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Needs and Wants

First graders learn that some things we must have to live and others are just nice to have, and sort everyday examples into needs and wants.

Grade 1Economics35 minutes1 class periodC3 InquiryExplicit teaching4 StandardsC3
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Lesson at a Glance

Everything you need before the bell rings

Learning Objectives

Students will be able to…

  • ✓Define a need.
  • ✓Define a want.
  • ✓Tell the two apart.
  • ✓Sort each example.
Essential Question

Some things we must have, and some things we just wish for. What is the difference between a need and a want, and why does it matter?

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Lesson Phases
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Vocabulary Terms
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Standards Aligned
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Interactive Task
Needs & Wants · Interactive

Sort It Out

Project this and sort each example into a need or a want — tap an example, then tap where it belongs.

🧺 Sort each example: a need or a want?Try it
🍞 Need
🎁 Want
Tap an example, then tap whether it is a need we must have or a want that is nice to have.
The Lesson · C3 Inquiry Arc (Question · Investigate · Evaluate Evidence · Communicate · Take Action)

35 minutes, five moves

Tap any phase to open the teacher moves and student actions.

1

Hook — Must-Have or Nice-to-Have?

5 min

You need food to live, but you only want candy. Both feel important, so how do you tell a need from a want?

👩‍🏫 Teacher Moves

  • Name something you need.
  • Name something you want.
  • Set the goal.

🎒 Student Actions

  • Think.
  • Share.
  • Get ready.
2

Use — Sort It Out

12 min

Students sort needs and wants.

👩‍🏫 Teacher Moves

  • Send students to the sort.
  • Drop each example.
  • Explain each choice.

🎒 Student Actions

  • Sort.
  • Say.
  • Explain.
3

Modify — Pick for a Trip

13 min

Students choose needs first.

👩‍🏫 Teacher Moves

  • Imagine packing for a trip.
  • Pick the needs first.
  • Add a want if there is room.

🎒 Student Actions

  • Imagine.
  • Pick.
  • Add.
4

Create — Needs-and-Wants Chart

15 min

Students make a two-column chart.

👩‍🏫 Teacher Moves

  • Fold a page into two columns.
  • Draw three needs.
  • Draw three wants.

🎒 Student Actions

  • Fold.
  • Draw.
  • Draw.
5

Reflect — Why It Matters

5 min

Students reflect on needs and wants.

👩‍🏫 Teacher Moves

  • What is a need?
  • Why can't we buy every want?
  • Complete the exit ticket.

🎒 Student Actions

  • Say it.
  • Say it.
  • Complete the exit ticket.
Standards Alignment

Built to the standards you report on

Aligned to the C3 Framework for Social Studies and Common Core literacy in social studies.

C3
D2.Eco.1.K-2

Explain how scarcity requires a person to make choices.

C3
D2.Eco.2.K-2

Identify the benefits and costs of making various personal decisions.

C3
D2.Civ.7.K-2

Apply civic virtues when making choices in the classroom and at home.

CCSS
SL.1.1

Participate in collaborative conversations about the topic.

Differentiation

One lesson, every learner

Multilingual Learners

ELL / EMERGING READERS
  • Need/want picture cards.
  • Sentence frame: “___ is a need / want.”
  • Sort two at a time.

Support & Access

IEP / 504
  • Start with food and candy.
  • Discuss one example together.
  • Sort needs fully before wants.

Stretch & Extend

GIFTED / EARLY FINISHERS
  • Explain why a want can wait.
  • Sort a tricky item and defend it.
  • Plan a small budget of needs first.
Materials

What to gather

  • 📽️Projector / board
  • 🖼️Need/want picture cards
  • 💻Sort It Out
  • 📄Chart paper
  • 🖍️Crayons or pencils
  • 🎫Exit-ticket slips
Vocabulary

Key terms — hover for a quick definition

needsomething we must have to livewantsomething that is nice to have but not neededfoodwhat our bodies need to grow and stay strongsheltera place to live that keeps us safeclothingwhat we wear to stay warm and coveredchoicepicking one thing instead of anothermoneywhat people use to buy goods and servicessaveto keep money to use later
Evaluate

Exit Ticket

Preview the three formative checks. Tap “Sample answer” to see what mastery looks like — hide them before you print for students.

QUESTION 1
What is a need?
Something we must have to live, like food, water, clothing, or a place to live.
QUESTION 2
Why can't we buy every want?
Because money is limited, so we must choose, and needs come first.
QUESTION 3
Name one need and one want.
A need is food; a want is a toy (answers vary).

Create: a needs-and-wants chart.

Have students fold a page into two columns and draw three needs and three wants, so the difference becomes their own. A printable needs-and-wants worksheet is in the Social Studies library.

Study · Flashcards

Study the key terms

Tap a card to flip it, then rate whether you knew it. Built from this lesson’s vocabulary.

🃏 Needs and WantsFlip
Card 1
Term
Tap to flip →
Meaning
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Nice work!

Practice · Quiz

Check your understanding

A quick self-check with instant feedback, drawn from this lesson’s key terms.

📝 Needs and WantsQuiz
Score: 0
1 / 6
Question 1
0%

Nice work!

Practice · Worksheet

Printable worksheet

A print-and-go review sheet with a built-in answer key. Tap “Show answer key” to reveal answers, or print the clean version for students.

🖨️ Needs and WantsPrint
Name: ________________________
Date: ____________

Part A · Write the word that matches each meaning

Word bank: choice, clothing, food, money, need, save, shelter, want
  1. a place to live that keeps us safe
  2. what we wear to stay warm and covered
  3. what people use to buy goods and services
  4. to keep money to use later
  5. what our bodies need to grow and stay strong
  6. picking one thing instead of another
  7. something we must have to live
  8. something that is nice to have but not needed

Part B · Show what you learned

  1. What is a need?
  2. Why can't we buy every want?
  3. Name one need and one want.
Answer key — Part A: 1) shelter · 2) clothing · 3) money · 4) save · 5) food · 6) choice · 7) need · 8) want
Part B: 1) Something we must have to live, like food, water, clothing, or a place to live. 2) Because money is limited, so we must choose, and needs come first. 3) A need is food; a want is a toy (answers vary).