I Really Don’t Need That
GRADE 2 LESSON 1
Time Required: 20-30 Minutes
Content Standards: (7.3.1 Standard 7): Students will
acquire the attitudes, knowledge and interpersonal skills
to help them understand and respect self and others.
Indicators:
f. Students will distinguish between appropriate and
inappropriate behaviors.
i. Students will demonstrate cooperative behaviors in
groups.
GOAL: Students will recognize and understand the
difference between wants and needs.
Activity Statements: Students will explore their wants and needs and will understand and
recognize their personal values and beliefs regarding their spending habits.
Materials:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Chalk board or Interactive whiteboard
Several magazines/newspapers that contain pictures of needs and wants
two large posters, one labeled NEEDS, one labeled WANTS
Scissors for each student
Glue for each student
Author: Diana J. Sayre (Kanawha County Schools)
I Really Don’t Need That
GRADE 2 LESSON 1
Procedures:
SAY: Today we are going to review your wants vs. needs. It is important for you to know these
differences so that you will learn to make wise choices and learn to take care of your needs
before your wants. We are going to brainstorm different needs and wants, list them on the
board, and discuss.
1. Ask students to go through their typical day. What they need daily: for example, soap,
toothbrush, comb, food, clothes, shoes, pencil, paper, maybe glasses, etc.
2. Then, instructor will put the students into four groups and give newspapers and
magazine for the students to find their items. Two groups will look for needs, cut them
out and glue them to the poster. The other two groups are going to look for wants, cut
them out and glue them to the poster. While students are looking for items, discuss as a
group why and/or why not you have selected these items. When students are finished,
as a class, review why the groups selected the items they did.
Activity
3. Have two (or more if desired) posters, one labeled WANTS, the other labeled NEEDS.
When the groups have several items cut out, have them glue the items on the
appropriate poster (make sure items selected are correct before gluing on the posters).
4. Discuss the two posters, generating a class discussion as to why the students chose the
pictures they did.
Discussion:
Before doing activity
1. Let’s list some items on the board we need to live, to survive?
2. What are some things we want, but do not need to survive?
After doing activity
1. Discuss the two posters, generating a class discussion as to why the students chose the
pictures they did.
2. What would happen if you chose an item from the want list instead of something you
need (for example a TV instead of food)?
3. Why is it important to sometimes choose what you need instead of what you want?
What could some consequences be of your choices?
4. Looking at the two posters, you may not need some of the items that are there (glasses,
etc.) and you may see things on the want poster that you may or may not want. Discuss
as a group why/why not some of you may have different choices.
Source selfgrowth.com (magazine and poster activity)
Author: Diana J. Sayre (Kanawha County Schools)
I Really Don’t Need That
GRADE 2 LESSON 1
Additional Resources:
1. http://www.themint.org *
2. http://learningtogive.org/students/
3. http://pbskids.org/itsmylife/money
Extension Activities:
Go to above website* and have parents help make a money diary to help you
meet a savings goal for an item you may want.
Author: Diana J. Sayre (Kanawha County Schools)