One Big Adventure: Learning the Number 1
Materials Needed
- Large paper or a whiteboard
- Crayon or washable marker
- Number cards or a paper with the number 1
- Small objects, such as blocks, buttons, toy animals, or snacks
- Paper and child-safe scissors
- One favorite toy
- Optional: music for a movement activity
Learning Objectives
By the end of the lesson, the child will be able to:
- Recognize the numeral 1.
- Say the number name “one.”
- Count one object.
- Show one object when asked.
- Trace or attempt to write the number 1.
- Connect the number 1 to real-life examples.
Success Criteria
I can:
- Point to the number 1.
- Say, “One!”
- Give you one object.
- Draw or trace a number 1.
Introduction: One Special Thing
Time: 5 minutes
Place one favorite toy in front of the child.
Say: “Look! I have one toy. One means just one. Can you hold up one finger?”
Invite the child to hold up one finger. Count slowly together:
“One!”
Tell the child:
“Today we are going on a number 1 adventure. We will find one thing, count one thing, and make the number 1.”
Body of the Lesson
1. I Do: Meet the Number 1
Time: 5 minutes
Show the child a large number card or write 1 on paper.
Say: “This is the number 1. We say, ‘one.’ The number 1 tells us there is one thing.”
Use one object as you talk:
- “One block.”
- “One teddy bear.”
- “One clap.”
- “One nose.”
Trace the number 1 in the air with your finger.
Say: “Start at the top. Go down. That makes a 1.”
Invite the child to trace the number 1 in the air, on the table with a finger, or in a tray of rice or flour.
2. We Do: Find One
Time: 8 minutes
Place several groups of objects nearby. Some groups should have one object, and some should have two or more.
Say: “Let’s find the group with one object.”
Help the child touch and count each group. Emphasize that only one object is in the correct group.
Repeat with different objects:
- Find one block.
- Find one toy animal.
- Find one crayon.
- Find one snack.
Ask quick questions:
- “How many blocks are in your hand?”
- “Can you give me one button?”
- “Can you show me one finger?”
Think-and-tell: Ask, “What is one thing you see in this room?” Let the child look around and name one item.
3. Movement Game: One-Step, One-Clap
Time: 5 minutes
Invite the child to move in ways that happen one time.
Say:
- “Take one step.”
- “Clap one time.”
- “Jump one time.”
- “Turn around one time.”
Pause after each action and ask, “How many times did you move?” The child answers, “One!”
4. We Do: Make a Number 1 Craft
Time: 10 minutes
Write a large number 1 on paper. Invite the child to decorate it with one chosen material, such as one sticker, one painted dot, or one piece of yarn.
The child may also cut out or draw one object next to the number 1.
Say: “You made the number 1. You added one special decoration.”
Talk about the child’s choice:
- “What did you choose?”
- “How many decorations did you use?”
- “Can you point to the number 1?”
5. You Do: Number 1 Hunt
Time: 8 minutes
Invite the child to search for the number 1 around the home. Look at books, food packages, clocks, calendars, toys, or written labels.
Instructions:
- Look for a number 1.
- Point to it when you find it.
- Say, “I found one!”
- Choose one object from the room.
If the child cannot find a printed number 1, place several number cards around the room and ask the child to find the card showing 1.
6. You Do: Trace and Try
Time: 5 minutes
Provide a paper with several large dotted number 1s. Invite the child to trace them.
Then offer a chance to make a number 1 independently.
Encouraging words:
- “Start at the top.”
- “Move your crayon down.”
- “You are making a 1!”
Writing does not need to be perfect. Celebrate attempts and hand movements.
Formative Assessment: Quick Checks
Throughout the lesson, observe whether the child can:
- Point to the numeral 1.
- Say “one.”
- Show one finger.
- Give one object when asked.
- Identify a group containing one object.
- Attempt to trace or draw the number 1.
If needed, repeat a task using larger objects, slower counting, or physical guidance.
Summative Assessment: Show Me One
Time: 5 minutes
Place several objects and number cards in front of the child. Ask the child to complete these tasks:
- “Show me the number 1.”
- “Give me one object.”
- “Show me one finger.”
- “Count this group.”
- “Try to make a number 1.”
Success benchmark: The child completes at least four of the five tasks with little or no help.
Differentiation and Support
For a Child Who Needs More Support
- Use only one object and one number card at a time.
- Say “one” while gently touching the object once.
- Let the child copy your finger movement.
- Use large objects that are easy to see and hold.
- Offer choices: “Is this 1 or 3?”
- Focus on recognizing and showing one before practicing writing.
For a Child Ready for More
- Ask the child to find one item in several different rooms.
- Invite the child to compare one object with a group of two or three.
- Ask the child to draw one object beside the number 1.
- Play a sorting game using number cards from 1 to 5.
- Ask, “What would happen if we added one more?”
Real-World Connection
During the day, point out examples of one:
- One cup at snack time.
- One pair of shoes being put away one at a time.
- One book chosen for reading.
- One bedtime story.
- One toy placed in a basket.
Conclusion: Tell Me About One
Time: 3 minutes
Show the number 1 again.
Ask:
- “What number is this?”
- “How many is one?”
- “Can you show me one finger?”
- “What is one thing you liked today?”
Recap together:
“Today we learned that the number 1 means one thing. We found one, counted one, moved one time, and practiced making the number 1.”
End with one celebratory clap and say, “Hooray for number 1!”
Optional Follow-Up Activities
- Read a counting book and look for pages showing one object.
- Make a snack plate with exactly one item.
- Take a walk and find one leaf, one rock, or one flower.
- Sing a counting song and stop after one.
- Place one toy in each basket or container.