Lesson 3: Needs and Wants

What We Will Learn

We will learn about needs and wants.
A need is something we must have.
A want is something we would like to have.
We will learn how they are different.
We will learn how to choose between them.

Big Questions

What are needs and wants?
How do I pick between a need and a want?

What We Need for This Lesson

We will use pencils and paper.
We will use a big picture screen.
We might use a stuffed toy and pretend things.
We might use the internet.
We might read fun books too.

Some book ideas are:
Lily Learns About Wants and Needs
If You Give a Mouse a Cookie
Bunny Money
Sam and the Lucky Money
Almost Zero

Getting Started

First, we read a story.
We guess what the characters need.
We guess what the characters want.

Then we look at two words.
Need. Want.

A need is something we must have.
We need it to be healthy.
Food is a need.
Water is a need.
Clothes are a need.
A home is a need.

A want is something nice to have.
We do not need it to live.
Ice cream is a want.
Toys are a want.
Candy is a want.
Video games are a want.

Our Classroom Chart

We make a chart with two sides.
One side says "Things We Need."
One side says "Things We Want."

We need pencils.
We need paper.
We want markers.
We want stickers.

We look around our room.
We find one need.
We find one want.
We add them to the chart.

Learning More

We think about someone shopping for school.
What must she buy?
What does she want, but not need?
We talk about her choices.

We make a small book.
It is called "My Needs and Wants."
We draw or write our needs.
We draw or write our wants.

Little kids can use stickers or pictures.
Big kids can write words.
Big kids can even write prices.

Choosing What Comes First

Can we always get what we want?
No, we cannot.
Sometimes we must choose.
We choose between a need and a want.
Sometimes we choose between two wants.

We think about the story again.
What did the character want?
Which want comes first?
Which want comes second?
Which want comes third?
Why did we choose that way?

Sorting Game

We sort needs and wants.
We use a worksheet.
Or we play a pet game.

We pick a pretend pet.
We think what it needs.
We think what it wants.
We sort the items.

Little kids can sort real toys.
A blanket. A food bowl. A toy.
Big kids can draw their own pet needs and wants.

Wrap Up

We talk about what we learned.
What are needs and wants?
How do we choose?
We share our ideas with the class.

Reading More Books

We can read more books about this.

Bunny Money
Max and Ruby want to buy Grandma a gift.
But they have surprise costs.
They must spend their money carefully.
Do they need to buy a gift?
What did they need to buy?
What did they want to buy?

Sam and the Lucky Money
Sam gets money for New Year.
He wants to spend it his way.
But he does not have enough.
Sam learns to make good choices.
He learns some things money can't buy.

Almost Zero
Dyamonde wants red sneakers.
They cost a lot of money.
Her mom teaches her about needs and wants.
Have you ever wanted something that much?

Talking and Writing

We talk about our own needs and wants.
What do you need for your room?
What do you want for your room?

Big kids can write in a journal.
Name three things you want.
Name three things you need.
If you can only get one want, how do you choose?

Math Time

We sort things into two bags.
One bag says "Needs."
One bag says "Wants."
We put toys and things in the right bag.

Big kids make a poster.
One side says "Needs."
One side says "Wants."
They glue pictures from magazines.
They write a number sentence.
Needs plus Wants equals the total.

Story Problems

We look at story problems.
The problems are about needs and wants.
We solve them together as a class.