Number 1 Adventure: One Is Fun!

Materials Needed

• One favorite toy
• Large paper or a whiteboard
• Crayon or washable marker
• Small basket or bowl
• Several safe household objects, such as blocks, socks, or spoons
• Play dough or clay
• Paper and stickers
• Optional: a book or song about the number 1

Learning Objectives

By the end of the lesson, the child will be able to:

• Recognize the numeral 1.
• Count one object accurately.
• Show one object when asked.
• Trace or make the shape of the numeral 1.
• Use the word “one” in a simple sentence.

Success Criteria

“I can…”

• Point to the number 1.
• Give you one object.
• Say, “One!” when I count.
• Make a number 1 with a finger, crayon, or play dough.

Lesson at a Glance

Suggested time: 20–30 minutes. Break the activities into shorter parts if needed.

Introduction: The Number 1 Adventure

Hook

Hold up one favorite toy and say:

“Look! I have one toy. Can you show me one finger?”

Let the child hold up one finger. Celebrate the response with a high five or a cheer:

“One finger! One is a number.”

Tell the Child What They Will Learn

Say:

“Today we are going on a number 1 adventure. We will find one thing, say one, and make the number 1.”

Body: Learn and Practice

Part 1: I Do—Meet the Number 1

1. Write a large 1 on paper or a whiteboard.
2. Point to it and say, “This is the number 1.”
3. Show one object, such as one block.
4. Touch the object and say slowly, “One.”
5. Show one finger and say, “One finger.”

Use simple talking points:

• “One means just one.”
• “This is one block.”
• “This is the number 1.”

Quick Check

Ask:

• “Can you point to the number 1?”
• “How many blocks do I have?”
• “Can you show me one finger?”

Part 2: We Do—Find One

Place several objects in front of the child. For example, use three blocks, two socks, and one spoon.

Say:

“Let’s find one spoon. Can you give me one spoon?”

1. Help the child choose one object.
2. Place it in the basket.
3. Count it together: “One.”
4. Repeat with different objects.

Try these playful requests:

• “Put one block in the basket.”
• “Bring me one sock.”
• “Find one toy.”
• “Give your teddy one hug.”

Think-and-Choose Moment

Show the child a group of two objects and a group of one object. Ask:

“Which group has one? You can point, touch, or tell me.”

Part 3: Movement Game—One-Step, One-Clap

Tell the child:

“When I say one, do one action!”

Give one-step directions:

• “Take one jump.”
• “Clap one time.”
• “Spin one time.”
• “Touch one toy.”
• “Make one big stretch.”

Pause after each direction and count together. Keep the game silly and joyful.

Part 4: We Do—Make the Number 1

Show the child how to make the numeral 1.

1. Start at the top.
2. Move straight down.
3. Add a small slanted line at the top if desired.

Say:

“Start at the top. Go down. That makes 1!”

Let the child practice in several ways:

• Trace the large number 1 with a finger.
• Draw the number 1 with a crayon.
• Make the number 1 with play dough.
• Draw the number 1 in the air.

Formative Feedback

Give specific encouragement:

• “You started at the top.”
• “You made one long line.”
• “You worked carefully.”

Part 5: You Do—One-Object Challenge

Invite the child to complete the challenge independently, with help when needed.

Say:

“Show me one thing, tell me the number, and make a number 1.”

1. The child chooses one object.
2. The child says, “One.”
3. The child points to or finds the numeral 1.
4. The child draws, traces, or builds the numeral 1.

Choice Activity

Let the child choose one activity:

• Sticker 1: Place one sticker on a large number 1.
• One Treasure Hunt: Find one soft, one round, or one blue object.
• Play Dough 1: Build one number 1 and one small ball.
• Story Time: Read a picture book and look for one animal or one character on a page.
• Snack Count: Put one safe snack item on a plate and count it together.

Assessment

Formative Assessment

Throughout the lesson, observe whether the child can:

• Point to the numeral 1.
• Show one finger.
• Select one object from a group.
• Count one object without adding another.
• Follow a one-step direction.
• Attempt to draw or build the numeral 1.

Summative Assessment: Number 1 Show-and-Tell

Ask the child to complete these four tasks:

1. “Point to the number 1.”
2. “Give me one object.”
3. “Show me one finger and say ‘one.’”
4. “Make a number 1.”

Success benchmark: 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.
• Use hand-over-hand guidance for tracing.
• Repeat the same words: “One object. One.”
• Let the child point, gesture, or choose instead of answering with words.
• Use large materials that are easy to hold.

For a Child Ready for More

• Ask the child to find the numeral 1 among other numerals.
• Ask, “What is one thing you see in the room?”
• Invite the child to make a set of one object and explain it.
• Compare one object with a group of more than one object.
• Ask the child to draw one item next to the numeral 1.

Real-World Connection

During the day, look for natural examples of one:

• One nose
• One moon in a drawing
• One cup
• One favorite toy
• One book to read

Use the sentence:

“I see one ____.”

Conclusion: Tell What We Learned

Recap

Hold up the numeral 1 and say:

“Today we learned about number 1. One means just one. We found one thing, counted one thing, and made the number 1.”

Child Recap

Invite the child to finish these sentences:

• “This is the number ____.”
• “I can show ____ finger.”
• “I found ____ thing.”
• “One means ____.”

Celebration

End with one clap and say:

“One big cheer for learning number 1!”

Optional Follow-Up

Make a small “Number 1” page together. Write a large 1, draw one object beside it, and let the child decorate the page with one sticker or one stamp.