Fun With the Number 1
Materials Needed
- Number cards or paper with the number 1
- Small objects to count, such as blocks, buttons, toy animals, or snacks
- Paper and crayons or washable markers
- One favorite toy or stuffed animal
- Play dough or salt dough
- Optional: music for a short movement game
Learning Objectives
By the end of the lesson, the child will be able to:
- Recognize and name the number 1.
- Show one object when asked.
- Count one object using the word “one.”
- Trace or make the shape of the number 1.
- Find examples of “one” in everyday life.
Success Criteria
“I can show one thing, say ‘one,’ find the number 1, and make a number 1.”
Introduction: The Mystery of One
Teacher or parent says: “Today we are going on a number hunt! We will look for the number 1 and things that come in a group of one.”
Show the child one favorite toy.
- Ask: “How many toys do I have?”
- Help the child say: “One!”
- Invite the child to hold up one finger.
Talk together:
- “Can you find one nose?”
- “Can you show me one hand?”
- “Can you find one toy?”
Body of the Lesson
I Do: Meet the Number 1
Show a large number card with 1.
Say: “This is the number 1. We say, ‘one.’ The number 1 means one thing.”
Model each action slowly:
- Point to the number 1.
- Say, “One.”
- Hold up one finger.
- Place one block beside the number.
- Trace the number 1 in the air.
Simple number rhyme:
“Straight line down, that’s number 1.
Making 1 is lots of fun!”
We Do: Count One Together
Place several objects in front of the child. Put one object in a small circle or bowl.
Say: “Let’s choose one. Touch it and say, ‘one.’”
Practice with different objects:
- One block
- One toy animal
- One crayon
- One snack, if appropriate
After each turn, ask:
- “How many did we choose?”
- “Can you show me one more?”
- “Is this one or many?”
Interactive Game: One or Many?
Show the child either one object or a small group of objects.
Instructions:
- If the child sees one object, they clap once and say, “One!”
- If the child sees many objects, they put their hands on their head and say, “Many!”
Use examples such as one ball, three blocks, one spoon, and two toy animals. Keep the game playful and praise careful looking.
We Do: Number 1 Movement Game
Play music or clap a steady beat.
Call out an action using the number 1:
- “Take one jump!”
- “Clap one time!”
- “Spin one time!”
- “Touch one toe!”
- “Give one high-five!”
Pause often and let the child demonstrate the action.
You Do: Number 1 Hunt
Invite the child to look around the room for the number 1 or things that come in a group of one.
Possible things to find:
- One clock
- One door
- One table
- One favorite stuffed animal
- The number 1 on a book, calendar, toy, or device
Each time the child finds something, ask them to say, “I found one!”
You Do: Make the Number 1
Offer the child a choice of activities:
Choice A: Crayon Number 1
Draw a large dotted number 1. Have the child trace it and then try making one independently.
Choice B: Play Dough Number 1
Help the child roll one long piece of play dough and shape it like the number 1.
Choice C: Finger Paint Number 1
Let the child draw the number 1 with a finger in washable paint or a tray of flour.
Choice D: Build Number 1
Use blocks, craft sticks, or strips of paper to build the shape of the number 1.
As the child works, say: “Start at the top and go straight down.” Avoid requiring perfect handwriting. Celebrate attempts.
Formative Assessment: Quick Checks
Ask the child to:
- Point to the number 1.
- Hold up one finger.
- Give you one object.
- Choose one object from a group.
- Say the word “one.”
Give specific feedback:
- “You chose exactly one block.”
- “You found the number 1!”
- “You counted carefully by touching one object.”
Real-World Connection
During the day, look for natural examples of one:
- One cup at snack time
- One pair of shoes being put away at a time
- One storybook to read
- One step, one jump, or one hug
Say: “Numbers help us talk about how many things we have. Today, the number 1 helped us talk about one thing.”
Conclusion: Tell Me About One
Show the number card again and ask:
- “What number is this?”
- “How many is one?”
- “Can you show one finger?”
- “What is one thing you found today?”
End with the rhyme:
“One little finger, held up high,
One little number reaches the sky.
One means just one—now we know!
Number 1 is ready to show!”
Summative Assessment
Invite the child to complete this short demonstration:
- Find the number 1 among two or three number cards.
- Place one object beside the number 1.
- Say “one.”
- Trace or make the number 1.
The child is successful when they complete most of these steps with little or no help.
Differentiation and Support
For a Child Who Needs More Support
- Use only two choices at a time: number 1 and another number.
- Use large objects that are easy to see and hold.
- Guide the child’s hand while counting and tracing.
- Repeat the same activities on different days.
- Use short phrases such as “One block,” “Touch one,” and “Say one.”
For a Child Ready for More
- Ask the child to find the number 1 in books or on signs.
- Compare one with two or three objects.
- Invite the child to draw one object next to the number 1.
- Ask the child to create a picture showing one sun, one house, or one animal.
- Practice writing the word “one” while keeping the activity playful and optional.
Optional Follow-Up Activity
Create a “One Page.” The child draws one favorite thing, such as one sun or one teddy bear. Together, write the number 1 on the page and say, “One [object].”