Fun with the Number 1
Materials Needed
- One large paper or cardboard number 1
- Small objects such as blocks, buttons, toy animals, or pom-poms
- Paper and crayons or washable markers
- Play dough
- One small basket or bowl
- Optional: number 1 song or counting song
Learning Objectives
By the end of the lesson, the child will be able to:
- Recognize the numeral 1.
- Say the number word one.
- Count one object accurately.
- Show one object when asked.
- Trace or create the shape of the number 1.
- Connect the number 1 to real-life examples.
Success Criteria
“I know I am successful when I can point to 1, say ‘one,’ give one object, and make a number 1.”
Introduction: Hook and Warm-Up
Time: 5 minutes
Hold up one favorite toy or object.
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. Repeat with playful examples:
- “How many noses do you have?”
- “How many heads do you have?”
- “Can you find one toy?”
Tell the child: “Today we will learn about the number 1. We will find it, count it, make it, and play with it!”
Body: Learn and Practice
1. I Do: Meet the Number 1
Time: 5 minutes
Show the large numeral 1.
Say: “This is the number 1. We say ‘one.’ The number 1 tells us there is one thing.”
Trace the number 1 slowly with your finger while saying:
“Down we go. This is 1.”
Place one object beside the numeral 1.
Say: “The number 1 matches one block.”
Quick Check: Ask, “Can you point to the number 1?” and “Can you show me one finger?”
2. We Do: Find One
Time: 7 minutes
Place groups of objects in front of the child: one block, two blocks, and three blocks.
Work together to find the group with one object.
Say: “Let’s touch and count. One. This group has one block.”
Repeat with different objects.
Invite the child to place exactly one object in the basket.
Continue with prompts such as:
- “Put one button in the bowl.”
- “Give me one animal.”
- “Find one red crayon.”
Think and Talk: Ask, “What is one thing you can see in this room?”
3. Movement Game: One, Two, Stop!
Time: 5 minutes
Give simple movement directions using the number 1:
- “Take one big step.”
- “Clap one time.”
- “Jump one time.”
- “Touch one toe.”
After each action, count aloud together: “One!”
Transition: “Our bodies made one movement. Now our hands will make the number 1.”
4. We Do: Make the Number 1
Time: 8 minutes
Demonstrate forming the number 1 with play dough.
- Roll one long play-dough snake.
- Place it on the table like the number 1.
- Say, “Down we go. This is 1.”
Help the child make a number 1. The child may also form the number using one finger in sand, flour, or on the table.
Choice: The child may choose to make one number 1 with play dough, draw one number 1, or build one number 1 with blocks.
5. You Do: Number 1 Treasure Hunt
Time: 8 minutes
Invite the child to search for the numeral 1 or groups containing one object.
Instructions:
- Find one object in the room.
- Bring it to the learning space.
- Say, “I found one ____.”
- Draw the object or place it beside the numeral 1.
Examples might include one spoon, one sock, one book, or one toy.
Celebrate the child’s thinking: “You found one book. One means not two—just one.”
Formative Assessment: Check Along the Way
- Show two numerals, such as 1 and 2. Ask the child to point to 1.
- Ask the child to give you one object.
- Show a group of objects and ask, “Are there one or more than one?”
- Ask the child to show one finger.
- Observe whether the child counts one object without adding extra objects.
Summative Assessment: Show What You Know
Give the child this short challenge:
- Point to the number 1.
- Say the word “one.”
- Place one object beside the number 1.
- Make or trace a number 1.
- Name one thing found at home.
Success benchmark: The child completes at least four of the five tasks with little or no help.
Differentiation and Support
For a Child Who Needs More Support
- Use only one object and an empty space at first.
- Physically guide the child’s finger while tracing the numeral.
- Repeat the same short phrases: “One means just one.”
- Offer two choices: “Do you want one block or one car?”
- Allow pointing, touching, or showing a finger instead of speaking.
For a Child Ready for More
- Ask the child to find the numeral 1 in a book, calendar, or label.
- Ask, “What happens if we add one more?”
- Invite the child to sort groups containing one object and groups containing more than one.
- Have the child draw one item and write or trace the number 1 beside it.
Real-World Connection
Look for “one” during daily routines:
- One plate for snack
- One shoe at a time
- One story before bedtime
- One flower in a vase
- One person taking a turn
Say: “Numbers help us talk about how many things we have. Today, we learned about one.”
Conclusion: Recap and Reflection
Time: 5 minutes
Show the numeral 1 again.
Ask:
- “What number is this?”
- “How many things does 1 mean?”
- “Can you show me one finger?”
- “What is one thing you learned today?”
End with a simple chant:
“One, one, number one! One small thing can be lots of fun!”
Give specific feedback: “You found one object, counted carefully, and made a number 1. You are learning how numbers work!”
Optional Follow-Up Activity
Create a “Number 1 Page.” The child can draw one favorite object, glue one paper shape onto the page, or make one fingerprint. Write the sentence: “I see one ____.”