Some Things We Need, Some Things We Just Want
Sage stands in a cozy kitchen holding a loaf of bread in one hand and a toy robot in the other, grinning as colorful pictures of food, clothes, a house, toys, and candy are spread across a big table in front of them.
- Identify at least two examples of needs that every person must have to stay alive and healthy.
- Identify at least two examples of wants that people would like but do not need to survive.
- Compare a need and a want and explain the difference in simple words.
- Sort everyday objects into needs and wants groups.
Key terms
- need
- Something you must have to live and stay healthy.
- want
- Something you would like to have but can live without.
- shelter
- A home that keeps you safe, dry, and protected.
- decision
- A choice you make when you cannot have everything.
Needs Keep You Alive
Needs are the things your body must have to live and stay healthy. Food helps you grow strong, water keeps you from getting too thirsty, clothes keep you warm, and a home keeps you safe. You could not stay healthy for long without any of these. That is what makes them needs. They are not just nice to have; they are the things you truly cannot live without.
Wants Are Extras
Wants are the things you would really like to have, but you can stay alive and healthy without them. A toy, a video game, or a scoop of ice cream are all wants. They are fun and yummy, and there is nothing wrong with enjoying them. But because you could still be safe and healthy without them, they are extras. Wants make life more fun, while needs keep you living.
Choosing Needs First
Sometimes people cannot buy everything they would like, so they have to make a decision about what to get first. A smart way to choose is to take care of your needs before your wants. If you only have a little money, food and a warm coat come before a new toy. Putting needs first helps keep you safe and healthy, and you can enjoy wants once your needs are met.
Worked examples
Maya is cold outside; decide which item is a need.
- Maya needs to stay warm and safe in the cold.
- A warm jacket keeps her from getting sick.
- A doll and candy do not keep her warm.
- So the warm jacket is the need.
Answer: The warm jacket is the need because it keeps Maya safe in the cold.
Decide whether a beloved toy dinosaur is a need or a want.
- Ask: can Carlos be healthy and safe without it?
- Yes, he can live without the toy dinosaur.
- Loving something does not turn it into a need.
- So the toy dinosaur is a want.
Answer: The toy dinosaur is a want, even though Carlos loves it.
Activity
Help Sage sort these items into the Needs basket and the Wants basket.
Practice
List three things that are needs for every person.
Explain why people should take care of needs before wants.
Common mistakes to avoid
- A toy is a need because you love it.Loving something does not make it a need; you can be healthy and safe without a toy.
- All the things you use a lot are needs.Using something often does not make it a need if you could still live without it.
Check your understanding
Maya is very cold outside. Which of these is a NEED that will keep her safe?
Carlos really loves his toy dinosaur. His toy dinosaur is a —
Which group shows ONLY needs?
Recap
Needs are things you must have to live and stay healthy, like food, water, clothes, and shelter. Wants are things you would like but can live without, like toys and candy. When you cannot have everything, it is wise to take care of needs before wants.
Reflect
If you could only choose one need or one want today, which would you pick?