One Is Wonderful! Learning the Number 1

Materials Needed

• Large paper or a whiteboard
• Crayon, pencil, or washable marker
• One small toy or stuffed animal
• Several safe household objects, such as blocks, spoons, or socks
• Paper with large number 1s written on it
• Optional: play dough, stickers, music, and a small basket

Learning Objectives

By the end of the lesson, the child will be able to:

• Recognize the numeral 1.
• Count one object correctly.
• Show one object when asked.
• Trace or make a simple number 1.
• Use the word “one” in a short sentence.

Success Criteria

Success looks like this:

• “I can point to the number 1.”
• “I can give you one thing.”
• “I can count one object.”
• “I can try to make a 1.”

Introduction: One Special Thing

Time: 5 minutes

Hold up one toy or stuffed animal.

Say: “Look! I have one toy. One means just one. Can you say ‘one’?”

Invite the child to touch or hold the toy while saying “one.”

Fun Hook

Ask:

• “Can you find one nose?”
• “Can you show me one finger?”
• “Can you hop one time?”

Explain: “Today we will learn about the number 1. The number 1 tells us there is one thing.”

Body: Learn and Practice

Part 1: I Do — Meet the Number 1

Time: 5 minutes

Show the child a large numeral 1.

Say: “This is the number 1. It looks like a straight line with a little slant at the top.”

Trace the number slowly with your finger while saying:

“Start at the top, go down. That makes a 1!”

Draw one large number 1. Then place one object beside it.

Say: “This is the number 1. It matches one block.”

Quick Check

Show the child the number 1 and ask:

“What number is this?”

If the child is unsure, say “This is 1. Can you say 1 with me?”

Part 2: We Do — Find One

Time: 7 minutes

Place several objects in front of the child. For example, place three blocks, two spoons, and one sock on the floor.

Say: “Let’s find one. Can you give me one block?”

Help the child touch only one object and move it into a basket.

Repeat with different objects:

• “Please put one spoon in the basket.”
• “Please find one sock.”
• “Can you give the teddy one block?”

Count slowly each time: “One.” Avoid counting extra objects.

Think-and-Talk

Ask: “Do we have one teddy or two teddies?”

Let the child answer by speaking, pointing, or showing one finger.

Part 3: Movement Game — One-Step Commands

Time: 5 minutes

Say: “We will move one time. Listen carefully!”

• Take one jump.
• Clap one time.
• Spin one time.
• Tap the floor one time.
• Touch one blue object.

After each action, say “That was one!”

Give the child a chance to choose a movement for you to do one time.

Part 4: We Do — Make the Number 1

Time: 7 minutes

Choose one or more of these activities:

Finger Writing

Draw a large number 1 in the air. Invite the child to copy you.

Play Dough 1

Roll one long piece of play dough. Bend or place it to make the shape of a 1.

Sticker 1

Write a large number 1 on paper. Let the child place stickers along the number.

Tracing

Give the child a paper with large dotted number 1s. Say:

“Start at the top. Move down.”

Celebrate effort: “You tried to make a 1!”

Part 5: You Do — One Treasure Hunt

Time: 8 minutes

Say: “Let’s go on a one treasure hunt. Find one safe thing and bring it to our basket.”

Invite the child to choose one item from the room. The child may choose a toy, book, sock, or other safe object.

Ask the child to tell you:

• “What did you find?”
• “How many did you find?”

Encourage the response: “I found one ____.”

Repeat once or twice with different objects if the child is having fun.

Real-World Connection

Point out examples of one during the day:

• One sun in the sky
• One child or one grown-up
• One bedtime story
• One plate for snack
• One favorite toy

Say: “Numbers help us talk about how many things we have.”

Formative Assessment: Quick Checks

Ask the child to:

1. Point to the number 1 among two or three different numerals.
2. Show one finger.
3. Give you one object.
4. Count one toy.
5. Trace or draw a number 1.

Give specific feedback:

• “You gave me exactly one block.”
• “You found the number 1.”
• “You started at the top and went down.”

Conclusion: Tell What We Learned

Time: 5 minutes

Hold up the numeral 1 again.

Say: “Today we learned the number 1. One means just one thing. We can show one with one finger, count one object, and try to write the number 1.”

Invite the child to complete these sentences:

• “The number we learned is ___.”
• “I can show one with ___ finger.”
• “I found one ___.”

Final Demonstration

Ask the child to choose one final challenge:

• Find one object.
• Draw one number 1.
• Show one finger.
• Do one movement.

Finish with: “You learned about 1. One is wonderful!”

Differentiation and Adaptations

For Extra Support

• Use only one object and the number 1 at first.
• Guide the child’s hand while tracing.
• Let the child answer by pointing, moving, or showing a finger.
• Repeat the same activity several times with encouragement.

For More Challenge

• Ask the child to find the number 1 in a book or on a sign.
• Invite the child to draw one object next to the number 1.
• Ask the child to compare one object with a group of two or three objects.
• Make a simple number book page: write “1” and draw one favorite thing.

Flexible Learning Options

• Indoor: Use toys, books, and household objects.
• Outdoor: Find one leaf, one rock, or one flower.
• Digital: Show a large number 1 on a screen and let the child trace it with a finger.
• On the go: Look for the number 1 on doors, buses, clocks, or signs.

Optional Follow-Up Activity

Make a “Number 1” page together. Write a large 1 at the top. Let the child draw or paste one picture underneath it. Say the sentence aloud:

“I have one ____.”