One Wonderful Number: Learning About 1
Materials Needed
- Number card showing 1
- Large sheet of paper or a whiteboard
- Crayons or washable markers
- Small objects to count, such as blocks, buttons, or toy animals
- One favorite toy or stuffed animal
- Play dough or clay
- 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 shape of the numeral 1.
- Find examples of one thing in everyday life.
Success Criteria
“I can show one, say one, find the number 1, and make a number 1.”
Introduction: Meet Number 1
Hook: Hold up one favorite toy.
Say: “Look! I have one toy. Can you hold up one finger? Let’s wiggle our one finger!”
Show the number card.
Say: “This is the number 1. It tells us there is one thing.”
Talk Together
- “How many toys am I holding?”
- “Can you show me one finger?”
- “What is one thing you see in the room?”
Body of the Lesson
I Do: Model the Idea
Place one block on the table.
Say slowly: “I see one block. One means just one.”
Point to the numeral 1 and say: “This is what one looks like when we write it.”
Model writing the numeral:
- “Start at the top.”
- “Go down.”
- “Now we have a 1!”
Draw one circle, one star, and one smiley face. Say the word “one” each time.
Quick Check
Show groups containing one object and groups containing two or three objects. Ask:
“Which group has one?”
Invite the child to point, touch, or say the answer.
We Do: Count and Move
Place several small objects nearby. Work together to make groups of one.
- “Let’s pick up one block.”
- “Let’s put one button in this cup.”
- “Let’s give one toy animal a home.”
After each action, ask: “How many did we put there?” Encourage the child to answer, “One.”
Number 1 Movement Game
Call out actions involving one:
- “Take one jump.”
- “Clap one time.”
- “Touch one toe.”
- “Spin one time.”
- “Give one high five.”
Pause and ask: “How many did you do?”
Think-Pair-Share Alternative
For a homeschool setting, the child can “share” with a stuffed animal, puppet, or family member.
Ask: “Can you tell your teddy bear one thing you learned about the number 1?”
You Do: Number 1 Learning Choices
Let the child choose at least two activities.
Choice A: Make the Number 1
Invite the child to:
- Trace a large numeral 1.
- Draw a numeral 1 independently.
- Build a numeral 1 with play dough.
- Make a numeral 1 using blocks or craft sticks.
Choice B: One-Object Hunt
Walk around the home and find examples of one thing.
Possible examples:
- One door handle
- One pillow
- One clock
- One spoon
- One favorite book
Each time, say: “I found one _____.”
Choice C: Create a One Picture
Ask the child to draw a picture with exactly one main object, such as:
- One sun
- One flower
- One balloon
- One puppy
Help the child label the picture: “One sun” or “One flower.”
Choice D: Make One Snack
With adult help, prepare one simple snack item, such as one banana slice, one cracker, or one piece of fruit.
Ask: “How many snack pieces do you have?”
Formative Assessment
Check understanding throughout the lesson by asking the child to:
- Point to the numeral 1.
- Show one finger.
- Give you one object.
- Choose one object from a small group.
- Say the word “one.”
- Tell whether a group has one, two, or more objects.
Summative Assessment: Show What You Know
Place the number card, three small objects, and a crayon in front of the child. Invite the child to complete these tasks:
- Point to the number 1.
- Give you one object.
- Count the object by saying “one.”
- Show one finger.
- Trace or draw the number 1.
Simple Performance Checklist
- Recognizes the numeral 1.
- Connects the numeral 1 with one object.
- Counts one object correctly.
- Uses the word “one.”
- Makes an attempt to write or build the numeral 1.
Differentiation and Support
If the Child Needs More Support
- Use only one object at a time.
- Guide the child’s finger while pointing to the object.
- Repeat: “One means just one.”
- Use large objects and a large numeral card.
- Allow pointing, showing fingers, or choosing instead of speaking.
- Practice tracing with a finger before using a pencil.
If the Child Is Ready for More
- Ask the child to find the numeral 1 among other numerals.
- Ask the child to make several groups containing one object.
- Invite the child to write the numeral 1 without tracing.
- Ask: “What happens if we add one more?”
- Look for the number 1 in books, signs, calendars, or labels.
Conclusion: Tell What We Learned
Hold up the numeral card again and ask:
- “What number is this?”
- “How many is one?”
- “Can you show me one finger?”
- “Can you find one thing near you?”
Say together:
“One means just one. The number 1 shows one. I can find one, count one, and make a 1!”
Optional Follow-Up
During the day, look for one thing in everyday situations. Say phrases such as:
- “We have one front door.”
- “You chose one book.”
- “There is one sock on the floor.”
Celebrate each discovery by holding up one finger and saying, “One!”