All About the Number 1
Materials Needed
- Large paper or a whiteboard
- Crayon or washable marker
- Five small objects, such as blocks, toy animals, or buttons
- Paper and crayons
- One snack item, such as a cracker or grape
- Optional: music for a movement game
Learning Objectives
By the end of the lesson, the child will be able to:
- Recognize the numeral 1.
- Count one object.
- Show one object when asked.
- Trace or draw the numeral 1.
- Use the word “one” in a simple sentence.
Success Criteria
Success looks like this:
- “I can find the number 1.”
- “I can give you one thing.”
- “I can count one object.”
- “I can try to write the number 1.”
Introduction: Meet Number 1
Time: 5 minutes
Hold up one finger and say, “Today we are learning about the number 1. One means just one thing.”
Ask:
- “How many fingers am I holding up?”
- “Can you show me one finger?”
- “What is one thing you see in the room?”
Explain: “The number 1 is used when we count one person, one toy, or one snack.”
Body of the Lesson
I Do: Teacher or Parent Models
Time: 5 minutes
- Place one block on the table.
- Point to it and say slowly, “One.”
- Show the numeral 1 on paper or a whiteboard.
- Trace it while saying, “Start at the top. Go down.”
Say: “This is the number 1. It tells us there is one thing.”
Model the difference between one and more than one. Place one toy on the table and say, “One toy.” Add another toy and say, “Now there are two toys. That is more than one.”
We Do: Count and Find One
Time: 10 minutes
Activity 1: Give Me One
Place several objects nearby. Ask the child to give you one object.
Use prompts such as:
- “Please give me one block.”
- “Can you find one toy animal?”
- “Put one button in the cup.”
Count the object together: “One.” Praise careful counting: “You gave me exactly one!”
Activity 2: Number 1 Hunt
Look around the home for the numeral 1. The child may look at a clock, book, calendar, measuring cup, remote, or page number.
Each time the child finds a 1, say, “You found the number 1!”
Quick check: Show the child the numerals 1, 2, and 3. Ask, “Which one is 1?” Let the child point or touch.
Activity 3: One-Move Game
Play music or clap a rhythm. When the music stops, give one simple direction:
- “Take one jump.”
- “Clap one time.”
- “Touch one toe.”
- “Give one high-five.”
Ask, “How many did you do?” Encourage the answer, “One!”
You Do: Practice and Create
Time: 10–15 minutes
Activity 1: Trace and Draw
- Write several large dotted numbers 1 on paper.
- Invite the child to trace each one.
- Ask the child to try drawing a 1 independently.
- Decorate the number with one sticker, one dot, or one small drawing.
Say: “Your number 1 can be big, small, straight, or wiggly. You are practicing!”
Activity 2: Make a Number 1 Picture
Ask the child to draw one favorite thing. It could be one sun, one dog, one flower, or one balloon.
Help the child say a sentence: “I drew one ___.”
Activity 3: One Snack
Give the child one snack item. Ask:
- “How many snacks do you have?”
- “Can you show me one snack?”
- “What number tells us there is one snack?”
After eating, ask the child to describe the snack using one word, such as “crunchy,” “sweet,” or “red.”
Real-World Connection
Explain: “We use the number 1 every day. We may have one nose, one home, one favorite teddy bear, or one turn in a game.”
Invite the child to choose one item from the room and tell you, “I found one ___.”
Differentiation and Choice
For Extra Support
- Use only one object at a time.
- Guide the child’s finger while counting.
- Use a large numeral 1 with a clear starting point.
- Repeat the phrase, “One means just one.”
For More Challenge
- Ask the child to find three examples of one item around the home.
- Invite the child to compare one object with a group of two or three objects.
- Ask the child to make a simple pattern containing one red object and one blue object.
- Let the child write the word one with help.
Child Choice
Let the child choose one activity to repeat:
- Number hunt
- Movement game
- Tracing
- Drawing one picture
- Counting one snack or toy
Assessment
Formative Assessment
During the lesson, observe whether the child can:
- Point to the numeral 1.
- Show one finger.
- Give one object.
- Count one object without adding another.
- Attempt to trace or draw 1.
Give specific feedback, such as: “You gave me one block. You counted carefully.”
Summative Assessment: Number 1 Challenge
Ask the child to complete these four tasks:
- Point to the number 1 from a group of three numerals.
- Give you one object.
- Show one finger.
- Draw or trace the number 1.
The child meets the goal when they complete at least three tasks with little or no help.
Conclusion and Recap
Time: 5 minutes
Hold up one finger and ask the child to finish these sentences:
- “The number we learned today is ___.”
- “One means ___ thing.”
- “I can show one by holding up ___ finger.”
Say together: “One means just one. We can find it, count it, and write it!”
End with one high-five and say, “You did one wonderful job learning about 1!”
Optional Follow-Up
During the day, look for groups of one. Ask, “Can you find one spoon? One shoe? One book?” Repeat the number 1 naturally during play and daily routines.