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First Grade Economics Unit
First graders begin by studying the differences between a "good" and a "service". They compare items to each other to help comprehend the differences. They also look into the differences between buyers and sellers and how the choices...
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Kindergarten Money
Students identify the various coins and their values through presentations, a rubric, a value pretest, and coin manipulatives. Money is incorporated into various activities whether at home or in school. Students create money webs using...
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"Do You Need It or Just Want It?"
Students distinguish between "wants" and "needs." Students make a short list of each. They review The Berenstain Bears Count Their Blessings book and discuss what blessings are. Students then rewrite their list of wants and needs.
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"Going Camping"
Students review the difference between "wants" and "needs." Students apply acquired knowledge by preparing for a pretend camping trip. Students plan out their trip together and then revise their list twice.
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Education: Passing Enough Knowledge to Survive to the Next Generation
Students compare and contrast the knowledge requirements for human and animal children. They identify the consequences of an animal if it is unprepared for the given environment. They discover the importance of education as well.
Council for Economic Education
A Perfect Pet
Students read the story "The Perfect Pet". They examine how scarcity is a problem in society when people can not have everything they want which forces them to make (economic) choices.
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Rainforest Wildlife
Students investigate how living things depend on one another for food, shelter, and other needs. They create artwork depicting a variety of living things thriving in an interdependent rainforest environment. Students blend primary...
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What Do Pets Need?
Students identify the needs that all humans and animals have. In groups, they play a game to discover the proper way to take care of pets. To end the lesson, they develop a plan to best take care of their pets at home and view pictures...
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Introduction to Business: Business Feud
Trying to liven up an introductory economics unit on wants and needs? Combine text review with a game using this guide, which has scholars earning the right to play "Business Feud" by scoring high on reading recall questions. While it is...
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Hula Hoop Habitats
Students explore migration. In this science activity, students play a game in which they explore bird migration. Students discuss the needs of birds and play a game in which they "migrate" in order to meet their needs.
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Bartering Through the Seasons
Fifth graders explore bartering. In this bartering lesson, 5th graders investigate bartering between the American colonies. Students study the climate and geography of neighboring colonies and investigate crops native to each area.
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Consumer Society
In this consumer society worksheet, students think about where and why they buy goods and the difference between needs and wants. Students read a text and answer 30 varied questions.
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Curiosity Shop
First graders simulate shopping for needs and wants. In this money lesson, 1st graders examine Norman Rockwell's painting "Curiosity Shop." Students role-play shopping in a store and making purchases.
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Budgeting (Part 1)
Students examine why a budget may be helpful. In this budgeting lesson plan, students graph how they spent money during the past week. They discuss the benefits of creating a budget and explore the difference between wants and needs.
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My Perfect Pet
Students explore pet ownership. In this my perfect pet lesson plan, students research common animals used as pets and complete a variety of activities based on this data.
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The Money Game
Eleventh graders investigate the amount of money that families use throughout the year. For this economic and math lesson, 11th graders participate in a money bingo game. Students analyze the needs and wants for a household.
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Investigations in Aid: Identifying the Need
Students investigate the needs in emerging nations. In this emerging nations lesson, students research the conditions for needs in the given countries. Students are assigned to the country groups of Honduras, Nigeria, Bosnia, Cambodia,...
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It's All in the Making: Our Local Organizations
Students study African American nonprofit organizations. In this nonprofit organizations lesson, students discuss African American organizations. Students research the NAACP and NUL website. Students design posters for both groups....
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People making a difference
Pupils identify resources that all humans need and compare needs and wants. In this needs and wants lesson plan, students discuss with their teacher situations in which people need or want items and how some people don't have the...
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Everybody Needs
Students compare cultures. In this needs and wants lesson, students discuss the basic necessities of life and what they need in a day in order to survive. Students also discuss how these needs might change if they lived in another...
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Budgeting Money
Students explore the concept of budgeting. In this budgeting lesson, students pick an occupation and develop a list of needs and wants. Students make a list of monthly expenses and budget their income to afford those expenses.
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Exploring Community Needs
Students identify the needs of their community. In this communities instructional activity, students brainstorm the needs of their community and prepare a letter to a local official to address the community need.
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The Wants and Needs of Making a Difference
Students analyze a reading selection. In this wants and needs lesson, students read a story to facilitate a discussion about wants and needs. Students discuss how communities help each other in difficult times.
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Needs and Wants
Students demonstrate responsible consumer choices. In this social studies lesson, students read The Lorax and discuss wants and needs. Students discuss how to save natural resources by making informed consumer choices.