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Welcome to Needs and Wants! – Understanding Needs vs. Wants – Needs and wants are different, but both are important. – Needs: Things we must have – Like food, water, shelter, and clothing. – Wants: Things we’d like to have – Like toys, games, and treats. – Sharing our Needs and Wants | Begin the class with a warm greeting and introduce the concept of needs and wants. Explain that needs are essentials for survival, such as food and water, while wants are items or experiences that are not necessary for survival but make life enjoyable, like toys or vacations. Encourage the children to think about things they encounter in their daily lives and categorize them as needs or wants. This will help them understand the difference between the two. Prepare to engage the class in a discussion where they can share personal examples of needs and wants, fostering a participatory environment.

Understanding Needs – Needs are essentials for living – Examples: food, water, shelter – We need to eat, drink, and have a home – Clothing is also a need – We wear clothes to protect our bodies – Let’s list more needs! | This slide introduces the concept of needs to first-grade students. It’s important to explain that needs are things that are necessary for survival and to maintain good health. Start by discussing the basic needs such as food and water, which are required for sustenance, shelter for safety and protection from the environment, and clothing for warmth and protection. Engage the students by asking them to think of other needs they have at home and in school. Encourage them to consider why these things are important for their well-being. This will help them differentiate between needs and wants, which is a fundamental concept in understanding economics at their level.

Understanding Wants – Wants are things we wish for – Examples: toys, games, sweets – Like a favorite doll, a fun video game, or yummy chocolate – Wants are not needed for survival – Think of your own wants – Maybe a new bicycle or a superhero costume? | This slide introduces the concept of ‘wants’ to first graders, helping them differentiate between essentials for survival and things that are nice to have. Use examples that are relatable to children, such as toys, video games, and candy, to illustrate the idea of wants. Encourage the students to think of their own examples of wants, which will help them understand the concept better. During the next class, facilitate a discussion where students can share their ideas of wants and reflect on why these items are not necessary for survival but are still desired.

Needs vs. Wants: Learning the Difference – Comparing needs and wants with pictures – Pictures help us see what we must have to live and what we like to have for fun! – Match items to ‘Needs’ or ‘Wants’ – Draw a line from items like food or toys to the correct category. – Understanding why it matters – Knowing this helps us make good choices when we pick things. | This slide introduces the concept of needs and wants to first graders through a visual and interactive activity. Start by explaining that needs are things we must have to live, like food and shelter, while wants are things that can make life more fun, like toys and games. Use pictures to help children visualize the difference. The activity involves drawing lines to match items to the correct category, which reinforces the concept through participation. Discussing the importance of distinguishing between needs and wants will help students make thoughtful decisions about their choices. It’s a foundational economic principle that sets the stage for responsible financial habits.

Our Class Needs and Wants – Explore our classroom – Spot needs and wants – Needs are things we must have to live, like water and food. Wants are things we would like to have, like toys. – Create two lists – Group activity on the board – We’ll work together to categorize classroom items into ‘Needs’ and ‘Wants’. | This slide introduces the concept of needs and wants in a tangible and interactive way. Begin by explaining the difference between needs (essentials for survival) and wants (things that are nice to have but not necessary). Then, guide the students to look around the classroom and identify items that fit into each category. Encourage them to think critically about why they consider an item a need or a want. As a class, discuss and decide where each item should go on the lists. This activity will help students understand the basic economic concepts of needs and wants through a collaborative and engaging exercise. Make sure to provide examples and be ready to facilitate the discussion, ensuring that every student participates and understands the lesson.

Activity Time: Needs and Wants Collage – Let’s create a collage! – Cut out pictures of needs and wants – Needs are things we must have to live, like food and water. Wants are things we would like to have, like toys. – Sort them on posters – Use two posters: one for ‘Needs’ and one for ‘Wants’. – Have fun learning about economics! | This activity is designed to help first graders understand the difference between needs and wants in a fun and interactive way. Provide magazines for students to look through and find images that represent needs (such as food, water, shelter, and clothing) and wants (such as toys, games, and candy). Guide them to cut out the pictures and decide if they are a need or a want, then place them on the correct poster board. This will help them visually categorize and comprehend the concept of needs and wants. Encourage them to explain their choices. Possible variations of the activity could include drawing items instead of cutting out pictures, or using a digital collage app for a tech-friendly approach.

Review and Share: Needs and Wants – Reviewing needs and wants – Share your needs and wants collage – Show the class your collage and see if they agree – Explain why you chose each item – Did you pick a need or a want? Tell us about it! – Celebrating our learning | This slide is meant to conclude the lesson on needs and wants. Start by reviewing the key concepts that differentiate needs, which are essentials for survival, from wants, which are things that are nice to have but not necessary. Encourage the students to present the collages they’ve created, which should include images or drawings of items they consider needs and wants. Ask them to explain their choices to the class, fostering a discussion on why certain items are needs or wants. This activity will help reinforce their understanding and allow them to apply what they’ve learned. Praise their efforts and participation to end the lesson on a positive note. For the next class, consider having a few different activities where students can sort items into needs and wants or even create a story involving characters making choices between the two.