All About the Number 1
Materials Needed
- One large card or paper with the number 1
- Small objects such as blocks, buttons, toy animals, or crayons
- Paper and crayons or washable markers
- Play dough
- 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 number 1.
- Say the number word “one.”
- Count one object.
- Show one object when asked.
- Trace or make the shape of the number 1.
- Connect the number 1 to real-life examples.
Success Criteria
I know I am successful when I can:
- Point to the number 1.
- Say, “One!”
- Give one object to my learning partner.
- Make a number 1 with a finger, crayon, or play dough.
Introduction: One Special Thing
Hook: Hold up one toy or object and say:
“Look! I have one teddy bear. How many teddy bears do I have?”
Let the child answer. Say:
“That is right! We have one. Today we are going to play and learn all about the number 1.”
Show the number card and say:
“This is the number 1. It tells us there is one thing.”
Body of the Lesson
1. I Do: Meet the Number 1
Show the number card again. Trace the number 1 in the air with your finger while saying:
“Down we go. This is one.”
Place one object on the table. Touch it once and say:
“One block. I touched it one time.”
Repeat with a few different objects:
- One spoon
- One toy car
- One crayon
- One stuffed animal
Quick check: Ask, “Can you point to the number 1?” Then ask, “Can you show me one finger?”
2. We Do: Find One
Place two or three groups of objects on the table. Make sure one group has exactly one object.
Say:
“Let’s find the group with one thing. Look carefully. Which group has one?”
Help the child touch and count each group. Celebrate the answer:
“Yes! This group has one block.”
Repeat using different objects. Invite the child to explain by saying:
“I found one _____.”
3. We Do: One-Object Basket Game
Place several objects beside the basket.
Give these directions:
- “Pick up one object.”
- “Put the one object in the basket.”
- “Touch it and say, ‘One!’”
Repeat with different objects. Occasionally ask the child to choose the object, such as one red block, one toy animal, or one crayon.
Think and talk: Ask, “What did you put in the basket?” Encourage a complete answer such as, “I put one car in the basket.”
4. You Do: Number 1 Hunt
Invite the child to look around the learning space and find things that come in groups of one.
Possible examples include:
- One door
- One table
- One nose
- One sun in a drawing or book
- One favorite toy
Each time the child finds something, ask:
“How many did you find?”
Encourage the child to answer, “One.”
5. Make the Number 1
Offer the child a choice of activities:
Choice A: Air Writing
Have the child use a finger to draw a large number 1 in the air.
Choice B: Crayon Writing
Draw several large dotted number 1s. Invite the child to trace them.
Choice C: Play Dough Number
Help the child roll play dough into a long snake. Bend or place it to make the number 1.
Say:
“You made a number 1! It has one long line.”
6. Movement Game: One Jump
Give simple directions:
- “Take one jump.”
- “Clap one time.”
- “Spin one time.”
- “Tap your knees one time.”
Pause after each action and ask, “How many did you do?”
Formative Assessment
Check understanding throughout the lesson by asking the child to:
- Point to the number 1.
- Hold up one finger.
- Choose one object from a group.
- Count one object by touching it once.
- Tell whether a group has one object or more than one.
Real-World Connection
Talk about things the child sees every day that come in ones:
- “You have one nose.”
- “A pencil has one eraser on the end.”
- “We can choose one snack.”
- “The story may have one main character.”
Conclusion: Tell What We Learned
Show the number card one more time and ask:
- “What number is this?”
- “How many is one?”
- “Can you show me one finger?”
- “Can you find one thing near you?”
Recap by saying:
“Today we learned about the number 1. The number 1 means one thing. We found one object, counted one object, moved one time, and made the number 1.”
Summative Assessment: Show Me One
Place several objects in front of the child and say:
“Please give me one object.”
Then ask the child to:
- Point to the number 1.
- Give you one object.
- Say, “One.”
- Make or trace a number 1.
Expected demonstration: The child identifies the number 1, selects exactly one object, uses the word “one,” and attempts to form the numeral.
Differentiation and Support
- For extra support: Use only one object at a time. Guide the child’s hand while counting and tracing.
- For visual learners: Use the number card and objects with clear colors and shapes.
- For movement learners: Practice one jump, one clap, and one step.
- For language support: Repeat the sentence frame, “I found one _____.”
- For an extra challenge: Ask the child to find the number 1 in a book, on a calendar, or on a remote control.
- For digital learning: Display a large number 1 on a screen and invite the child to collect one virtual item or draw one using a drawing app.
Optional Extension
Make a “Number 1” page together. The child can:
- Trace or draw one large number 1.
- Glue one small paper shape onto the page.
- Draw one favorite toy, animal, or person.
- Say what is on the page: “One _____.”