All About the Number 1
Materials Needed
- One large piece of paper
- Crayon or washable marker
- Five small toys, blocks, or household objects
- Number cards or paper with the numbers 1, 2, and 3
- Play dough or modeling clay
- One small bowl or basket
- Optional: music for a 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 object.
- Count one object correctly.
- Trace or make the shape of the number 1.
- Find one object in everyday situations.
Success Criteria
I can:
- Point to the number 1.
- Give you one object when asked.
- Count “one” for one object.
- Make a number 1 with a finger, crayon, or play dough.
Introduction: The Number 1 Mystery
Say: “Today we are number detectives! We are looking for the number 1 and things that come in a group of one.”
Hold up one object, such as one block. Ask:
- “How many blocks do I have?”
- “Can you show me one finger?”
- “What is one thing you can see?”
Tell the child: “One means just one. Not two. Just one.”
Body of the Lesson
I Do: Meet the Number 1
Draw a large number 1 on the paper.
Say: “This is the number 1. It looks like a straight line. We use 1 to show one thing.”
Place one toy beside the numeral.
Model: “I see the number 1. I have one toy. I touch the toy and say, ‘One.’”
Trace the number slowly while saying:
“Start at the top. Go straight down. That makes 1.”
Quick Check
Show the child the number cards 1, 2, and 3. Ask, “Which card shows 1?”
If needed, point to the cards and say, “Let’s look. One is the straight line.”
We Do: One or More?
Place one object in the bowl. Ask the child to count it with you.
Say: “Touch the object and count: one.”
Then place two or three objects in the bowl. Ask:
- “Is this one?”
- “How many do we have now?”
Take turns adding and removing objects. Invite the child to make the bowl hold exactly one object.
Think, Find, and Tell
Invite the child to look around the room and find something that comes in a group of one.
Possible examples include:
- One chair
- One shoe
- One pillow
- One cup
- One stuffed animal
Ask the child to bring or point to the object and say, “I found one!”
You Do: Make the Number 1
Give the child play dough or modeling clay.
Invite the child to:
- Roll the dough into a long piece.
- Place it straight up and down.
- Say, “This is 1!”
Next, ask the child to make one object from play dough, such as one ball or one pancake.
Movement Game: One Jump
Say a simple direction and have the child do it one time:
- “Do one jump.”
- “Clap one time.”
- “Take one step.”
- “Spin one time.”
After each action, ask, “How many did you do?” Encourage the answer, “One!”
Choice Activity
Let the child choose one activity:
- Draw one big number 1 and decorate it.
- Build one tower with blocks.
- Make one pretend birthday candle from play dough.
- Go on a short “number 1 hunt” around the home.
Ask the child to explain: “What did you make or find that shows one?”
Formative Assessment
Check understanding throughout the lesson by asking the child to:
- Point to the numeral 1.
- Hand you one object.
- Separate one object from a group.
- Show one finger.
- Count one object by saying “one.”
Give specific feedback:
- “You gave me exactly one block.”
- “You found the number 1.”
- “You counted the object carefully.”
Summative Assessment: Show What You Know
Place the number cards 1, 2, and 3 on the floor. Give the child three objects and say:
“Please show me the number 1. Now put one object next to it.”
Then ask the child to:
- Point to the number 1.
- Place one object beside it.
- Count the object aloud.
- Make or trace the number 1.
The child is successful when they complete most steps with little or no help.
Differentiation and Support
For Extra Support
- Use only one object at a time.
- Hold the child’s hand gently as you trace the number 1, if the child agrees.
- Repeat the phrase, “One means just one.”
- Use real objects before using number cards.
For More Challenge
- Ask the child to find three different groups of one object.
- Ask, “What happens if we add one more?”
- Invite the child to draw one item and write or trace the number 1 beside it.
- Look for the number 1 in books, calendars, signs, or packaging.
Conclusion and Recap
Gather the materials together 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 by saying:
“Today we learned that the number 1 means one. We found one object, counted one object, and made the number 1!”
Optional Everyday Follow-Up
During the day, invite the child to notice groups of one:
- One spoon at snack time
- One book for story time
- One coat before going outside
- One toy to put away
Each time, ask the child to say, “One!”