Begin the lesson by having the students sings, "Catching a Fish." Next, teach the students to recite the nursery rhyme "Jack Be Nimble." Ask a volunteer to act out the rhyme by hopping over something [such as a stack of connecting cubes] that represents a candlestick. You may wish to use the student's name in the verse.
Ask, "How many students jumped?" [One] Can you hold up one finger? [Check to see that all the students can do this.] Then say the rhyme again with other student volunteers. Now tell the students to listen for the word "go," When they hear it, they are to clap their hands three times. Say, "One, two, three--go" and watch to see which students can clap three times. To extend the learning
opportunity, call on volunteers to name a motion and say "One, two, three--go!" to indicate when to begin the motion.
Show the students the numeral 1, then give directions such as, "Wave one hand," "Stomp your foot one time," and "Blink one time." Next, tell the students you will show them a number and they are to drop that many counters into the bowl. Ask for a volunteer to begin, and show him or her the numeral 1. Ask, "How many counters will you drop into the bowl? [One] Encourage the other students to count as the counter is dropped. Call on several other volunteers to drop counters as you display the numerals 1, 2, and 3 in random order.
Now ask the students to look at the numeral 1, which you have displayed. (You may wish to use the numeral cards.)
Tell them that this figure means "one." Turn your back to the students and trace the figure in the air, then encourage them to do it with you. Sing the numeral writing song as you make the numerals named in the song. Now spray canned whipped cream on a plastic work surface and model how to draw the numerals 1, 2, and 3 in the canned whipped cream. Allow the students several minutes to do this. As you close this section of the lesson, you may wish to remind all the students to go to the numeral-writing station during the day to write "1," "2," and "3" in the sand.
Next, give each student a copy of the Numbers to 5 Activity Sheet and some counters.
Ask the students to put as many counters into each section as the number indicates. (Although the numerals 0, 4, and 5 have not yet been discussed, some students may wish to try completing these sections as well. Alternatively, you can fold back these sections so they cannot be seen.)
After they have finished, give the students their Show How Many activity sheet.
Ask them to look for the column with a "1" at the top, and then to color in one row, starting at the bottom row. Circulate as they work. Encourage the students to compare the three colored rows.
Then collect the charts or tell the students to put the chart where it will be available for future lessons.
