Third graders begin financial literacy with the most important idea in smart money choices: telling a NEED (something you must have to live) from a WANT (something nice to have). Sorting real examples builds the habit of thinking before spending.
Students will be able to…
Some things we truly need; others are just nice to have. What’s the difference between a need and a want?
Project this and sort each item into Needs (must have) or Wants (nice to have).
Tap any phase to open the teacher moves and student actions.
Some things we need to live; others are just nice — what’s the difference?
Students explore.
Students practice.
Students apply.
Students close.
Aligned to the C3 Framework (Economics) & the National Standards for Personal Financial Education.
Explain scarcity and choices.
Identify positive & negative incentives.
Distinguish needs from wants.
Draw conclusions about choices.
Preview the three formative checks. Tap “Sample answer” to see what mastery looks like — hide them before you print for students.
Have students name one need and one want at home and explain the difference. A printable needs-and-wants sheet is in the Social Studies library.
Tap a card to flip it, then rate whether you knew it. Built from this lesson’s vocabulary.
A quick self-check with instant feedback, drawn from this lesson’s key terms.
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.