Economic decision-making, resource management, consumer awareness
Sorting, classification, data organization
Begin by explaining the difference between needs and wants. Needs are things we must have to survive and be healthy, while wants are things we would like to have but can live without.
Key Definitions: Needs = essential for survival (food, water, shelter, clothing). Wants = nice to have but not essential (toys, candy, video games).
Give several clear examples of each category. Use familiar items that students can easily relate to. Discuss why each item belongs in its category.
Example Needs: Food, water, house, warm clothes, medicine.Example Wants: Ice cream, toys, video games, fancy shoes.
Divide students into small groups of 3-4 students. This allows for discussion and collaborative decision-making while ensuring all students can participate actively.
Group Dynamics: Mix students with different perspectives and abilities to encourage rich discussions.
Give each group a set of picture cards showing various items, two sorting containers labeled 'Needs' and 'Wants', and a sorting worksheet to record their decisions.
Picture Cards: Include a mix of obvious needs, obvious wants, and some items that might spark discussion (like books or a bicycle).
Have students work together to sort the picture cards into the appropriate containers. Encourage them to discuss their reasoning and reach group consensus on difficult items.
Facilitation: Circulate among groups to listen to discussions and ask probing questions without giving away answers.
Discuss items that were difficult to categorize as a whole class. Some items might be needs in certain situations but wants in others. Help students understand this complexity.
Discussion Items: Books (education need?), bicycle (transportation need?), cell phone (safety need for some families?).
As a class, complete the sorting worksheet by recording the final decisions for each item. Discuss the reasoning behind classifications and celebrate different perspectives.
Reflection Questions: "Why is it important to know the difference?" "How does this help families make decisions?" "What happens when we can't have everything we want?"
Duration
25 minutes
Group Size
Small groups (3-4 students)
Difficulty
Beginner
Food, water, house, warm clothes, medicine, shoes
Toys, candy, video games, jewelry, fancy car
Books, bicycle, cell phone, pet, television
