One Is Wonderful: A Fun Number 1 Adventure

Materials Needed

• Paper and crayons or washable markers
• Small objects to count, such as blocks, toy animals, or buttons
• Number cards or a handwritten number 1
• 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 number 1.
• Use the idea of “one” in a real-life activity.

Success Criteria

The child is successful when they can:

• Point to the number 1.
• Give the adult one object.
• Say, “One!” while touching one object.
• Make a number 1 using a crayon, finger, or play dough.

Introduction: The One-Object Mystery

Time: 5 minutes

Place several objects in front of the child, but hide one special object in your hand.

Say: “I have a mystery in my hand. I have one thing. How many things do I have?”

Reveal the object and say, “One! One means just one thing.”

Show the number card or write the number 1.

Say: “This is the number 1. Today we will look for one, count one, and make the number 1.”

Body: Learning and Practice

1. I Do: Meet the Number 1

Time: 5 minutes

Hold up one object, such as one toy car.

Say: “I have one car. I touch it one time as I count: one.”

Point to the number 1.

Say: “The number 1 tells us there is one thing.”

Model how to write it:

1. “Start at the top.”
2. “Go down.”
3. “Now we have 1!”

Quick Check: Show one object and two objects. Ask, “Which group has one?” Let the child point and explain their choice.

2. We Do: Find One

Time: 8 minutes

Place a small group of objects nearby.

Say: “Let’s find one block. Pick up one block and put it in the basket.”

Repeat with different objects:

• “Put one toy in the basket.”
• “Bring me one crayon.”
• “Find one soft thing.”
• “Choose one book.”

After each turn, touch the object and count slowly together: “One.”

Think-and-Talk: Ask, “What is one thing you see in this room?” Accept answers such as one lamp, one table, or one pet.

3. Movement Game: One-Step Adventures

Time: 5 minutes

Give the child simple one-step directions. Say:

• “Take one step.”
• “Clap one time.”
• “Jump one time.”
• “Turn around one time.”
• “Give one high-five.”

Pause after each action and ask, “How many did you do?” Help the child answer, “One.”

Choice: Let the child choose one movement for the adult to copy.

4. We Do: Build the Number 1

Time: 7 minutes

Give the child play dough or modeling clay.

Say: “Let’s make the number 1. Roll the dough into a long snake. Now bend it into a 1.”

Make one number together. Then invite the child to make another.

Count the numbers aloud: “We made one 1. Now we made two 1s.” Keep the focus on recognizing the shape, not on writing perfectly.

Alternative: The child may form the number 1 with a finger in the air, on a tray of rice, or with a crayon.

5. You Do: Number 1 Art

Time: 8–10 minutes

Give the child paper and crayons or markers.

Invite the child to:

1. Trace a large number 1.
2. Color the number 1.
3. Draw one favorite object beside it.

Say: “Draw one sun, one flower, one puppy, or one thing you like.”

Ask the child to tell you about the picture:

• “What did you draw?”
• “How many did you draw?”
• “Can you point to one?”

Real-World Connection: One Helper Job

Time: 5 minutes

Invite the child to complete one helpful job, such as:

• Put one book on a shelf.
• Place one napkin on the table.
• Put one toy in a basket.
• Give one spoon to an adult.

Say: “You used the number 1 to help at home!”

Formative Assessment

Check understanding throughout the lesson by asking the child to:

• Point to the number 1.
• Show one finger.
• Give you one object.
• Choose the group that has one object.
• Count one object by touching it once.

Give specific feedback:

• “You gave me exactly one block.”
• “You touched the object once while you counted.”
• “Your number 1 starts at the top and goes down.”

Summative Assessment: The Number 1 Challenge

Time: 5 minutes

Place the number card 1 beside a small collection of objects. Ask the child to complete these tasks:

1. Point to the number 1.
2. Give you one object.
3. Show one finger.
4. Make a number 1 using a crayon, finger, or play dough.
5. Find one object in the room.

Celebrate effort and correct answers. If the child needs help, model the task and try again later.

Conclusion: Tell What We Learned

Time: 3–5 minutes

Hold up the number 1 and review together.

Ask:

• “What number is this?”
• “How many is one?”
• “Can you show me one finger?”
• “What was one thing you found today?”

Say: “Today we learned that 1 means one. We found one, counted one, moved one time, and made the number 1.”

End with a simple chant:

“One little finger, one big smile,
One fun lesson all the while!”

Differentiation and Adaptations

For a Child Who Needs More Support

• Use only one object at a time.
• Guide the child’s hand while counting and tracing.
• Use large objects and a large number card.
• Repeat the same activity several times.
• Allow pointing, showing, or moving instead of speaking.

For a Child Ready for More Challenge

• Ask the child to find one object without help.
• Invite the child to make the number 1 in several ways.
• Ask, “What happens if we add one more?”
• Look for the number 1 in books, signs, calendars, or clocks.
• Have the child draw one object and label it with the number 1.

Flexible Learning Options

• Outdoor: Find one leaf, one rock, or one flower.
• Digital: Take a photograph of one object and say its name.
• Classroom: Let children take turns placing one item in a shared basket.
• Homeschool: Use household objects during snack time or cleanup.