Fun With the Number 1

Materials Needed

• Large paper or a small whiteboard
• Crayon, marker, or pencil
• Number cards or a handwritten card showing 1
• Small objects such as blocks, buttons, toy animals, or snacks
• Play dough or modeling clay
• Paper and stickers
• A small basket or bowl

Learning Objectives

By the end of the lesson, the child will be able to:

• Recognize the numeral 1.
• Count one object accurately.
• Show one object when asked.
• Trace or make the numeral 1.
• Use the word “one” in a simple sentence.

Success Criteria

I can:

• Point to the number 1.
• Give one object.
• Say “one.”
• Make a number 1.

Introduction: One Special Thing

Time: 5 minutes

Hold up one favorite toy or object and say:

“Look! I have one teddy bear. One means just one. Today we are going to play with the number 1!”

Invite the child to look around and find one special object. Ask:

• “Can you find one toy?”
• “Can you hold up one finger?”
• “How many noses do you have?”

Say together: “One means just one.”

Body of the Lesson

Part 1: I Do—Meet the Number 1

Time: 5 minutes

1. Show the number card with 1.
2. Trace the number slowly with your finger while saying, “Down we go. This is 1.”
3. Hold up one finger and say, “One finger.”
4. Place one object in the basket and say, “One block.”

Explain in simple language:

“This mark is called the numeral 1. The word for 1 is one.”

Quick check: Show the number 1 and another number, such as 2. Ask, “Which card shows one?”

Part 2: We Do—One Object Hunt

Time: 8 minutes

Place several small groups of objects around the room. Some groups should have one object, and others should have more than one.

Say:

“Let’s look for a group with one thing. When you find one, touch it and say, ‘One!’”

Practice together:

• Find one block.
• Find one toy animal.
• Put one button in the bowl.
• Give one sticker to the grown-up.

Ask the child to check each group by touching and counting:

“Touch it once. One!”

Think-and-talk question: “What is one thing you would take on a picnic?”

Part 3: We Do—Make the Number 1

Time: 7 minutes

Use play dough to make a long “snake.” Help the child bend or place it to form the number 1.

Say:

“Let’s make one. Start at the top and go down.”

Next, write a large dotted number 1. Let the child trace it with:

• A finger
• A crayon
• A toy car
• A small object placed along the dotted line

Use a simple chant:

“Start at the top, go straight down. That is 1!”

Part 4: You Do—Show Me One

Time: 8 minutes

Give the child a small pile of objects and ask the child to complete each task independently:

1. “Give me one block.”
2. “Put one toy in the basket.”
3. “Show me one finger.”
4. “Circle the number 1.”
5. “Make a number 1 with play dough or a crayon.”

Offer specific encouragement:

• “You gave me exactly one block.”
• “You found the number 1.”
• “You started at the top and went down.”

Part 5: Choice Activity—Pick One

Time: 5–10 minutes

Let the child choose one activity:

• Sticker 1: Put one sticker on each of several pieces of paper.
• Number Chef: Pretend to make a meal using one plate, one spoon, and one pretend food.
• Number Detective: Search for the numeral 1 in books, labels, or calendars.
• Movement Game: Do one jump, one clap, or one spin whenever the adult shows the number 1.

Formative Assessment

Throughout the lesson, observe whether the child can:

• Identify the number 1 when shown different numbers.
• Count one object without adding extra objects.
• Use the word “one.”
• Trace or form a recognizable number 1.

If the child is unsure, reduce the choices and model again:

“This is 1. Let’s touch one block together. One.”

Summative Assessment: Number 1 Challenge

Time: 5 minutes

Invite the child to complete the following challenge:

1. Point to the number 1.
2. Place one object in the basket.
3. Hold up one finger.
4. Say the word “one.”
5. Draw, trace, or build the number 1.

Celebrate effort and note which skills are developing. The child does not need to complete every task perfectly in one lesson.

Differentiation and Support

For a Child Who Needs More Support

• Use only one object and one number card at a time.
• Guide the child’s hand while tracing.
• Use large objects that are easy to see and touch.
• Repeat the phrase, “One means just one.”
• Allow pointing, touching, or showing a finger instead of speaking.

For a Child Ready for More

• Ask the child to find the number 1 in books or around the home.
• Compare one object with a group of two or three objects.
• Invite the child to draw one object and write the numeral 1 beside it.
• Ask, “Can you think of three things that come in ones?”

Real-World Connection

Point out examples of one during the day:

• One sun
• One nose
• One front door
• One spoon on the table
• One book to read

Conclusion and Recap

Gather the materials and ask:

• “What number did we learn?”
• “How many things does one mean?”
• “Can you show me one finger?”
• “Can you find one thing near you?”

End with the chant:

“One is fun! One means one. Start at the top and go straight down—1!”

Finish by letting the child choose one favorite object and say, “I found one!”