Fun with the Number 1
Materials Needed
- Paper and crayons
- One small toy or stuffed animal
- Number cards or a paper with the number 1
- Small objects for counting, such as blocks, buttons, or toy animals
- 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.
- Say that 1 means “one.”
- Count one object correctly.
- Trace or make the shape of the number 1.
- Find examples of one thing in everyday life.
Success Looks Like
- “I can show one thing.”
- “I can say the number one.”
- “I can find the number 1.”
- “I can make a number 1.”
Introduction: One Special Thing
Time: 5 minutes
Place one favorite toy in front of the child.
Say: “Look! I have one toy. One means just one. Today we are going to learn about the number 1!”
Invite the child to look around the room and find one thing.
Ask:
- “Can you find one book?”
- “Can you show me one finger?”
- “How many noses do you have?”
Tell the child: “Today we will see, say, count, and make the number 1.”
Body of the Lesson
1. I Do: Meet the Number 1
Time: 5 minutes
Show the child a large number 1.
Say: “This is the number 1. We say, ‘one.’ The number 1 tells us there is one thing.”
Place one block next to the number 1.
Say: “The number 1 matches one block.”
Trace the number slowly with your finger.
Say: “Start at the top. Go down. The number 1 is like a straight line.”
Quick Check: Ask, “What number is this?” Let the child answer, point, or repeat after you.
2. We Do: Count One Object
Time: 7 minutes
Place a small group of objects nearby. Ask the child to choose one object.
Say: “Please give me one block.”
When the child gives you one block, count it together:
Say: “One. We have one block.”
Repeat with different objects, such as one button, one toy animal, and one crayon.
Think-Pair-Share Adaptation: If another person is available, the child can show the person one object and say, “This is one.” If working alone, the child can show the object to a stuffed animal or say it aloud.
Ask:
- “Can you pick up one toy?”
- “Can you give your stuffed animal one block?”
- “How many objects are you holding?”
3. Movement Game: Show Me One
Time: 5 minutes
Invite the child to move in different ways. Each time, the child does the action one time.
- Do one jump.
- Clap one time.
- Stomp one foot.
- Spin one time.
- Touch one toe.
Say: “We did one jump. One means just one.”
Pause often and ask, “How many did we do?”
4. We Do: Make the Number 1
Time: 7 minutes
Give the child play dough or modeling clay.
Make one long, straight piece together. Bend or shape it to look like the number 1.
Say: “Let’s make a number 1. It goes down in a straight line.”
Next, use a finger to trace the number 1 in the air, on the table, or in a tray of flour or sand.
Ask: “Can you make a number 1 with your finger?”
5. You Do: Number 1 Hunt
Time: 8 minutes
Give the child a paper number 1 or ask the child to make a pretend magnifying glass with their hands.
Invite the child to look for the number 1 around the home. Possible places include:
- Books
- Clocks
- Calendars
- Food packages
- Remote controls
- Doors or labels
Each time the child finds a number 1, celebrate by saying, “You found one!”
Choice: The child may draw the number 1, point to it, take a note of where it was found, or tell someone about it.
6. You Do: Draw One
Time: 8 minutes
Give the child paper and crayons.
Ask the child to:
- Draw one big number 1.
- Draw one favorite object beside it.
- Color the picture.
Prompt: “Can you draw one ball? Can you draw one flower? Can you draw one toy?”
Do not worry about perfect writing. Encourage the child to try.
Say: “You made a number 1. I see one object in your picture!”
Formative Assessment: Quick Checks
Use these questions throughout the lesson:
- “What number is this?”
- “Can you show me one finger?”
- “Can you give me one object?”
- “How many blocks are here?”
- “Which group has one thing?”
- “Can you trace the number 1?”
Accept answers through speaking, pointing, moving, drawing, or showing an object.
Summative Assessment: Show What You Know
Ask the child to complete these four tasks:
- Point to the number 1.
- Give you one object.
- Show one finger.
- Make or draw the number 1.
Teacher or parent checklist:
- Recognizes the number 1
- Says “one”
- Counts one object
- Makes or traces the number 1
Differentiation
For a Child Who Needs More Support
- Use only one object at a time.
- Point to the number while saying “one.”
- Let the child copy your movements.
- Use hand-over-hand support for tracing if needed.
- Repeat the same activities on another day.
For a Child Ready for More
- Find the number 1 in a book or on a calendar.
- Draw one object for each member of the family.
- Compare one object with a group of two or three objects.
- Practice writing the number 1 several times.
- Make a simple “Number 1” book with one picture on each page.
Real-World Connection
During the day, look for natural examples of one:
- One sun in the sky
- One nose
- One spoon on the table
- One person’s turn
- One favorite snack
Say: “We use the number 1 to talk about one thing.”
Conclusion and Recap
Time: 3 minutes
Hold up the number 1 and review the lesson.
Ask:
- “What number did we learn?”
- “What does 1 mean?”
- “Can you show me one finger?”
- “Can you find one thing near you?”
Finish with a cheerful chant:
“One, one, number one! One little finger, one big fun!”
Invite the child to tell someone one thing learned today: “I learned about the number 1.”