One Is Fun! Learning the Number 1
Materials Needed
- Large paper or a whiteboard
- Crayon or washable marker
- Small objects such as blocks, toy animals, or buttons
- Number cards showing 1, 2, and 3
- Play dough or modeling clay
- Paper and stickers
- Optional: a short counting song or music
Learning Objectives
By the end of the lesson, the child will be able to:
- Recognize the numeral 1.
- Say that “1” means one thing.
- Count one object correctly.
- Trace or make the shape of the numeral 1.
- Find examples of one object in everyday life.
Success Criteria
“I can…”
- Point to the number 1.
- Give you one object when asked.
- Count one object: “1.”
- Make a number 1 with my finger, crayon, or play dough.
Introduction: One Big Surprise
Time: 5 minutes
Place one favorite toy in front of the child. Hide the rest of the toys.
Say: “Look! I found one toy. Can you show me one finger?”
Invite the child to hold up one finger. Ask:
- “How many toys do you see?”
- “How many fingers are you holding up?”
- “Can you find one thing near you?”
Tell the child: “Today we are learning about the number 1. The number 1 tells us about one thing.”
Body: Learn and Practice
1. I Do: Meet the Number 1
Time: 5 minutes
Show a large numeral 1. Trace it slowly with your finger while saying:
“This is the number 1. It looks like a straight line. Number 1 means one.”
Place one block beside the numeral 1.
Say: “One number 1. One block. They match!”
Model counting one object:
- Touch the block.
- Say, “1.”
- Stop counting because there is only one block.
Quick check: Show the number cards 1, 2, and 3. Ask, “Which card shows one?” Celebrate the child’s answer and gently guide them if needed.
2. We Do: Find One
Time: 8 minutes
Place several groups of objects in front of the child. Make groups containing one, two, and three objects.
Say: “Let’s find the group with one object.” Work together to point to the correct group.
Try several rounds:
- “Can you give me one block?”
- “Can you put one toy animal in the basket?”
- “Can you pick up one crayon?”
- “Can you show me one sticker?”
After each turn, count aloud together: “1.”
Think-and-talk prompt: “What is one thing you like?” Accept answers such as “one teddy bear,” “one cookie,” or “one hug.”
3. We Do: Number 1 Movement Game
Time: 5 minutes
Explain: “When I say ‘one,’ we do one movement.”
Give playful directions:
- “Do one jump.”
- “Clap one time.”
- “Take one big step.”
- “Spin one time.”
- “Touch one toe.”
Pause after each movement and ask, “How many did we do?” The child answers, “One!”
4. You Do: Make the Number 1
Time: 8 minutes
Invite the child to choose one way to make a number 1:
- Trace a large number 1 with a finger.
- Draw a number 1 with a crayon.
- Build a number 1 with play dough.
- Make a number 1 using blocks or craft sticks.
- Form a number 1 in the air with an index finger.
Model once if needed: “Start at the top. Move straight down. That makes 1.”
Invite the child to decorate a large number 1 with one sticker. Say: “You used one sticker on the number 1!”
5. You Do: One-Object Hunt
Time: 8 minutes
Go on a short hunt around the home. The child looks for things that come in groups of one.
Possible examples include:
- One door
- One spoon
- One pillow
- One shoe
- One book
- One plant
For each discovery, ask:
- “What did you find?”
- “How many are we choosing?”
- “Can you touch just one?”
Let the child choose one item to bring back and place beside the number 1.
Real-World Connection
Explain: “We use the number 1 every day. We may have one nose, one mouth, one bed, or one favorite toy. Number 1 helps us talk about one thing.”
Ask the child to name one thing they might need at snack time, bedtime, or while getting dressed.
Formative Assessment: Show Me One
Ask the child to complete these tasks:
- Point to the number 1.
- Give you one object.
- Count one object.
- Show one finger.
- Make a number 1 in the air.
Give specific feedback:
- “You gave me exactly one block.”
- “You counted carefully and stopped at one.”
- “Your number 1 has a straight line.”
Conclusion: Tell What We Learned
Time: 5 minutes
Place one object and the numeral 1 together. Say:
“Today we learned that the number 1 means one thing. We found one object, counted one, moved one time, and made the number 1.”
Invite the child to finish these sentences:
- “Number 1 means…”
- “I can show one by…”
- “One thing I found was…”
End with a cheerful chant:
“One, one, number one! Learning numbers is so much fun!”
Optional Extension Activities
- Snack Sort: Give the child one cracker, one berry, or one piece of fruit. Count it together before eating.
- Story Search: Read a picture book and look for one item on each page.
- Number Walk: Look for the numeral 1 on clocks, signs, books, or labels.
- One-Cup Painting: Use one cup of water and one paintbrush to create a picture.
- Choice Activity: Let the child choose whether to draw one animal, build one tower, or act out one movement.
Differentiation and Support
- For extra support: Use only groups of one and two objects. Give the child a large numeral 1 to trace. Count slowly while touching the object.
- For sensory learners: Trace the number 1 in sand, rice, shaving foam, or play dough.
- For language support: Repeat the words “one,” “number 1,” and “one thing” with gestures and objects.
- For advanced learners: Ask the child to find the number 1 in books or around the home, or compare one object with a group of more than one.
- For limited materials: Use household items such as socks, spoons, cups, or stuffed animals.
Simple Observation Checklist
- Recognizes the numeral 1: ☐ Yes ☐ Still practicing
- Counts one object correctly: ☐ Yes ☐ Still practicing
- Gives one object when asked: ☐ Yes ☐ Still practicing
- Shows one finger: ☐ Yes ☐ Still practicing
- Attempts to write or form 1: ☐ Yes ☐ Still practicing