Fun With the Number 1
Materials Needed
- Number cards or a paper with the number 1
- One favorite toy, stuffed animal, or household object
- Small collection of safe objects, such as blocks, buttons, or toy animals
- Paper
- Crayons or washable markers
- Optional: play dough, stickers, music, and a basket
Learning Objectives
By the end of the lesson, the child will be able to:
- Recognize the number 1.
- Say the number 1.
- Count one object.
- Show one object when asked.
- Trace or make the shape of the number 1.
- Connect the number 1 to everyday examples.
Success Criteria
“I can…”
- Find the number 1.
- Give you one thing.
- Count one object: “One!”
- Make a number 1 with my finger, crayon, or play dough.
Introduction: The Number 1 Hunt
Time: 5 minutes
Hold up one favorite toy and say:
“Look! I have one teddy bear. One means just one. Can you show me one finger?”
Invite the child to hold up one finger. Then say:
“Today we are going to play and learn about the number 1.”
Look around the room together and find examples of one:
- One nose
- One sun in a picture or outside
- One favorite toy
- One chair or one book
Body: I Do—Show One
Time: 5 minutes
Place several objects in front of the child. Pick up one object and say slowly:
“I am taking one block. One.”
Hold up the number card or paper showing 1 and say:
“This is the number 1. It tells us there is one thing.”
Count the object by touching it once:
“One.”
Model the difference between one and more than one. Show one block, then show two blocks.
“This is one block. This is more than one block.”
Quick Check
Ask:
- “How many blocks are in my hand?”
- “Can you show me one finger?”
- “Which card shows the number 1?”
Body: We Do—One Object Game
Time: 7 minutes
Place a basket and several safe objects nearby. Take turns giving directions.
- Say, “Please put one block in the basket.”
- Help the child touch and count the block: “One.”
- Empty the basket and repeat with a different object.
- Invite the child to give you directions: “Put one toy in the basket.”
Use playful examples:
- “Can you bring me one sock?”
- “Can you place one sticker on the paper?”
- “Can the toy dinosaur eat one pretend berry?”
Think, Choose, and Share
Ask the child to choose one object to keep beside them. The child may choose a toy, block, book, or stuffed animal.
Ask:
“What is your one special thing? Can you tell me about it?”
Body: You Do—Number 1 Creation
Time: 10 minutes
Offer the child a choice of activities.
Choice A: Draw the Number 1
- Draw a large number 1 on paper.
- Invite the child to trace it with a finger.
- Let the child trace it with a crayon or marker.
- Invite the child to make their own number 1.
Use simple words:
“Start at the top. Go down. You made a 1!”
Choice B: Make the Number 1
Use play dough to make a long, straight number 1. The child may decorate it with one sticker or one small object.
Choice C: Build One
Ask the child to build one tower using one block. Then ask:
“How many blocks are in your tower?”
Choice D: Move One Time
Play music or clap a rhythm. When the music stops, give a direction:
- “Jump one time.”
- “Clap one time.”
- “Turn one time.”
Formative Assessment
Notice whether the child can:
- Point to the number 1.
- Give one object.
- Count one object without adding another.
- Say “one.”
- Make or trace the number 1.
Real-World Number 1 Activity: One on My Plate
Time: 5 minutes
During snack or pretend play, ask the child to place one item on a plate or napkin.
Say:
“Let’s put one cracker on the plate. Touch it and count: one.”
Repeat with safe snack items or pretend food. Invite the child to decide what one item to choose.
Summative Assessment: Show Me One
Time: 5 minutes
Place several groups of objects in front of the child. Include groups with one, two, and three objects.
Ask the child to complete these tasks:
- “Point to the group with one object.”
- “Give me one object.”
- “Show me one finger.”
- “Find the number 1.”
- “Make a number 1 in the air.”
Celebrate effort with specific feedback:
“You found one object and counted it carefully. You know that 1 means one!”
Conclusion: Tell What We Learned
Time: 3 minutes
Review the number card and repeat together:
- “This is the number 1.”
- “One means just one.”
- “I can show one finger.”
- “I can count one object.”
Ask the child:
“What is one thing you learned today?”
Finish with a short chant:
“One, one, number 1! One small step, learning is fun!”
Differentiation and Support
- For extra support: Use only one object and one number card at a time. Guide the child’s hand as they count.
- For visual learners: Use large number cards, bright objects, and drawings.
- For movement learners: Practice one jump, one clap, or one step.
- For language support: Repeat the words “one,” “number 1,” and “just one” often.
- For advanced learners: Ask the child to find one object in different rooms or compare one object with a group of two or three.
- For a digital option: Display a large number 1 on a screen and invite the child to find one object at home.
Optional Follow-Up
During the day, look for the number 1 on books, signs, clocks, labels, or calendars. Each time the child finds it, say:
“You found number 1!”