Number 1 Adventure: One Special Thing
Materials Needed
- Large paper or a small whiteboard
- Marker or crayon
- Number cards or a paper with the number 1
- Small objects such as blocks, buttons, toy animals, or snacks
- One favorite toy
- 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 that 1 means “one.”
- Count one object correctly.
- Trace or attempt to write the number 1.
- Find examples of one thing in the real world.
Success Criteria
Success looks like this:
- “I can show one object.”
- “I can point to the number 1.”
- “I can say one when I count.”
- “I can make a number 1 with my finger, a crayon, or an object.”
Introduction: The One-Thing Hunt
Hook: Hold up one favorite toy and say, “Look! I have one toy. Can you show me one finger?”
Invite the child to look around the room and find one thing. Ask:
- “Can you find one book?”
- “Can you touch one chair?”
- “Can you bring me one toy?”
Say: “Today we are learning about the number 1. One means there is just one thing.”
Body of the Lesson
I Do: Teacher or Adult Demonstration
Show the child a card or paper with the number 1.
Say:
“This is the number 1. We say, ‘one.’ It looks like a straight line.”
Place one block on the table. Point to it and say:
“I see one block. Let’s count it: one.”
Show several blocks. Move all but one away. Say:
“Now I have one block.”
Model how to make the number 1:
- Start at the top.
- Move your crayon straight down.
- Say, “Down to make 1!”
We Do: Count and Move Together
Give the child a small group of objects. Work together to make groups of one.
Say:
“Let’s make a group with one toy. Put one toy here.”
Repeat with different objects, such as:
- One block
- One button
- One toy animal
- One snack
After each example, ask:
- “How many do we have?”
- “Can you touch the one object?”
- “Can you show one finger?”
Movement Game: “Do One!”
Give simple directions. The child should do each action one time:
- “Do one jump.”
- “Clap one time.”
- “Turn around one time.”
- “Stomp one foot.”
Pause and ask, “How many times did you clap?” Encourage the child to answer, “One!”
You Do: Number 1 Practice
Activity 1: Find the Number 1
Place the number 1 among a few other marks, shapes, or numbers. Ask the child to point to the number 1.
Use encouraging questions:
- “Can you find 1?”
- “What makes this number special?”
- “Can you say its name?”
Activity 2: Make One
Invite the child to choose one way to make the number 1:
- Trace it with a crayon.
- Draw it in the air with a finger.
- Make it with one block or craft stick.
- Trace it in sand, rice, or flour.
- Use a finger to draw it on a foggy window or tabletop.
Say: “Choose your favorite way to make 1.”
Activity 3: One-Thing Basket
Give the child a basket or bowl. Ask the child to collect one item from several safe places in the home.
For each item, ask the child to say:
“I found one ____.”
When finished, place the items in a row and count them one at a time. Explain that there is one of each kind.
Formative Assessment: Quick Checks
Throughout the lesson, check understanding by asking the child to:
- Show one finger.
- Give you one object.
- Point to the number 1.
- Tell you how many objects are in a group of one.
- Make one movement.
If the child answers incorrectly, gently model the answer and try again. Say, “Let’s count together: one.”
Real-World Connection
Look for one thing during daily activities:
- One spoon at snack time
- One shoe from the shoe basket
- One leaf outside
- One pet or stuffed animal
- One button on a shirt
Say: “We use the number 1 to talk about one thing.”
Summative Assessment: Show What You Know
Ask the child to complete these four tasks:
- Point to the number 1.
- Give you one object.
- Show one finger and say “one.”
- Trace or draw the number 1.
The child does not need to complete the tasks perfectly. Look for understanding that the number 1 represents one object or one action.
Differentiation and Support
For Extra Support
- Use only one object at a time.
- Guide the child’s hand as they trace the number.
- Repeat the words “one” and “number 1” often.
- Use large objects and a large number card.
- Count slowly while touching the object once.
For an Extra Challenge
- Ask the child to find the number 1 in a book or on a calendar.
- Ask the child to draw one sun, one flower, or one person.
- Place two or three objects nearby and ask the child to select only one.
- Invite the child to make a number 1 using play dough.
- Ask, “What is one thing you like?”
Conclusion: One Big Recap
Hold up the number 1 and ask:
- “What number is this?”
- “How many things does 1 mean?”
- “Can you show me one finger?”
Say together:
“One means just one. The number 1 tells us about one thing!”
Finish with one clap and say, “You did one wonderful job learning about 1!”
Optional Follow-Up
During the day, invite the child to keep a “Number 1 Hunt” list by drawing one thing they see, such as one tree, one cup, or one toy.