Easy explanation of needs and wants for preschoolers

📚 What are Needs and Wants?

Understanding the difference between needs and wants is a fundamental concept in social studies, even for our youngest learners. A need is something you must have to survive. A want is something you would like to have, but you can live without it. Think of it like this: Needs help us survive and stay healthy, while wants make life more fun and enjoyable.

🍎 Lesson Objectives

• 🎯 Students will be able to define "needs" and "wants" in simple terms.
• 🌱 Students will be able to identify examples of needs and wants.
• 🤝 Students will be able to differentiate between needs and wants in everyday scenarios.

🖍️ Materials

• 🖼️ Pictures of various items (food, water, toys, games, etc.)
• 📝 Whiteboard or chart paper
• ✏️ Markers or crayons
• ✂️ Scissors
• 💧 Glue
• 📃 Worksheets with pictures to sort

☀️ Warm-up (5 minutes)

Start with a quick and engaging activity to get the children thinking. Ask each child what their favorite thing is.

• 🗣️ Ask each student, "What is your favorite toy?"
• ❓ Follow up with, "Do you NEED it to live, or do you WANT it?"
• 👍 Briefly explain that a toy is usually something we WANT.

🏫 Main Instruction

1. Introduce Needs:

• 💧 Essential Survival: Explain that needs are things we MUST have to live, like water, food, and shelter.
• 🧑‍⚕️ Health is Key: Talk about how we need clothes to protect us from the cold and medicine when we are sick.
• 🏠 Safe Shelter: Discuss how houses keep us safe from bad weather.

2. Introduce Wants:

• 🧸 Fun and Games: Explain that wants are things that we would like to have, but we can live without them, like toys, candy, and video games.
• 🍦 Extra Treats: Emphasize that while ice cream is yummy, it is not something we need to survive.
• ⚽ Optional Enjoyment: Discuss how a new bicycle is fun, but walking or using an old bike is also okay.

3. Activity: Needs vs. Wants Sorting Game:

• 🖼️ Visual Aids: Use pictures of various items.
• ✂️ Cut and Sort: Have the children cut out the pictures and sort them into two columns labeled "Needs" and "Wants".
• 🤝 Group Discussion: Discuss each item as a class to reinforce the concepts.

✅ Assessment

Needs and Wants Worksheet:

• 📝 Distribute a worksheet with pictures of different items.
• 🖍️ Have the children color the needs in one color and the wants in another color.

➕ Extension Activities

• 📖 Story Time: Read a book about needs and wants.
• 🎭 Role Play: Act out scenarios where children have to choose between a need and a want.