One Take Away One: The Waiting Game
Materials Needed
- Two small toys, blocks, or stuffed animals
- One small bowl, box, or basket
- Number cards showing 0 and 1
- A timer, sand timer, or gentle counting song
- Paper and crayons
- Optional: snack pieces such as two crackers or two pieces of fruit
Learning Objectives
By the end of the lesson, the child will be able to:
- Show that 1 - 1 = 0 using toys or objects.
- Use the words take away, left, and zero.
- Practice waiting calmly for a short time while counting or using a timer.
- Show understanding by solving a simple take-away problem with objects or a drawing.
Success Criteria
Success looks like this:
- “I had one.”
- “I took one away.”
- “None are left. Zero!”
- “I can wait and then take my turn.”
Introduction: The Empty Basket
Hook: Place one toy in a basket. Say, “Oh no! The toy wants to go out. What will happen if I take it away?”
Invite the child to watch as you take the toy out. Show the empty basket and say:
“We started with one. We took away one. Now there are zero. Zero means none.”
Tell the child:
“Today we will play with one, take one away, find zero, and practice waiting for a little while.”
Body of the Lesson
Part 1: I Do — Teacher or Adult Demonstration
Place one block on the table.
Say each sentence slowly:
- “I have one block.”
- “I take away one block.”
- “Now I have zero blocks.”
Point to the number cards as you say 1, - 1, and 0.
Write or show:
1 - 1 = 0
Explain in child-friendly language:
“The little minus sign means take away. When we take the only one away, nothing is left.”
Quick Check
Ask:
- “How many blocks did I start with?”
- “How many did I take away?”
- “How many are left?”
Part 2: We Do — Toy Take-Away Game
Give the child one toy and keep one toy for yourself.
Take turns following this pattern:
- Place one toy in front of the player.
- Say, “You have one.”
- Ask the player to move the toy into the basket.
- Ask, “How many are left?”
- Help the child answer, “Zero!”
Use playful voices:
- “The teddy went to bed!”
- “The block went into the box!”
- “The car drove away!”
Think, Pair, and Say
Place one toy in front of the child. Give the child quiet thinking time, then ask:
“If this one toy goes away, how many will be left?”
The child may answer by speaking, pointing to the zero card, showing empty hands, or moving the toy away.
Part 3: Waiting Practice — “Ready, Set, Go!”
Explain:
“Sometimes we want to move right away. We can wait for a little bit. Waiting means our body stays calm until it is time to go.”
Place one toy on the floor. Say:
“Wait until I say, ‘Go.’”
Count slowly to three, or use a short timer. Then say, “Go!” The child moves the toy into the basket.
Repeat several times. Gradually increase the wait from three counts to five counts if the child is comfortable.
Waiting Actions
During the wait, invite the child to choose one calm action:
- Take a slow breath.
- Tap knees softly.
- Hold hands together.
- Whisper, “I can wait.”
- Watch the timer or sand fall.
Praise specifically:
“You waited until I said go. Your body stayed calm.”
Part 4: You Do — Child’s Choice Activity
Let the child choose one activity.
Choice A: Snack Math
Give the child one snack piece. Ask the child to eat or move it away.
Ask, “You had one. You took away one. How many are left?”
Answer together: “Zero!”
Choice B: Crayon Drawing
Ask the child to draw one balloon, one sun, or one cookie.
Then say, “Draw a line through the one. It went away. How many are left?”
Help the child draw an empty circle or write the number 0.
Choice C: Act It Out
Ask the child to pretend to be one animal. After a short wait, the animal “walks away.”
Say, “One animal took one step away. How many animals are here now?”
Let the child answer, “Zero!”
Part 5: Real-World Connection
Connect the idea to everyday life:
- “There is one cup. We put it away. How many cups are on the table?”
- “There is one toy on the floor. We put it in the toy box. How many toys are on the floor?”
- “You have one turn. You take your turn. Now you wait for the next turn.”
Remind the child:
“Taking away one from one leaves zero. Waiting helps us take turns.”
Formative Assessment
Check understanding throughout the lesson by asking the child to:
- Show one object.
- Take one object away.
- Show how many are left using fingers, objects, or the zero card.
- Wait for three to five counts before moving an object.
If needed, repeat the action with larger objects and use fewer words:
“One. Take away one. Zero.”
Summative Assessment: Show What You Know
Give the child one toy and ask the child to demonstrate:
- “Show me one.”
- “Take one away.”
- “How many are left?”
- “Can you wait until I say go before putting it in the basket?”
The child meets the lesson goal by correctly showing or saying that one take away one equals zero and waiting briefly for the cue to move.
Differentiation and Support
For a Child Who Needs More Support
- Use only one object at a time.
- Physically guide the child to move the object, if appropriate.
- Use short phrases: “One. Away. Zero.”
- Begin with a one-count wait and build slowly.
- Accept pointing, gestures, or showing empty hands as answers.
For a Child Ready for More
- Ask the child to make a take-away story using one toy.
- Try examples such as “one bird flies away” or “one car drives away.”
- Invite the child to write or trace 1 - 1 = 0.
- Ask, “What would happen if we started with zero?”
- Practice waiting for five to ten counts using a timer.
Conclusion: Tell What We Learned
Gather the toys and review the lesson together.
Say:
“Today we started with one. We took one away. Zero were left. We also practiced waiting calmly.”
Invite the child to complete these sentences:
- “One take away one is ______.”
- “Zero means ______.”
- “When I wait, I can ______.”
Finish with a cheerful chant:
“One take away one, none are there! Zero means an empty pair!”
Optional Follow-Up
During the day, look for natural examples of one item being put away or used. Ask, “We had one. Now it is gone. How many are left?” Give the child time to answer through words, gestures, or actions.