One Is Wonderful: Learning the Number 1
Materials Needed
- Large paper or a small whiteboard
- Crayon or washable marker
- Number cards showing 1
- Five to ten small safe objects, such as blocks, buttons, or toy animals
- Play dough or modeling clay
- Paper and stickers
- Optional: a favorite song about counting
Learning Objectives
By the end of the lesson, the child will be able to:
- Recognize the numeral 1.
- Count one object.
- Show one object when asked.
- Trace or make the shape of the numeral 1 with help or independently.
- Explain that “one” means a single object.
Success Criteria
The child is successful when they can:
- Point to the number 1.
- Give one object when asked.
- Count “one” while touching one object.
- Make a recognizable 1 using a finger, crayon, or play dough.
Introduction: Hook and Objectives
Time: 5 minutes
Hold up one favorite toy or object.
Say: “Look! I have one toy. One means just one. Today we will learn about the number 1 and find things that come in ones.”
Show the child a large number card with 1.
Say: “This is the number 1. Can you say 1?”
Tell the child what they will do:
- Find one object.
- Make the number 1.
- Play a fun number game.
Body: Learning and Practice
I Do: Teacher or Adult Demonstration
Time: 5 minutes
1. Show One Object
Place one block on the table.
Say: “I have one block. I touch it one time and say, ‘one.’”
Touch the block once while saying, “One.” Then place several blocks beside it.
Say: “This group has many blocks. This group has one block.”
2. Show the Numeral
Point to the number card.
Say: “This mark is called 1. It tells us there is one.”
Trace the 1 slowly with your finger from top to bottom.
Say: “Start at the top. Go down. This makes a 1.”
Quick Check
Ask:
- “Which card shows 1?”
- “How many blocks are in this small group?”
Celebrate effort with specific feedback: “You found the 1!” or “You touched one block and counted it correctly.”
We Do: Practice Together
Time: 10 minutes
Activity 1: Find One
Place several objects in front of the child.
Say: “Please give me one block.”
Repeat with different objects, such as one toy animal, one crayon, or one button.
After each turn, ask, “How many did you give me?” Help the child touch the object and say, “One.”
Activity 2: One-Object Hunt
Search around the room together.
Say: “Can you find one spoon?” or “Can you find one blue toy?”
Choose safe objects that the child can identify and carry.
After finding each item, place it on a special “one” spot and say, “We found one!”
Activity 3: Move One Time
Invite the child to do one movement at a time:
- Clap one time.
- Jump one time.
- Spin one time.
- Tap the table one time.
Use a cheerful voice and let the child choose the next movement.
Think and Talk
Ask, “What is something you have one of?” Possible answers include one nose, one favorite blanket, or one cup.
You Do: Independent or Supported Practice
Time: 10–15 minutes
Activity 1: Make a Number 1
Offer the child a choice:
- Trace the number 1 with a crayon.
- Make a 1 with play dough.
- Trace the number 1 in the air using a finger.
- Build a 1 with blocks or craft sticks.
Say: “Start at the top and move down. You are making a 1!”
Activity 2: Sticker One
Draw several large number 1s on paper. Ask the child to place one sticker on each 1.
Say: “Put one sticker on this 1.”
Count each sticker together: “One sticker.”
Activity 3: Number 1 Pretend Store
Set up a pretend store with toys or household objects.
Give the child a simple request:
- “Please buy one apple.”
- “Please choose one toy.”
- “Please put one block in the basket.”
Let the child take turns being the shopper and the store helper.
Formative Assessment
During the activities, observe whether the child can:
- Recognize the numeral 1.
- Select one object from a group.
- Count one object without adding extra numbers.
- Follow a one-step direction involving “one.”
- Make or trace a recognizable 1.
If the child is unsure, reduce the choices to two objects and model the answer again. Use encouragement such as, “Let’s try together.”
Summative Assessment: Show What You Know
Time: 5 minutes
Invite the child to complete these four tasks:
- Point to the number 1.
- Give you one object.
- Count one object by touching it once.
- Make a 1 using a crayon, finger, play dough, or blocks.
Record the child’s response with simple notes, such as:
- Independent: Completes the task without help.
- With help: Completes the task after a prompt or demonstration.
- Still practicing: Needs more opportunities and modeling.
Differentiation and Adaptations
For a Child Who Needs More Support
- Use only two objects at a time.
- Hold the child’s hand gently while tracing the 1, if welcomed.
- Use large objects that are easy to see and touch.
- Repeat the same language: “One means just one.”
- Practice for shorter periods with movement breaks.
For a Child Ready for More Challenge
- Ask the child to find the number 1 in books, signs, or packaging.
- Ask the child to draw one object next to the numeral 1.
- Compare one object with a group of two or three objects.
- Invite the child to teach someone else how to find one.
Flexible Learning Options
- Active: Hunt for one object or do one movement.
- Creative: Build or decorate the number 1.
- Digital: Find the numeral 1 in a simple counting game or type 1 with help.
- Outdoor: Find one leaf, one rock, or one flower without picking living plants.
Conclusion: Closure and Recap
Time: 5 minutes
Hold up the number 1 again.
Ask:
- “What number is this?”
- “Can you show me one finger?”
- “Can you give me one toy?”
Recap together:
“Today we learned that 1 means one. We found one object, counted one object, and made the number 1.”
End with a short chant:
“One, one, number one! One little object—learning is fun!”
Optional Follow-Up
During the day, invite the child to notice examples of one: one plate, one shoe, one pet, or one moon in a picture. Ask, “Can you find one?” and celebrate each discovery.