Fun with the Number 1
Materials Needed
- One favorite toy
- One paper plate or piece of paper
- Crayons or washable markers
- Number cards or a handwritten card showing 1
- Small objects for counting, such as blocks, buttons, or toy animals
- Play dough or modeling clay
- Optional: music for a short 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 item when asked.
- Trace or make the shape of the numeral 1.
- Connect the number 1 to real-life examples.
Success Criteria
“I can…”
- “I can find the number 1.”
- “I can give you one thing.”
- “I can count one object.”
- “I can make a number 1.”
Introduction: One Special Thing
Time: 5 minutes
Hold up one favorite toy and say:
“Look! I have one toy. One means just one. Can you show me one finger?”
Invite the child to hold up one finger. Ask:
- “How many toys am I holding?”
- “How many noses do you have?”
- “Can you find one thing in the room?”
Tell the child:
“Today we will play with the number 1. We will find it, count it, make it, and move like it!”
Body of the Lesson
1. I Do: Meet the Number 1
Time: 5 minutes
Show the child the numeral 1. Trace it slowly in the air while saying:
“Start at the top. Go straight down. This is the number 1.”
Show one object beside the number 1 and say:
“The number 1 tells us there is one object.”
Model counting slowly:
“One block. I touched one block, so I stop. There is one.”
Quick check: Ask the child to point to the number 1 and then point to the group with one object.
2. We Do: Find One
Time: 8 minutes
Place small groups of objects in front of the child. Include groups with one, two, and three objects.
Say:
“Let’s find the group with one object. Touch each group and count.”
Count together. When the child finds the group with one object, celebrate:
“Yes! You found one. One means just one.”
Repeat with different objects. Let the child choose the objects when possible.
Think and talk:
- “Which group has one?”
- “Which group has more than one?”
- “Can you make a group with one block?”
3. Movement Game: One-Step Robot
Time: 5 minutes
Explain:
“When I say ‘1,’ take one step. When I say ‘freeze,’ stop.”
Call out “1” several times. Each time, the child takes one step. Try other movements:
- One clap
- One jump
- One twirl
- One big stretch
After each action, ask:
“How many did you do?”
Encourage the child to lead the game and tell you what one movement to do.
4. We Do: Make the Number 1
Time: 8 minutes
Invite the child to make the number 1 in different ways:
- Trace the number 1 in the air.
- Trace the number 1 with a finger on the table.
- Build a number 1 with play dough.
- Make a number 1 with one block or a finger.
- Trace or color a large number 1 on paper.
Use simple language:
“Start at the top and go down. You made a 1!”
Do not worry about perfect handwriting. Focus on noticing the shape and trying the movement.
5. You Do: One Treasure Hunt
Time: 8 minutes
Ask the child to find one item for each clue:
- “Find one soft thing.”
- “Find one red thing.”
- “Find one toy.”
- “Find one thing that makes a sound.”
After each clue, have the child bring or point to the item and say:
“I found one ______.”
Offer a choice of clues if helpful. For example:
“Would you like to find one book or one block?”
6. Creative Activity: My One Picture
Time: 8 minutes
Give the child paper and crayons. Ask the child to draw one favorite thing. It could be:
- One sun
- One flower
- One pet
- One house
- One imaginary creature
Help the child write or trace the numeral 1 on the picture. Ask:
- “What did you draw?”
- “How many did you draw?”
- “Can you point to your one thing?”
Formative Assessment
Check understanding during the activities by asking the child to:
- Point to the numeral 1.
- Choose one object from a group.
- Give you one item.
- Take one step or do one clap.
- Explain what “one” means in their own words.
Give specific feedback:
- “You touched one block and stopped. Great counting!”
- “You found the number 1.”
- “You made one clap. That is one!”
Summative Assessment: Show Me One
Time: 5 minutes
Place several objects and number cards in front of the child. Ask the child to complete these tasks:
- “Point to the number 1.”
- “Give me one object.”
- “Make a group with one object.”
- “Show me one finger.”
- “Make a number 1 in the air.”
Ready to move on: The child completes most tasks with little or no help.
Still practicing: Continue using real objects and movement. Model the answer, then invite the child to try again.
Differentiation and Adaptations
For Extra Support
- Use only one object and one group at a time.
- Count slowly while touching the object.
- Use hand-over-hand support for tracing if the child wants help.
- Repeat the same language: “One means just one.”
- Allow pointing, moving, or speaking as ways to answer.
For an Extra Challenge
- Ask the child to find the numeral 1 among several numerals.
- Invite the child to draw one object and write 1 beside it.
- Ask, “What happens if we add one more?”
- Look for examples of one in a book or around the home.
- Let the child teach a toy how to find one.
Flexible Learning Options
- Hands-on: Count blocks, toys, snacks, or household objects.
- Outdoor: Find one leaf, one rock, or one flower.
- Digital: Show a large numeral 1 on a screen and invite the child to trace it with a finger.
- Story-based: Read a book with one main animal or character and count one item on each page.
Conclusion: Tell What We Learned
Time: 3 minutes
Hold up the number 1 and ask:
- “What number is this?”
- “How many is one?”
- “Can you show me one finger?”
- “What was one thing you found today?”
Recap together:
“Today we learned about the number 1. One means just one. We found one, counted one, moved one time, and made the number 1.”
End with one celebration action, such as one clap, one high-five, or one happy jump.
Optional Follow-Up
During the day, look for the number 1 on clocks, books, signs, calendars, or food packages. Each time the child finds it, say:
“You found 1! The number 1 means one.”