All About the Number 1
Materials Needed
- Large paper or whiteboard
- Crayon or washable marker
- Five small objects, such as blocks, toy animals, or buttons
- Number cards or paper with the numbers 1, 2, and 3
- Play dough or clay
- One small snack, such as a cracker or piece of fruit
- Optional: music for a movement game
Learning Objectives
By the end of the lesson, the child will be able to:
- Recognize the numeral 1.
- Say the number word “one.”
- Count one object correctly.
- Trace or make the shape of the numeral 1.
- Find examples of “one” in everyday life.
Success Criteria
Success looks like this:
- “I can point to 1.”
- “I can show one object.”
- “I can say one.”
- “I can try to make a 1.”
Introduction: One Special Thing
Time: 5 minutes
Hold up one object, such as one toy animal.
Say: “Look! I have one toy. One means just one.”
Invite the child to look around and find one thing.
Ask:
- “Can you find one shoe?”
- “Can you show me one finger?”
- “How many noses do you have?”
Tell the child: “Today we will learn about the number 1. We will find it, count it, make it, and play with it!”
Body
I Do: Meet the Number 1
Time: 5 minutes
Show a large numeral 1.
Say: “This is the number 1. We say, ‘one.’ One means not two, not three—just one.”
Trace the numeral slowly with your finger.
Say: “Start at the top. Go down. Now we have a 1.”
Place one block under the numeral 1.
Say: “The number 1 matches one block.”
Quick Check
Show the child the number cards 1, 2, and 3. Ask:
“Can you point to 1?”
Praise effort: “You found the number 1!” If needed, show the card again and say, “This is 1. Try pointing to it.”
We Do: Count One Object
Time: 7 minutes
Place several objects in front of the child.
Take one object and place it in a small group or bowl.
Say: “Let’s count this one object. Touch it and say, ‘one.’”
Take turns choosing exactly one object and placing it in the bowl.
Use short prompts:
- “Pick one.”
- “How many did you pick?”
- “Yes, one!”
Game: One or More?
Make two groups: one group with one object and another group with two or more objects.
Ask, “Which group has one?”
Let the child point, touch, or move the correct group.
Repeat with blocks, toy animals, or household objects.
We Do: Make the Number 1
Time: 7 minutes
Give the child play dough.
Roll the dough into a long piece. Help the child bend or place it into the shape of a 1.
Say: “Let’s make a number 1. It goes down like this.”
Next, draw a large 1 in the air. Invite the child to copy you using a finger.
Offer this chant:
“Down we go, number 1!”
You Do: Number 1 Hunt
Time: 8 minutes
Invite the child to look for the number 1 around the home. Search on:
- Books
- Clocks
- Calendars
- Packages
- Remote controls
- Number cards
Each time the child finds a 1, ask:
“What number did you find?”
Let the child circle, point to, or place a sticker beside the number when possible.
You Do: Draw and Trace
Time: 5 minutes
Write several large numeral 1s on paper. Let the child:
- Trace the numbers with a finger.
- Trace them with a crayon.
- Try to draw one independently.
- Decorate one 1 with dots or stickers.
Do not worry about perfect handwriting. Say, “You made a number that looks like 1. You are practicing!”
Movement Game: Show Me One
Time: 5 minutes
Give simple directions. The child should do each action one time:
- “Clap one time.”
- “Jump one time.”
- “Touch one toe.”
- “Spin one time.”
- “Give one high-five.”
Pause between directions and count together: “One!”
Real-World Connection: One Snack
Time: 5 minutes
Give the child one snack.
Say: “You have one snack. Let’s count it: one.”
Ask the child to find one other item nearby, such as one cup or one spoon.
Explain: “We use numbers to talk about things we see and use every day.”
Formative Assessment
During the lesson, check whether the child can:
- Point to the numeral 1 when shown several numbers.
- Choose one object from a group.
- Say “one” while touching one object.
- Copy or attempt the shape of 1.
Use encouragement and gentle prompts instead of correcting harshly. For example: “Let’s try again together. This is 1.”
Summative Activity: The Number 1 Show-and-Tell
Ask the child to complete these four tasks:
- Point to the number 1.
- Bring one object.
- Say, “One.”
- Draw or build a 1.
Celebrate the child’s work: “You showed me the number 1 in many ways!”
Differentiation
For Extra Support
- Use only two number choices, such as 1 and 2.
- Use large objects that are easy to touch and move.
- Count slowly while guiding the child’s hand.
- Let the child answer by pointing, moving, or showing one finger.
- Repeat the lesson in short 5-minute sections.
For an Extra Challenge
- Ask the child to find three different examples of one.
- Invite the child to write a 1 without tracing.
- Ask, “What happens if we add one more?”
- Have the child sort objects into groups of one.
- Look for the number 1 in a storybook and explain where it appears.
Conclusion and Recap
Time: 3 minutes
Review the lesson using simple questions:
- “What number did we learn?”
- “Can you show me one finger?”
- “Can you bring me one toy?”
- “What does 1 mean?”
Finish with the chant:
“One is a number. One means just one!”
Invite the child to choose a favorite activity to repeat: the number hunt, play dough 1, drawing, or movement game.
Optional Follow-Up
Throughout the day, point out natural examples of one: one sun, one nose, one cup, one pet, or one book. Ask, “Can you find one?”