Fun with Number 1
Materials Needed
- Number cards or a paper card with the number 1
- One favorite toy, stuffed animal, or household object
- Small objects for counting, such as blocks, buttons, or pasta
- Paper and crayons or washable markers
- Play dough or a tray of sand, rice, or flour
- Optional: music for a movement game
Learning Objectives
By the end of the lesson, the child will be able to:
- Recognize the number 1.
- Show one object when asked.
- Say that “one” means a single object.
- Trace or make the numeral 1 with support.
- Find examples of one thing in the home.
Success Criteria
I can:
- Point to the number 1.
- Give you one object.
- Count one object by saying, “One.”
- Try to make the number 1.
Introduction: The Number 1 Adventure
Time: 5 minutes
Show the child one favorite toy and say:
“Look! I have one teddy bear. One means just one. Today we are going on a number 1 adventure!”
Ask:
- “How many toys am I holding?”
- “Can you hold up one finger?”
- “Can you find one thing near you?”
Sing or chant together:
“One, one, number one! One little finger, learning is fun!”
Body of the Lesson
1. I Do: Meet the Number 1
Time: 5 minutes
Show the number card with 1. Trace the number in the air with your finger.
Say:
“This is the number 1. It is called one. One means only one thing.”
Place one object on the table. Touch it once and say:
“One block. I touched it one time, so I say one.”
Model how to write the number:
- “Start at the top.”
- “Go down.”
- “That makes number 1.”
Make the number 1 using your finger in the air, on the table, or in a tray of sand, rice, or flour.
2. We Do: Find One
Time: 7 minutes
Invite the child to help you complete each activity.
One Object Game
- Place several objects in front of the child.
- Say, “Please give me one block.”
- Count the object together: “One.”
- Repeat with different objects.
Use encouraging questions:
- “Do you have one or many?”
- “Can you show me one?”
- “Is this one object?”
Number 1 Movement Game
Give simple directions. Each direction should use the number one:
- Take one step.
- Clap one time.
- Jump one time.
- Touch one toe.
- Pick up one toy.
Pause and ask, “How many did you do?” Help the child answer, “One!”
Think-and-Find Activity
Look around the home together. Find things that come in a group of one, such as:
- One front door
- One kitchen table
- One nose
- One sun in a drawing
Let the child choose one item to show or talk about.
3. You Do: Number 1 Choices
Time: 8–10 minutes
Let the child choose one of the following activities.
Choice A: Make Number 1
Invite the child to:
- Trace the number 1 on paper.
- Make number 1 with play dough.
- Draw number 1 with a crayon.
- Make number 1 using blocks or craft sticks.
Choice B: One-Item Picture
Ask the child to draw a picture with one main object, such as one apple, one balloon, or one flower.
Ask:
- “What did you draw?”
- “How many did you draw?”
- “Can you point to your one object?”
Choice C: Number 1 Treasure Hunt
Ask the child to find one safe item from each room or area. The child may carry only one item at a time.
For each item, say together:
“I found one spoon.” or “I found one sock.”
Formative Assessment: Quick Checks
Check understanding during the lesson by asking the child to:
- Point to the number 1 among two or three number cards.
- Give you one object from a small group.
- Show one finger.
- Choose which group has one object.
- Trace or make the number 1.
Give specific feedback:
- “You gave me exactly one block.”
- “You started at the top and made a number 1.”
- “You counted carefully and stopped at one.”
Real-World Connection
Explain that people use the number 1 every day:
- One person may use one toothbrush.
- One child may have one turn.
- A recipe may need one egg.
- A person may wear one hat at a time.
Ask the child to name one thing they use each day.
Support and Differentiation
For Extra Support
- Use only one object at a time.
- Guide the child’s hand while tracing the number 1.
- Repeat the words “one” and “number 1” often.
- Use large objects and large writing movements.
- Offer choices: “Would you like one block or one spoon?”
For More Challenge
- Ask the child to find the number 1 in a book, calendar, or game.
- Ask the child to make a group of one without being shown an example.
- Compare one object with a group of two or three objects.
- Invite the child to teach a toy about the number 1.
Summative Assessment: Show What You Know
Place several number cards and several small objects in front of the child. Ask the child to:
- Point to the number 1.
- Make a group of one object.
- Say, “This is one.”
- Try to write, trace, or build the number 1.
The child is successful when they complete most tasks with little or no help.
Conclusion: Number 1 Recap
Time: 3 minutes
Hold up the number card again and ask:
- “What number is this?”
- “How many is one?”
- “Can you show me one finger?”
- “What is one thing you found today?”
Review together:
“Today we learned that 1 means one thing. We found one object, moved one time, and practiced making the number 1.”
End with the chant:
“One is fun! Number 1 is done!”
Optional Follow-Up
During the day, look for the number 1 on clocks, books, calendars, signs, or labels. Each time the child finds it, celebrate by saying, “You found number 1!”