Substitute Lesson Plan: Money Smart — Weighing Needs & Wants

Grade Level: Kindergarten | Duration: ~45 minutes

Objective

Students will be able to:

1. Define what a "need" is and what a "want" is
2. Tell the difference between a need and a want
3. Practice comparing and choosing between needs and wants

Materials

• Teacher Presentation Slides: Definitions: Needs and Wants and Chart: Needs and Wants (from resource)
• Handout: Needs and Wants
• Handout: My Needs and Wants Mini-Book (pre-cut and pre-assembled ahead of time, if possible)
• Chart paper and markers (or projector for slides)
• Pencils, crayons
• Optional: stuffed animal and a few play objects (blanket, toy, food bowl, treats) for the Pet Needs Classification game

Warm-up (~5 min)

1. Gather students and show the Definitions: Needs and Wants slide (or read definitions aloud).
2. A need is something you must have to live a healthy life (examples: shelter, food, water, clothes).
3. A want is something you'd like to have but could live without (examples: ice cream, toys, candy, video games).
4. Ask students: "Can you think of one need and one want?" Take a few quick answers aloud (no need to record yet).

Main Activity (~25 min)

1. Class Chart (10 min): Show the Chart: Needs and Wants slide, or draw a simple T-Chart on chart paper with two headings: "Things We NEED for Our Classroom" and "Things We WANT for Our Classroom."
2. Ask students to look around the room and name one item that fits each category (needs example: pencils, paper, desks; wants example: markers, stickers, toys).
3. Write their answers on the chart under the correct heading.
4. Briefly remind students that everyone needs to share and take care of classroom supplies.

1. My Needs and Wants Mini-Book (15 min):
2. Introduce the My Needs and Wants Mini-Book handout. Read each page aloud to the class.
3. Since this is kindergarten, hand out pre-cut/pre-assembled mini-books.
4. Students may draw pictures, use stickers, or paste magazine images (if available) of things they need and want on each page — writing words is optional.
5. Circulate and help students identify appropriate needs/wants for their pictures.

Wrap-up / Exit Ticket (~10 min)

1. Complete the Needs and Wants handout as a whole group: help students match each picture to "Needs" or "Wants," then let them color the page.
2. Class Reflection (Exit Ticket): Ask each student to share one answer aloud or with a partner:
3. "What is a need?"
4. "What is a want?"
5. "How do you choose between something you need and something you want?"

If Time Remains

Play the Pet Needs Classification game: Show students a stuffed animal and a small pile of play objects (blanket, food bowl, treats, toy). Ask students to help sort which objects the pet needs and which are just wants, placing them into two piles as a class.