Fun With the Number 1
Materials Needed
- One large piece of paper or a whiteboard
- Crayon or washable marker
- Small objects to count, such as blocks, buttons, or toy animals
- Number cards or a paper card showing the number 1
- Play dough or modeling clay
- Optional: music for a movement game
Learning Objectives
By the end of the lesson, the child will be able to:
- Recognize the number 1.
- Count one object correctly.
- Show one object when asked.
- Trace or make the shape of the number 1.
- Find examples of “one” in everyday life.
Success Criteria
Success looks like this:
- “I can point to the number 1.”
- “I can give you one thing.”
- “I can count one object.”
- “I can make a number 1.”
Introduction: Meet Number 1
Time: 5 minutes
Hook
Hold up one favorite toy or one block. Say:
“Look! I have one toy. One means just one. Can you show me one finger?”
Invite the child to hold up one finger. Celebrate the response with a high five or a clap.
Tell the Learner What They Will Learn
Say:
“Today we will play with the number 1. We will find one thing, count one thing, and make the number 1.”
Body: Learn and Practice
1. I Do: Show One
Time: 5 minutes
Place several objects in front of the child. Pick up only one object.
Say slowly:
“I have one block. Let’s count it: one.”
Point to the number card showing 1.
Say:
“This is the number 1. The number 1 tells us there is one thing.”
Show one finger and connect the ideas:
- One finger
- One block
- One toy
- The number 1
Quick Check
Ask:
- “How many blocks am I holding?”
- “Can you show me one finger?”
- “Which card shows the number 1?”
2. We Do: Find One
Time: 8 minutes
Place a few groups of objects nearby. Each group should have a different number of objects, including one group with only one object.
Say:
“Let’s find the group with one thing.”
Help the child point to the group with one object. Count together:
“One!”
Repeat with safe objects around the home:
- Find one spoon.
- Find one shoe.
- Find one book.
- Find one stuffed animal.
Think, Talk, and Move
Ask the child to choose one movement:
- One jump
- One clap
- One twirl
- One big stomp
Give the direction:
“Do one clap!”
Count the movement together. Repeat with a new choice.
3. We Do: Make Number 1
Time: 7 minutes
Use your finger to draw a large number 1 in the air.
Say:
“Start at the top. Go down. That makes 1.”
Invite the child to copy you in the air, on paper, or in a tray of play dough.
Make the activity playful:
- Trace the number 1 with a finger.
- Build the number 1 with play dough.
- Draw one large number 1.
- Decorate the number 1 with one sticker or one small mark.
4. You Do: One Treasure Hunt
Time: 8 minutes
Invite the child to choose one room or a small safe area for a treasure hunt.
Give these instructions one at a time:
- “Find one safe object.”
- “Bring it to our learning spot.”
- “Tell me what you found.”
- “Count it: one.”
Let the child choose what to find. Examples might include one sock, one toy car, or one book.
Ask:
“How do you know you found one?”
Accept answers such as “There is only one” or “I counted one.”
5. Creative Activity: One-Thing Picture
Time: 7 minutes
Ask the child to draw one object. Offer choices:
- One sun
- One flower
- One balloon
- One animal
- One favorite toy
Say:
“Your picture will show one thing. You may choose what your one thing will be.”
When the drawing is finished, ask the child to point to the one object and say:
“I drew one ______.”
Formative Assessment During the Lesson
- Ask the child to show one finger.
- Ask the child to choose one object from a group.
- Ask the child to point to the number 1.
- Watch whether the child counts one object without adding extra objects.
- Ask the child to make one clap, jump, or stomp.
Give specific feedback:
- “You chose only one block. Great counting!”
- “You found the number 1.”
- “You started at the top and made a straight line.”
Conclusion: Tell What We Learned
Time: 5 minutes
Recap
Show the number card again and say:
“Today we learned about 1. One means just one.”
Invite the child to complete these sentences:
- “This is the number _____.”
- “I can show one with my _____.”
- “One means _____ thing.”
Final Demonstration
Place three small groups of objects in front of the child. Ask the child to:
- Point to the group with one object.
- Show one finger.
- Point to the number 1.
- Make one clap.
If the child completes most of these tasks, the lesson objective has been met.
Closing Chant
Say together while holding up one finger:
“One little finger, one little nose, one number 1—down it goes!”
Differentiation and Adaptations
For a Child Who Needs More Support
- Use only two choices at a time: one object and a group with more objects.
- Guide the child’s hand while counting one object.
- Use large objects that are easy to see and touch.
- Repeat the same language: “One means just one.”
- Allow pointing, showing, or moving an object instead of answering with words.
For a Child Ready for More
- Ask the child to find examples of one in several rooms.
- Compare one object with a group of two or three objects.
- Invite the child to write the number 1 independently.
- Ask the child to create a short story about one toy or one animal.
- Look for the number 1 on a clock, calendar, book, or mailbox.
Optional Real-World Follow-Up
During the day, look for “one” together:
- One person in a picture
- One egg on a plate
- One tree outside
- One button on a shirt
- One book chosen for story time
Each time, ask:
“How many? One!”