One Is Fun! Learning About the Number 1
Materials Needed
- Large paper or a whiteboard
- Marker or crayon
- Number cards, including the number 1
- Small objects such as blocks, buttons, toy animals, or pom-poms
- Paper and crayons
- Play dough or modeling clay
- A small basket or bowl
- Optional: music for a movement game
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 the shape of the numeral 1.
- Use the word “one” in a simple 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 Big Surprise
Time: 5 minutes
Place one special object in a basket, such as one toy animal or one bright block.
Say:
“Look! There is one special thing in the basket. One means just one. Can you find the one thing?”
Let the child take out the object. Count it together:
“One!”
Show the numeral card 1.
Say:
“This is the number 1. The number 1 tells us there is one thing.”
Quick check: Ask, “How many things are in the basket?” Help the child answer, “One.”
Body: Learn and Practice
1. I Do: Watch Me Count One
Time: 5 minutes
Place three objects in a row, but touch only one object.
Say:
“I am going to count one object. One.”
Move the counted object to the basket. Repeat with different objects.
Explain in simple language:
“When we count one, we stop after one object.”
Show the number card 1 beside the single object.
Check for understanding:
- Hold up one block and ask, “How many blocks?”
- Hold up two blocks and say, “Is this one?”
- Invite the child to answer or show a thumbs-up or thumbs-down.
2. We Do: Find One
Time: 8 minutes
Place several groups of objects on the floor or table. Some groups should have one object, while others have two or three.
Say:
“Let’s find the group with one. Touch the group that has one.”
Practice with different objects, such as:
- One toy car
- One teddy bear
- One crayon
- One block
After each choice, count together: “One.”
Think and talk: Ask:
- “Can you show me one finger?”
- “Can you find one red thing?”
- “Can you put one block in the bowl?”
3. Movement Game: One-Step Freeze
Time: 5 minutes
Play music or clap a steady beat. When the music stops, give one-step directions:
- “Take one step.”
- “Clap one time.”
- “Jump one time.”
- “Turn one time.”
Count aloud as the child completes each action.
Say:
“We did one clap. We did one jump. One means just one time.”
4. We Do: Make the Number 1
Time: 8 minutes
Draw a large numeral 1 slowly.
Say:
“Start at the top. Go down. Now we have a 1.”
Invite the child to:
- Trace the number 1 with a finger.
- Trace it with a crayon.
- Make a 1 in the air using a finger.
- Make a 1 with play dough.
Use encouraging language:
“You started at the top and went down. You made a 1!”
5. You Do: One Treasure Hunt
Time: 8 minutes
Give the child a small basket.
Say:
“Let’s go on a one treasure hunt. Find one safe object and put it in your basket.”
Allow the child to choose the object. Ask:
- “What did you find?”
- “How many did you find?”
- “Can you show me your one treasure?”
Repeat once or twice with different objects. Encourage the child to use a sentence such as:
“I found one block.”
6. Creative Activity: Draw One
Time: 8 minutes
Give the child paper and crayons.
Invite the child to choose one thing to draw, such as one sun, one flower, one balloon, or one person.
Say:
“Draw one thing. It can be anything you like.”
Help the child write or trace the number 1 next to the drawing.
Ask the child to describe the picture:
“I drew one ______.”
Formative Assessment: Quick Number 1 Check
Use the following playful questions during or after the activities:
- “Which card shows the number 1?”
- “Give me one block.”
- “How many fingers are you holding up?”
- “Can you clap one time?”
- “Can you make a 1 in the air?”
Notice whether the child can count accurately, identify the numeral, and understand that one means a single object.
Summative Assessment: Show Me One
Place several objects in front of the child and say:
“Show me one object. Put it beside the number 1.”
Then ask the child to:
- Point to the number 1.
- Count the object.
- Trace or make a 1.
- Say, “I have one.”
Mastery guideline: The child demonstrates the skill when they correctly complete at least three of the four tasks with little or no help.
Differentiation and Adaptations
For Extra Support
- Use only one object at a time.
- Guide the child’s hand while counting or tracing.
- Use large objects that are easy to see and touch.
- Repeat the same language: “One means just one.”
- Offer choices: “Is this one or two?”
For an Extra Challenge
- Ask the child to find one object of a certain color or shape.
- Invite the child to make the number 1 using blocks, sticks, or play dough.
- Ask, “What would happen if we added one more?”
- Have the child look for the number 1 in a book, calendar, or around the home.
For Different Learning Formats
- Homeschool: Find one item in each room of the house.
- Classroom: Let children work in pairs to collect one classroom object.
- Digital: Show one object on a screen and invite the child to point, count, or draw the number 1.
- Outdoor: Find one leaf, one rock, or one flower, without picking living plants.
Conclusion: Tell Me About One
Time: 5 minutes
Display the number 1 and one object.
Ask the child:
- “What number did we learn?”
- “How many objects does one mean?”
- “Can you show me one finger?”
- “What was your favorite one thing today?”
Recap together:
“Today we learned about the number 1. One means just one. We counted one object, found one treasure, and made a 1.”
End with one clap and say:
“One big cheer for learning number 1!”
Optional Follow-Up
During the day, look for examples of one: one spoon at snack time, one shoe, one pet, or one book. Each time, say, “That is one!”