One Wonderful Number: Learning About 1
Materials Needed
- Large paper or a whiteboard
- Crayon, marker, or pencil
- Number card showing 1
- Small objects, such as blocks, toy animals, buttons, or snacks
- Paper and play dough
- Optional: music for a counting song
Learning Objectives
By the end of the lesson, the child will be able to:
- Recognize the number 1.
- Say that 1 means “one.”
- Count one object correctly.
- Trace or make the shape of the number 1.
- Find one object in everyday life.
Success Looks Like
- “I can show one thing.”
- “I can say one.”
- “I can find the number 1.”
- “I can try to make a 1.”
Introduction: Meet the Number 1
Hook: Hold up one favorite toy and ask, “How many toys am I holding?” Let the child answer or make a guess.
Say: “Today we are learning about the number 1. One means just one thing. One teddy bear. One block. One nose!”
Tell the child: “First, we will look for one thing. Then we will practice counting one thing. After that, we will make the number 1.”
Body
1. I Do: Show One
Place one object on the table. Point to it and say slowly, “One.”
Show the number card and say, “This is the number 1. It tells us there is one thing.”
Point to the numeral and trace it in the air while saying, “Down we go to make a 1.”
Give real-life examples:
- “You have one nose.”
- “I am holding one block.”
- “There is one sun in the sky.”
Quick check: Hold up one object and ask, “How many?” Then hold up two objects and ask, “Is this one?” Help the child notice that two is more than one.
2. We Do: Find One
Invite the child to search for one object in the room.
- Say, “Find one toy.”
- Let the child choose an object.
- Touch the object together and count, “One.”
- Place the object beside the number card.
Repeat with different objects, such as one book, one shoe, or one spoon.
Think and talk: Ask, “Can you find one blue thing?” or “Can you bring me one soft thing?”
3. We Do: One-Object Counting Game
Place several objects in a small pile. Take turns choosing exactly one object.
- Adult says, “I choose one block.”
- Child chooses one object.
- Both say, “One!”
Use playful actions:
- Clap one time.
- Jump one time.
- Tap the table one time.
- Give one high-five.
Formative check: Ask, “Can you clap one time?” Watch to see whether the child performs one action rather than several.
4. I Do: Make the Number 1
Draw a large number 1 while saying:
“Start at the top. Go down. That makes a 1.”
Trace the number with a finger. Then trace it again with a crayon or marker.
5. You Do: Number 1 Practice
Invite the child to choose one way to practice:
- Trace a large number 1.
- Draw a number 1 in the air.
- Make a number 1 with play dough.
- Build a number 1 with blocks.
- Decorate a large number 1 with one sticker or one small drawing.
Use encouragement such as, “You started at the top and went down. You made a 1!”
6. Fun Story: One Little Duck
Tell this short story with actions:
“One little duck went for a walk. The duck saw one tree. The duck gave one quack. Then the duck went home.”
Ask the child to show one finger whenever they hear the word “one.” Repeat the story and let the child make one quacking sound.
Real-World Connection
Go on a “Number 1 Hunt” around the home. Look for:
- One door
- One favorite toy
- One spoon
- One pillow
- The number 1 on a clock, book, calendar, or label
Let the child choose one item to draw or tell about.
Assessment
Formative Assessment During the Lesson
- Ask, “How many?” when showing one object.
- Ask the child to give you one object.
- Ask the child to clap one time.
- Show two number cards, including 1, and ask the child to point to 1.
- Watch how the child traces or forms the numeral.
Summative Demonstration
Ask the child to complete these four tasks:
- Point to the number 1.
- Give you one object.
- Count one object by saying “one.”
- Draw, trace, or build the number 1.
The child is successful when they complete most tasks with little or no help.
Differentiation and Support
- For extra support: Use large objects, give one direction at a time, and guide the child’s hand while counting.
- For a child who is ready for more: Ask the child to find groups with one object and groups with more than one object.
- For movement learners: Ask the child to take one step, hop one time, or touch one wall.
- For sensory learners: Make the number 1 with play dough, rice, sand, or finger paint.
- For verbal learners: Invite the child to make a sentence using “one,” such as “I have one car.”
Conclusion: Tell What We Learned
Hold up the number card and ask:
- “What number is this?”
- “What does 1 mean?”
- “Can you show me one finger?”
- “Can you find one thing?”
Say: “Today we learned that 1 means one. We found one thing, counted one thing, and practiced making the number 1.”
Optional Follow-Up Activity
During the day, ask the child to find one item during daily routines: one sock, one cup, one book, or one toy. Celebrate each discovery by saying, “Yes! One!”