Fun with the Number 1
Materials Needed
- Large paper or a whiteboard
- Crayon or washable marker
- Number cards or a paper with the number 1
- Small objects to count, such as blocks, buttons, or toy animals
- Play dough
- Paper and stickers
- A small basket or bowl
- Optional: music for a counting song
Learning Objectives
By the end of the lesson, the child will be able to:
- Recognize the numeral 1.
- Say that 1 means “one.”
- Count one object accurately.
- Trace or make the numeral 1.
- Find examples of one thing in everyday life.
Success Criteria
I can:
- Point to the number 1.
- Give you one object when asked.
- Make a number 1 with a finger, crayon, or play dough.
- Tell you about something that comes as one.
Introduction: One Special Thing
Time: 5 minutes
Place one favorite toy in front of the child.
Say: “Look! I have one toy. One means just one thing. Can you show me one finger?”
Invite the child to hold up one finger. Then ask:
- “How many toys do we see?”
- “How many noses do you have?”
- “Can you find one thing in the room?”
Tell the child: “Today we will learn about the number 1. We will count one thing, find the number 1, and make the number 1.”
Body: Learn and Practice
1. I Do: Show the Number 1
Time: 5 minutes
Show the child a large numeral 1.
Say: “This is the number 1. We say, ‘one.’ The number 1 tells us there is one thing.”
Point to one object and say slowly: “One block.” Hold up one finger and say: “One finger.”
Trace the number 1 in the air while saying:
“Start at the top, slide down.”
Model making the number 1 with a crayon, finger, and play dough.
Quick Check
Ask the child to:
- Point to the number 1.
- Show one finger.
- Choose one object from a small group.
2. We Do: One-Object Hunt
Time: 8 minutes
Place several objects in a basket. Work together to find exactly one of each type.
Say: “Let’s take one block. Count with me: one.”
Invite the child to choose one toy, one crayon, and one soft item. Each time, count only one object.
Use a think-pair-share style conversation adapted for a young child:
- Think: “Look at the objects. Which one will you choose?”
- Share: “Tell me what you chose.”
- Show: “Show me one finger while we count it.”
Movement Game: One Jump
Say an instruction such as:
- “Take one jump.”
- “Clap one time.”
- “Stomp one foot.”
- “Touch one toy.”
Celebrate each correct response by saying, “You did one!”
3. We Do: Make the Number 1
Time: 8 minutes
Use play dough to make one long snake. Help the child bend or place it to look like the number 1.
Trace the numeral together using a finger:
“Start at the top, slide down.”
Next, let the child decorate a large paper number 1 with one sticker, one dot, or one small mark at a time.
Ask: “How many stickers did you put on?” Encourage the answer: “One.”
4. You Do: Number 1 Challenge
Time: 8 minutes
Invite the child to complete these activities independently, offering help when needed:
- Find the number 1 among two or three number cards.
- Place one block beside the number 1.
- Draw or trace the number 1.
- Find one object in the room and bring it to the basket.
- Show one finger and say, “One.”
Allow the child to choose one way to show learning:
- Draw one thing.
- Build one tower block high.
- Make the number 1 with play dough.
- Find one item for each family member.
Real-World Connection
Look around the home together and find things that come as one, such as:
- One front door
- One refrigerator
- One sun in the sky
- One nose
- One favorite toy
Say: “The number 1 helps us talk about one thing in our real world.”
Formative Assessment
During the lesson, observe whether the child can:
- Recognize the numeral 1.
- Match the numeral 1 with one object.
- Count one object without adding another.
- Follow the direction to show one finger.
- Trace or create a recognizable number 1.
Give specific feedback:
- “You chose exactly one block.”
- “You found the number 1.”
- “You started at the top and moved your crayon down.”
Conclusion: Tell What We Learned
Time: 5 minutes
Review the large number 1 and ask:
- “What number is this?”
- “How many fingers are you holding up?”
- “Can you give me one block?”
- “What is one thing you found today?”
Say together:
“One means one thing. The number 1 looks like this: 1.”
End with a short counting chant:
“One, one, touch your thumb.
One, one, learning is fun!”
Optional Extension Activities
- Look for the number 1 on books, clocks, signs, or calendars.
- Make a “Number 1” collage using one large piece of paper and one special object drawn on it.
- Take one step at a time across the room while counting “one.”
- Read a picture book and look for pages showing one animal or one object.
Differentiation
For Extra Support
- Use only one object at a time.
- Give hand-over-hand help when tracing.
- Repeat the words “one” and “number 1” often.
- Use large objects and a large number card.
- Accept pointing, showing one finger, or saying “one” as responses.
For an Additional Challenge
- Ask the child to find the number 1 in a group of numbers.
- Ask the child to draw one object next to the numeral 1.
- Invite the child to explain why a group has one object.
- Compare one object with a group of two or three objects.
End-of-Lesson Demonstration
Ask the child to complete this final task:
“Find the number 1, place one object beside it, show one finger, and make a number 1.”
The child demonstrates success by correctly completing at least three of the four tasks.