One Is Fun! Learning About the Number 1
Materials Needed
- Large paper or a whiteboard
- Crayon, marker, or pencil
- Number cards or a paper with the number 1
- Small objects such as blocks, buttons, toy animals, or snacks
- Paper and stickers
- A small bag or basket
- Optional: music for a movement game
Learning Objectives
By the end of the lesson, the child will be able to:
- Recognize the number 1.
- Say the number 1.
- Count one object.
- Show one object when asked.
- Practice writing or tracing the number 1.
- Connect the number 1 to real-life examples.
Success Criteria
“I can…”
- Point to the number 1.
- Count one thing: “One!”
- Give one object when asked.
- Trace or make a number 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 show one finger. Then say:
“Today we are going to have fun with the number 1. We will find it, count it, move like it, and make it!”
Quick Conversation
Ask:
- “How many noses do you have?”
- “How many heads do you have?”
- “Can you find one toy?”
Body of the Lesson
I Do: Meet the Number 1
Show the child a large number 1.
Say:
“This is the number 1. It is called one. One means there is only one.”
Trace the number slowly with your finger while saying:
“Start at the top. Go straight down. This is 1!”
Place one object beside the number 1.
Say: “The number 1 tells us there is one object.”
Formative Check
Ask the child to:
- Point to the number 1.
- Show one finger.
- Choose one object from a small group.
We Do: Count One Together
Place several objects in front of the child. Work together to choose exactly one.
Say:
“Let’s count one block. Touch it and say, ‘One!’”
Repeat with different objects:
- One block
- One toy animal
- One crayon
- One sticker
Game: Give Me One
- Put several safe objects in a basket or on the floor.
- Say, “Please give me one block.”
- Let the child choose and hand over one block.
- Repeat using different objects.
- Celebrate each success by saying, “You gave me one!”
Think and Talk: Ask, “What happens if you give me two? Is that one or more than one?” Keep the discussion simple and playful.
Movement Break: Move One Time
Give the child simple movement directions. Each action happens one time:
- Jump one time.
- Clap one time.
- Turn around one time.
- Touch your toes one time.
- Roar one time like a dinosaur.
Pause after each action and ask, “How many times did you do it?”
You Do: Number 1 Hunt
Invite the child to look around the home for the number 1.
Possible places to look:
- Books
- Clocks
- Calendars
- Food packages
- Labels or signs
Each time the child finds a 1, say:
“You found the number 1! Can you trace it in the air?”
If the child cannot find a real number 1, place number cards around the room and ask the child to find the correct card.
Creative Practice: Make a Number 1
- Draw a large number 1 on paper.
- Invite the child to trace it with a finger.
- Let the child trace it with a crayon or marker.
- Decorate the number with exactly one sticker, one pom-pom, or one small drawing.
Offer choices:
- “Would you like to use a blue crayon or a red crayon?”
- “Would you like to draw one star or one balloon?”
- “Would you like to trace the number or build it with blocks?”
Optional Hands-On Activity: Build One
Ask the child to build a tower using one block. Then try:
- One block
- One cup
- One toy animal inside the cup
- One spoon beside a plate
Use the sentence frame:
“I have one ______.”
Assessment
Formative Assessment During the Lesson
Notice whether the child can:
- Identify the number 1 when shown several numbers.
- Show one finger.
- Count one object correctly.
- Give one object when asked.
- Follow a one-step direction.
Summative Demonstration
Ask the child to complete these four tasks:
- Point to the number 1.
- Give you one object.
- Show one finger.
- Trace or draw the number 1.
Suggested success benchmark: The child completes at least three of the four tasks with little or no help.
Differentiation and Support
For a Child Who Needs More Support
- Use only one or two objects at a time.
- Place the number 1 beside one object as a visual clue.
- Guide the child’s finger while tracing.
- Repeat the words “one” and “just one” often.
- Accept pointing, showing a finger, or speaking as a response.
For a Child Ready for More
- Ask the child to find the number 1 among numbers 2, 3, and 4.
- Invite the child to write the number 1 without tracing.
- Ask, “Can you find one thing that is round?”
- Have the child make a page showing one of several objects.
- Compare one object with two objects using the words “one” and “more.”
Conclusion: Tell What We Learned
Hold up the number 1 again and ask:
- “What number is this?”
- “Can you show me one finger?”
- “Can you give me one toy?”
- “What is one thing you enjoyed today?”
Recap together:
“Today we learned about the number 1. One means just one. We found one, counted one, moved one time, and made the number 1.”
Closing Chant
Say together while holding up one finger:
“One, one, number one!
Learning numbers is such fun!”
Real-Life Follow-Up
During the day, invite the child to notice examples of one:
- One cup at snack time
- One shoe or one sock
- One book for story time
- One toy to put away