All About the Number 1
Materials Needed
- Large paper or a whiteboard
- Marker or crayon
- Number cards, including the number 1
- Small toys, blocks, or snacks for counting
- Paper and crayons
- Play dough or a tray of sand, rice, or flour
- One favorite book or stuffed animal
Learning Objectives
By the end of the lesson, the child will be able to:
- Recognize the numeral 1.
- Count one object correctly.
- Show one object when asked.
- Trace or make the number 1.
- Use the word “one” in a simple sentence.
Success Criteria
The child is successful when they can:
- Point to the number 1.
- Give one object, not two or more.
- Say, “This is one.”
- Make a number 1 using a crayon, finger, play dough, or another material.
Introduction: The Number 1 Surprise
Time: 5 minutes
Place one favorite toy or stuffed animal in front of the child.
Say:
“Look! I found one teddy bear. One means just one. Can you show me one finger?”
Invite the child to hold up one finger. Sing or say slowly:
“One little finger, here is one!”
Tell the child:
“Today we will learn about the number 1. We will find one thing, count one thing, and make the number 1.”
Body of the Lesson
1. I Do: Meet the Number 1
Time: 5 minutes
Show a large numeral 1 on paper or a card.
Say:
“This is the number 1. We say, ‘one.’ The number 1 tells us that there is one thing.”
Point to the numeral and trace it with your finger while saying:
“Start at the top. Go straight down. This makes a 1.”
Show one object beside the numeral.
Say:
“One block goes with the number 1. The number and the amount match.”
Quick Check
Ask:
- “What number is this?”
- “How many blocks do we have?”
- “Can you show me one finger?”
2. We Do: Find One
Time: 7 minutes
Place a few groups of objects nearby. For example, make groups with one block, two blocks, and three blocks.
Say:
“Let’s find the group with one object. Look carefully. Which group has one?”
Let the child choose. Count the objects together by touching each one.
Use simple examples:
- One spoon
- One shoe
- One book
- One crayon
- One toy
Invite the child to search the room for one item.
Ask:
“Can you bring me one safe object? We only need one.”
Think and Talk
Ask the child to complete the sentence:
“I found one ______.”
3. We Do: Number 1 Movement Game
Time: 5 minutes
Play “Do One.” Give the child simple directions:
- “Take one jump.”
- “Clap one time.”
- “Turn around one time.”
- “Touch one toy.”
- “Give one high-five.”
Count aloud together each time. Keep the game playful and allow the child to give you one-action directions too.
Say:
“You are the teacher! Tell me to do one thing.”
4. I Do, Then We Do: Make the Number 1
Time: 5 minutes
Model making the number 1 in the air.
Say:
“Watch my finger. I start at the top and go straight down. That is 1.”
Make a large 1 using play dough, a finger in sand, or a marker.
Invite the child to make a number 1 in one or more ways:
- Trace a large number 1.
- Draw a number 1 with a crayon.
- Make a number 1 from play dough.
- Trace a number 1 in sand, rice, or flour.
- Make a number 1 with a finger in the air.
Offer encouragement:
“You started at the top and moved down. You made a 1!”
5. You Do: One-Object Challenge
Time: 5 minutes
Give the child several objects and the number 1 card.
Say:
“Put the number 1 card on the table. Now place one object next to it. Remember, one means just one.”
Let the child choose the object. Ask the child to explain:
“How many objects did you choose?”
Expected response:
“One.”
If the child chooses too many objects, gently guide them:
“Let’s touch and count. One. Do we need another? No. One is enough.”
Real-World Connection
Look around the home and find examples of one:
- One front door
- One kitchen table
- One sun in the sky
- One nose
- One favorite stuffed animal
Say:
“We see the number 1 and groups of one every day.”
Creative Choice Activity
Let the child choose one activity:
- Number art: Decorate a large number 1 with stickers or crayons.
- Number hunt: Search for the number 1 in books, calendars, or labels.
- Snack counting: Put one safe snack on a plate and say, “I have one.”
- Story time: Read a book and look for one character or one object on a page.
Assessment
Formative Assessment During the Lesson
- Ask the child to point to the number 1 among two or three number cards.
- Ask the child to give you one object.
- Ask the child to show one finger.
- Watch whether the child counts one object without adding more.
- Listen for the child using the word “one.”
Summative Assessment: Show What You Know
Place several number cards and several objects in front of the child. Ask the child to:
- Point to the number 1.
- Put one object beside the number 1.
- Say how many objects there are.
- Make a number 1 using a crayon, finger, play dough, or another method.
Simple success check: The child completes at least three of the four tasks with little or no help.
Differentiation and Support
For a Child Who Needs More Support
- Use only one object at a time.
- Say “one” while touching the object.
- Use large, easy-to-see number cards.
- Guide the child’s hand as they trace the number.
- Repeat the same activity on another day.
For a Child Ready for More Challenge
- Ask the child to find three different groups of one.
- Ask, “What happens if we add one more?”
- Invite the child to draw one object next to the number 1.
- Ask the child to find the number 1 in a book, calendar, or written sign.
- Invite the child to teach someone else how to make a 1.
Conclusion and Recap
Time: 3 minutes
Hold up the number 1 and ask:
- “What number is this?”
- “How many things does 1 mean?”
- “Can you show me one finger?”
- “How do we make a 1?”
Say together:
“One means just one. The number 1 shows one thing. We can find one, count one, and make a 1.”
End with one clap and say:
“One great job!”
Optional Follow-Up
During the day, ask the child to find one item during ordinary activities. For example:
- “Please bring me one sock.”
- “Can you find one red toy?”
- “Put one spoon on the table.”
- “Show me one book.”