Needs are things we must have to stay alive and healthy. These include food, water, air, and a place to live. We need food and water to keep our bodies strong, air to breathe, and a home like a house or apartment to keep us safe.
Everyone has different needs to stay safe and healthy. Think about what you need every day to feel good and be safe.
Wants are things we would like to have but don’t need to survive. These can be toys, games, candy, or even a computer. Wants can be fun and make life more enjoyable, but they are not essential for living.
Sometimes, it can be hard to tell if something is a need or a want. Let’s look at some examples to help us understand better.
We need food to live, but a hamburger is not a must-have. It’s just a type of food you might want to eat.
Trees and plants are very important because they give us oxygen to breathe and lots of the food we eat.
This one can be tricky. Cars can make getting around easier, but they are not necessary. You can also walk, ride a bike, or use a bus to go places.
There are many ways people can get what they need and want. To learn more, you can watch other videos in this series. If you’re a teacher, you can find Teaching Without Frills on Instagram, Facebook, Pinterest, and TPT.
Thanks for learning with us!
Needs and Wants Scavenger Hunt: Go on a scavenger hunt around your home or classroom. Find five items that are needs and five items that are wants. Draw a picture of each item and explain why it is a need or a want. Share your findings with a friend or family member and see if they agree with your choices.
Create a Needs and Wants Collage: Use old magazines, newspapers, or printed images to create a collage. Cut out pictures of things you think are needs and things you think are wants. Glue them onto a piece of paper, dividing the paper into two sections: one for needs and one for wants. Discuss your collage with your class or family and talk about why you placed each item in its section.
Story Time Reflection: Think about a story you know or a movie you have watched. Identify the needs and wants of the main character. What did they need to survive, and what did they want to make their life more enjoyable? Share your thoughts with a partner and discuss how the character’s needs and wants affected their actions in the story.
**Needs and Wants**
**Economics for Kids by Teaching Without Frills**
**What are needs?**
Needs are essential items required for survival, such as food, water, air, and shelter. We need food and water to maintain our health, air for breathing, and shelter like a house or apartment for safety.
**What else do you need?**
Everyone has different needs to stay safe and healthy.
**What are wants?**
Wants are items that you would like to have, such as toys, games, candy, and computers. While wants can be enjoyable and may make life easier, they are not necessary for survival.
**What types of things do you want?**
Sometimes, it can be challenging to determine whether something is a need or a want. Let’s consider a few examples.
**Hmm, a hamburger. Is that a need or a want?**
You need food to survive, but a hamburger is not essential; it may simply be a type of food you desire.
**How about trees and plants? Are those needs or wants?**
Plants are crucial because they produce essential items like oxygen and much of the food we consume.
**What about a car? Is that a need or a want?**
This can be a tricky one. Cars can make life more convenient for some people, but they are not necessary. Alternatives like walking, biking, or taking public transportation exist.
**So how do people acquire the things they need and some of the things they want?**
Check out the other videos in this series to learn more. If you’re a teacher, you can find Teaching Without Frills on Instagram, Facebook, Pinterest, and TPT.
**Thanks for watching!**
