Fun With the Number 1
Materials Needed
- Large paper or a whiteboard
- Crayon or washable marker
- Small objects such as blocks, buttons, or toy animals
- One favorite toy or stuffed animal
- Paper and crayons
- Optional: play dough or stickers
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 make the numeral 1.
- Use the word “one” in a simple sentence.
Success Criteria
“I can…”
- Point to the number 1.
- Give one object.
- Count one thing: “One!”
- Try to write or build the number 1.
Introduction: Meet Number 1
Time: 5 minutes
Hold up one favorite toy and say:
“Look! I have one toy. One means just one.”
Invite the child to look around and find one thing. Ask:
- “Can you find one toy?”
- “Can you hold up one finger?”
- “How many noses do you have?”
Tell the child:
“Today we will learn about the number 1. We will find it, count it, make it, and play with it!”
Body: Learn and Practice
1. I Do: Show Number 1
Time: 5 minutes
Write a large 1 on paper or a whiteboard. Point to it and say:
“This is the number 1. We say ‘one.’ The number 1 tells us about one thing.”
Show one block beside the numeral 1. Count slowly:
“One block. There is one block.”
Hold up one finger and invite the child to copy you.
Quick Check: Ask, “What number is this?” while pointing to the 1. Accept pointing, saying “one,” or showing one finger.
2. We Do: Find One
Time: 8 minutes
Place several groups of objects in front of the child. For example, place one block in one group, two blocks in another group, and three blocks in a third group.
Say:
“Let’s find the group with one block.”
Help the child touch and count each group. Celebrate the group with one object.
Repeat using different objects:
- One toy animal
- One crayon
- One button
- One spoon
Ask the child to give you one object at a time:
“Please give me one block.”
Think-and-Talk: Ask, “What is one thing you like?” Encourage an answer such as, “One ball,” or “One cookie.”
3. We Do: Number 1 Action Game
Time: 5 minutes
Explain:
“When I say ‘one,’ we do one action.”
Try these actions:
- One clap
- One jump
- One stomp
- One turn
- One wiggle
Say, “Ready? One clap!” Then clap exactly once together.
Vary the game by saying, “Show me one finger,” or “Take one step.”
4. You Do: Make the Number 1
Time: 8 minutes
Model how to make the numeral 1:
“Start at the top. Go down. That makes 1.”
Invite the child to choose one way to practice:
- Trace a large 1 with a crayon.
- Build a 1 with play dough.
- Make a 1 with blocks.
- Trace a 1 in the air with a finger.
- Draw a 1 in sand, rice, or flour.
Give specific encouragement:
“You started at the top and made one long line. You are making a 1!”
5. You Do: One-Object Art
Time: 10 minutes
Ask the child to draw one large number 1. Then invite the child to add exactly one picture beside it, such as one sun, one flower, or one balloon.
Say:
“Draw one thing. Let’s count it together.”
When the picture is finished, ask:
- “What did you draw?”
- “How many did you draw?”
- “Can you point to the number 1?”
Real-World Connection
Time: 5 minutes
Take a short “number 1 hunt” around the home. Look for things that come in groups of one:
- One front door
- One refrigerator
- One bathtub
- One family pet, if applicable
- One nose or one mouth on a person
Remind the child:
“We use numbers to tell how many. One means only one.”
Formative Assessment
During the lesson, check whether the child can:
- Point to the numeral 1.
- Show one finger.
- Select one object from a group.
- Count one object correctly.
- Attempt to trace, draw, or build a 1.
If the child is unsure, model the answer and try again using larger objects, slower counting, and shorter activities.
Summative Assessment: Number 1 Show-and-Tell
Time: 5 minutes
Place a few objects and the numeral 1 in front of the child. Ask the child to complete these tasks:
- “Point to number 1.”
- “Give me one object.”
- “Show me one finger.”
- “Count this one object.”
- “Make a number 1.”
Success benchmark: The child completes at least four of the five tasks with little or no help.
Differentiation and Choice
For Extra Support
- Use only one object and the numeral 1 at first.
- Guide the child’s hand while tracing if needed.
- Use songs, clapping, and finger movements to reinforce “one.”
- Repeat the lesson in short five-minute activities.
For More Challenge
- Ask the child to find the numeral 1 in books, labels, or calendars.
- Ask the child to compare one object with a group of more than one.
- Invite the child to draw one item and write or trace the word “one.”
- Ask the child to make a set of one object without being shown an example.
Conclusion and Recap
Time: 3 minutes
Hold up the numeral 1 and ask the child to tell you what it is.
Review together:
- “This is the number…” “1!”
- “One means…” “Just one!”
- “Show me one finger.”
- “Tell me one thing you did today.”
End with a cheerful chant:
“One, one, number 1! One little number is lots of fun!”
Optional Follow-Up
Throughout the day, look for opportunities to say “one”: one shoe, one cup, one book, or one snack. Invite the child to find, count, and name each single object.