching game by pairing the numeral 1 with one object.
- Ask, “What would happen if we added one more?”
Closure and Recap
Time: 3 minutes
Hold up the number 1 and ask:
- “What number is this?”
- “What does 1 mean?”
- “Can you show me one finger?”
- “Can you name one thing you did today?”
Recap together:
“Today we learned that the number 1 means one. We found one object, counted one object, moved one time, and made the number 1.”
End with a short chant:
“One, one, number one! One bright star, one big sun!”
Optional Follow-Up Activities
- Look for the number 1 during a walk or drive.
- Read a counting book and find each page with one object.
- Have one snack on a plate and count it together.
- Make a “Number 1” poster with one drawing and one large numeral.
- Repeat the movement game using one clap, one jump, and one stomp.