Wants Vs Needs Lesson Plan

TCNJ Lesson Plan
Needs vs. Wants
Student Name: Samantha Bolognese
School Name: Lawrenceville Elementary
Grade Level: 1
Host Teachers Name: Mrs. Potter
Guiding and/or Essential Questions:

What are needs and a wants?
What is the difference between needs and wants?
What do humans need for survival?
Pre-lesson Assignments and/or Student Prior Knowledge
Students may have some idea of what we need (food/water). Students may not know shelter and
clothing are included as basic needs. Students may have misconceptions about the difference
between needs and wants (why we need food but ice cream is a want).
Standards:
6.1.4.C.2Distinguishbetweenneedsandwantsandexplainhowscarcityandchoiceinfluence
decisionsmadebyindividuals,communities,andnations.
CCSS.ELALITERACY.RL.1.1Askandanswerquestionsaboutkeydetailsinatext.
CCSS.ELALITERACY.SL.1.2Askandanswerquestionsaboutkeydetailsinatext,readaloud,
orinformationpresentedorallyorthroughothermedia.
Learning Objectives and Assessments:

Learning Objectives
Assessment
Student will be able to define needs and wants.
Students will engage in discussion and watch

video about needs and wants, teacher will
assess students by their ideas given in
discussion for a working definition.
Students will identify basic needs.
Students will discuss what humans need to

love/survive; teacher will assess students
responses for answer of food, water and shelter.
Students will classify items as needs or wants.
Students will partake in needs vs. wants game

and sorting activity; teacher will assess
students answers in game and paper chart for
correct categorization.
Materials/Resources: (List materials, include any online or book references and resources)
The Bernstein Bears Get the Gimmies
Marker
Dry erase board
80 Item cards (8 per couple)
10 Paper bags
20 Needs and wants charts
Plan for set-up/distribution/cleanup of materials:
Write needs on white board

Print and cut out item cards and group in paper bags
Print out needs and wants charts
Step-by-Step plan:
1. Lesson beginning: Teacher will call students by table to sit on the rug (or direct them to
rug as they come back from PE). Teacher will read The Bernstein Bears Get the
Gimmies. Teacher will ask students to recall what happened in the book. Teacher will
ask students what the bears wanted and ask, Did the bears really need those things?
Teacher will ask students to think of something they really want. Teacher will tell
students to keep their ideas in their heads and now think if they need it. Teacher will
ask, raise your hand if you need that item. Teacher will call on 1-2 students with raised
hands to state their item and why they need it. Teacher will ask students to now thing
about things they need and things humans need to live.
2. Discussion: Teacher will have needs written on the board. Teacher will call on students
to name needs. Teacher will prompt students to answer, food, water, shelter and clothing
(will accept air, sun, heat), by asking what we could not survive without. Once students
figures out the basic needs, teacher will explain that humans cannot live without these
things and all other items are wants. Teacher will address misconceptions by asking class,
Ice cream is a food, but could we live without it? Cars are very useful, but does
everyone need it to survive? etc. Teacher will address any student questions and assess
student understanding through a needs vs. wants game.
3. Game: Teacher will ask students to stand up and stay on the rug. Teacher will explain
game directions: I will call out a name of an item and you will decide if it is a need or a
want. If you think it is a want you will walk to the left of the room near the closet, if you
think it is a need you will walk to the right side of the room and stand in front of the
board. If you are not sure you can stand in the middle of the room. Teacher will ask
students, can someone remind us how we move around the classroom? students should
say, We walk. Teachers will reinforcing walking instructions and ask students if they
understand the game directions.
4. Teacher will name first item, bike, after students have chosen their side, teacher will
state that this item is a want because we do not need a bike to survive. Teacher will name
second item, shoes. Teacher will explain that this is a need because it is clothing that is
important to living. Teacher will name third item, air, this is a need. Teacher will name
forth and last item, candy, this is a want. Teacher will ask students to return to the rug
and sit down for further instructions.
5. Activity: Teacher will explain the next activity, I am going to put you in pairs and give
each pair a brown bag. In the brown bag are items that you and your partner have to pull
one card out at a time and decide whether it is a want or a need. Once you decide what it
is you can write it on the correct side of your chart. Once you have all of the items
written down you put all the cards back in the bag and sit back on the rug. There will be 4
items on each side, if you have any questions raise your hand! Teacher will call pairs up
to get a paper and a bag, and direct them to an open spot in the room to sit.
6. Closure: Teacher will collect charts from students as they finish; once all or most
students are done teacher will meet students on the rug again. Teacher will review a few
items that may have been challenging or talk about the answers. Teacher call students to
clean up and get ready for dismissal.
Key Questions:
What is something that you want right now?
Do you need that item?
What do you need to live?
Logistics:
Timing: 30 minutes
Lesson beginning: 5 minutes

Discussion: 5 minutes
Game: 5 minutes
Activity: 10 minutes
Closing: 5 minutes
Transitions:
Teacher will call students to rug by table

Teacher will call one pair at a time to start activity
Classroom Management:
If students are not listening teacher will remind students of behavior chart
Teacher will remove letters from board if class cannot maintain appropriate
behavior
Teacher will remind students of classroom safety to walk in classroom
Teacher will monitor students during transition and activities
Differentiation
Teacher will assign specific partners who may work efficiently together
Teacher will monitor E.J. during lesson
Teacher will have card items labeled
Teacher will provide extra support to pairs that may struggle
Computer
Phone
Scooter
Cupcake
Vegetables
Water
Home
Clothes

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What are needs and wants according to the lesson plan?

What are some examples of basic human needs given in the lesson plan?

TCNJ Lesson Plan

Needs vs. Wants

Student Name: Samantha Bolognese

School Name: Lawrenceville Elementary

Host Teachers Name: Mrs. Potter

Guiding and/or Essential Questions:

Learning Objectives and Assessments:

Student will be able to define needs and wants.

Students will engage in discussion and watch

Students will identify basic needs.

Students will discuss what humans need to

Students will classify items as needs or wants.

Students will partake in needs vs. wants game

Write needs on white board

Lesson beginning: 5 minutes

Teacher will call students to rug by table

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