All About the Number 1
Materials Needed
- Number card showing 1
- One small toy or stuffed animal
- Blocks, buttons, or large counting objects
- Paper and crayons or washable markers
- Play dough
- 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.
- Say that 1 means “one.”
- Count one object correctly.
- Trace or make the shape of the numeral 1.
- Find examples of one object in everyday life.
Success Criteria
Success looks like this:
- “I can find the number 1.”
- “I can show one object.”
- “I can say one when I count one thing.”
- “I can make a number 1.”
Introduction: The Number 1 Hunt
Time: 5 minutes
Hold up one toy and say:
“Look! I have one teddy bear. One means just one. Today we are going to be number detectives and look for the number 1!”
Show the numeral card and say:
“This is the number 1. Can you say 1?”
Invite the child to look around the room and find one item, such as one chair, one book, or one shoe. Celebrate each discovery.
Body of the Lesson
I Do: Show and Explain
Time: 5 minutes
- Place one block on the table.
- Point to it and slowly say, “One.”
- Show the number card and say, “This mark is the number 1. It tells us there is one.”
- Model counting: “One block. I counted one thing.”
- Use your finger to trace the numeral 1 in the air while saying, “Down we go to make a 1.”
Quick Check: Ask, “How many blocks do we have?” Encourage the child to answer, “One!”
We Do: One or More?
Time: 7 minutes
Place different groups of objects in front of the child: one button, two blocks, one toy, and three crayons.
For each group, ask:
- “Do we have one?”
- “Can you touch and count the objects?”
- “Which group has one?”
Play a movement version:
- “Clap one time.”
- “Jump one time.”
- “Tap your knees one time.”
- “Wiggle one finger.”
Think and Share: Ask, “What is one thing you like?” The child may answer with a toy, food, animal, or person.
We Do: Make the Number 1
Time: 7 minutes
Choose one or more of these activities:
- Air writing: Draw a large 1 in the air with a finger.
- Play dough: Roll one long piece of play dough and shape it like a 1.
- Trace: Trace a large numeral 1 with a finger or crayon.
- Build it: Use one craft stick or one block to make a simple 1.
Use simple language:
“Start at the top. Go straight down. You made a 1!”
You Do: Number 1 Detective Game
Time: 8–10 minutes
Invite the child to complete the following challenges independently, offering help when needed:
- Find the number 1 among several number cards or written numbers.
- Bring you one object from the room.
- Place one block beside the number card.
- Draw or trace one number 1.
- Tell you one thing they can see.
Give the child a choice:
- Draw one favorite animal.
- Build one small tower.
- Make one play-dough shape.
- Find one item that is red, blue, or another chosen color.
Real-World Connection
Talk about things that come in ones:
- One nose
- One sun
- One moon in the sky
- One spoon for one person
- One favorite toy
Say:
“We use the number 1 when we talk about just one thing.”
Formative Assessment
During the lesson, observe whether the child can:
- Point to the numeral 1.
- Say “one.”
- Give you one object when asked.
- Tell the difference between one object and a group of objects.
- Attempt to form the numeral 1.
If the child is unsure, reduce the choices to two objects or two number cards and model the answer again.
Summative Assessment: Show Me One
Ask the child to complete this short demonstration:
- “Show me the number 1.”
- “Give me one block.”
- “Count this object.”
- “Make a number 1 in the air or on paper.”
- “Tell me one thing you learned.”
The child meets the goal when they correctly complete at least four of the five tasks with reasonable support.
Conclusion: Tell What We Learned
Time: 3–5 minutes
Hold up the number card again and ask:
- “What number is this?”
- “How many things does 1 mean?”
- “Can you show me one finger?”
Recap together:
“Today we learned that 1 means one. We found one object, counted one object, and made the number 1.”
End with a celebration:
“Give yourself one big clap for learning about 1!”
Differentiation and Support
- For extra support: Use only one object and one number card at a time. Guide the child’s hand as they trace the numeral.
- For visual learners: Use a large, brightly colored number card and point to each object while counting.
- For active learners: Practice one jump, one clap, or one step while saying “one.”
- For children ready for more: Search for the number 1 in books, on signs, or on a calendar.
- For a digital option: Display a large numeral 1 on a screen and invite the child to find one object near the screen.
- For a group setting: Let each child take a turn choosing and showing one object.
Optional Follow-Up Activity
Create a “One Page.” The child draws one favorite thing, glues one safe craft item onto the page, or makes one fingerprint. Write the numeral 1 and the sentence:
“I have one ______.”