All About the Number 1
Materials Needed
- Large paper or a whiteboard
- Crayon, marker, or pencil
- Number cards or paper with the number 1
- Small safe objects, such as blocks, toy animals, or buttons
- Play dough or modeling clay
- Paper and stickers
- A favorite toy or book
Learning Objectives
By the end of the lesson, the child will be able to:
- Recognize the number 1.
- Say the number 1.
- Show one object when asked.
- Trace or attempt to write the number 1.
- Connect the number 1 with the idea of “one thing.”
Success Criteria
The child is successful when they can:
- Point to the number 1.
- Give one object when asked.
- Make a group with only one object.
- Trace or form a recognizable number 1.
Introduction: Let’s Find One!
Time: 5 minutes
Hold up one favorite toy.
Say: “Look! I have one toy. One means just one. Can you hold up one finger?”
Invite the child to look around the room and find one item. They might find one book, one shoe, or one stuffed animal.
Say:
“Today we will learn about the number 1. We will find one thing, make the number 1, and play a number game.”
Body of the Lesson
1. I Do: Meet the Number 1
Time: 5 minutes
Show a large number card with 1.
Say:
“This is the number 1. It says one. One is a small number. It tells us there is just one thing.”
Place one block beside the number card.
Say:
“The number 1 matches one block.”
Trace the number slowly with your finger while saying:
“Down we go to make a 1.”
Show one finger and count aloud: “One.”
2. We Do: Show Me One
Time: 8 minutes
Place several objects in front of the child. Ask the child to choose one object.
Give directions one at a time:
- “Please give me one block.”
- “Please put one toy animal on the table.”
- “Please touch one button.”
- “Can you hold up one finger?”
After each response, give specific feedback:
“You gave me one block. You made a group of one!”
Quick Check: Place one object in one group and three objects in another group. Ask:
“Which group has one?”
If needed, count each group together slowly.
3. Movement Game: Number 1 Actions
Time: 5 minutes
Explain:
“When I show the number 1, do one action.”
Take turns showing the number card or saying “one.” The child completes one action, such as:
- One clap
- One jump
- One spin
- One stomp
- One wave
Count the action together: “One!”
4. We Do: Build the Number 1
Time: 7 minutes
Use play dough to make a long line.
Say:
“Let’s make a number 1. We can make one straight line.”
Help the child shape the dough into the number 1. The child may also decorate the number with one small bead or one sticker.
Ask:
- “What number did we make?”
- “How many stickers did we use?”
- “Can you show me one finger?”
5. You Do: Trace and Make a 1
Time: 8 minutes
Draw several large dotted numbers 1 on paper. Invite the child to trace them with a finger first, then with a crayon or pencil.
Say:
“Start at the top. Draw down. You made a 1!”
Then invite the child to try making one number 1 without dots. It is fine if the number is not perfect.
Offer a choice:
- Trace a number 1.
- Build a number 1 with play dough.
- Make a number 1 with blocks.
- Decorate a large number 1 with one sticker.
6. Real-World Hunt: Find One
Time: 5 minutes
Walk around the home together. Look for examples of one thing.
Possible examples include:
- One front door
- One refrigerator
- One favorite stuffed animal
- One spoon
- One pillow
Each time the child finds an item, say:
“You found one ____.”
Formative Assessment
Check understanding throughout the lesson by asking:
- “What number is this?”
- “Can you show me one finger?”
- “Can you give me one object?”
- “Which group has one?”
- “How many did you choose?”
Notice whether the child can recognize, say, show, and make the number 1. Give encouragement for effort as well as accuracy.
Summative Assessment: Show What You Know
Time: 5 minutes
Place the number card, several objects, and paper in front of the child. Ask the child to:
- Point to the number 1.
- Give you one object.
- Show one finger.
- Trace or draw the number 1.
- Tell you how many objects they chose.
Celebrate the child’s work by saying:
“You learned that 1 means one. You found one, showed one, and made a 1!”
Differentiation and Support
For a Child Who Needs More Support
- Use only one or two objects at a time.
- Guide the child’s hand while tracing.
- Repeat the words “number 1” and “one” often.
- Use large objects that are easy to see and hold.
- Allow the child to answer by pointing, showing a finger, or choosing an object.
For a Child Ready for More
- Ask the child to find the number 1 in a book or on a calendar.
- Invite the child to draw one object beside the number 1.
- Compare one object with a group of two or more objects.
- Ask the child to make a simple page showing “1 apple,” “1 toy,” or “1 star.”
Conclusion and Recap
Time: 3 minutes
Review the number card and ask the child to complete these sentences:
- “This is the number ____.”
- “One means ____ thing.”
- “I can show one with my ____.”
Finish with a short chant while holding up one finger:
“One little finger, one little nose,
One big smile from head to toes!”
Invite the child to share one thing they enjoyed during the lesson.
Optional Follow-Up Activity
Create a “Number 1” page. Write a large number 1 on paper. The child can draw or glue one favorite object beside it and tell a grown-up about the picture.