Number Fun: Learning About 1
Materials Needed
- One large paper or card with the number 1
- Small household objects, such as blocks, toy animals, or spoons
- Paper and crayons
- Play dough or modeling clay
- Optional: a number song or counting song
Learning Objectives
By the end of the lesson, the child will be able to:
- Recognize the number 1.
- Count one object correctly.
- Show one object when asked.
- Trace or make the shape of the number 1.
- Use the word “one” in a simple sentence.
Success Criteria
I can:
- Point to the number 1.
- Give you one toy.
- Count one thing: “One!”
- Make a number 1 with a crayon or play dough.
Introduction: The Number 1
Hook: Hold up one favorite toy or object and ask:
“How many toys am I holding? Let’s count: one!”
Show the number card and say:
“This is the number 1. The number 1 means one thing.”
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: Watch Me
Place one object on the table.
Say slowly:
“I see one block. I touch it and count: one.”
Show the number card again.
Say:
“This is 1. One block matches the number 1.”
Use your finger to trace the number in the air while saying:
“Start at the top. Go straight down. That makes 1.”
Quick Check: Ask, “How many blocks do you see?” Help the child answer, “One.”
2. We Do: Find One
Place several objects nearby. Give the child a simple direction:
“Can you pick up one toy?”
When the child chooses an object, count it together:
“You picked one toy. One!”
Repeat with different objects:
- “Can you bring me one spoon?”
- “Can you find one block?”
- “Can you show me one finger?”
Think and Talk: Ask, “What is one thing you see in this room?” Accept answers such as a chair, window, book, or table.
3. We Do: Number 1 Movement Game
Explain:
“When I say ‘one,’ we will do one movement.”
Try the following:
- One clap
- One jump
- One stomp
- One twirl
Pause after each movement and ask, “How many did we do?” Encourage the child to say, “One.”
4. You Do: Make the Number 1
Invite the child to choose one activity:
- Crayon: Trace the number 1 on paper, then try making one independently.
- Play dough: Roll the dough into a long snake and shape it like the number 1.
- Finger drawing: Draw the number 1 in the air, on a table, or in a tray of flour or rice.
As the child works, use simple prompts:
- “Start at the top.”
- “Go straight down.”
- “You made a 1!”
5. Real-World Number Hunt
Walk around the home and look for the number 1. The child might find it on a clock, book, calendar, remote control, or package.
Each time the child finds the number, say:
“You found 1! The number 1 means one.”
Choice: Let the child choose whether to search in the kitchen, bedroom, play area, or outside.
Formative Assessment: Show Me One
Ask the child to complete these tasks:
- Point to the number 1.
- Give you one object.
- Show one finger.
- Count one object.
- Make a number 1 in the air or on paper.
Give specific feedback:
- “You gave me one block. You counted carefully.”
- “You found the number 1.”
- “Your number starts at the top and goes down.”
Summative Activity: My Number 1 Page
Help the child make a small number 1 page:
- Write or trace a large number 1.
- Draw one favorite thing beside it.
- Color the picture.
- Say the sentence: “I have one ___.”
Examples include:
- “I have one dog.”
- “I have one ball.”
- “I have one apple.”
Differentiation and Support
- For extra support: Use only one object at a time. Guide the child’s finger while counting and tracing.
- For language support: Repeat the words “one,” “number 1,” and “one object.” Use gestures and real objects.
- For sensory learners: Let the child build 1 with blocks, trace it in sand, or form it with play dough.
- For an extra challenge: Ask the child to find two groups and identify which group has one object.
- For a shorter lesson: Complete the object hunt and one tracing activity.
- For a longer lesson: Read a counting book and repeat the movement game with different actions.
Conclusion and Recap
Hold up the number card and ask:
- “What number is this?”
- “How many is one?”
- “Can you show me one finger?”
Say together:
“1 means one. One means just one thing!”
End with a cheerful chant:
“One little clap, one little cheer—Number 1 is here!”
Optional Follow-Up
During the day, invite the child to find and count one item during everyday activities: one sock, one cup, one book, or one spoon.