★Wants and Needs
Grade 3 Social Studies Worksheet
NameDate
Write need or want.
PencilGoGrade 3 · Social Studies · Economics
3rd Grade Wants and Needs worksheets
6 printable versionsOn LevelAbout 4 minutes eachFree · no account
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About this worksheet
A need is something a person must have to live and stay healthy, such as food, water, clothing and a safe place to live. A want is something that is nice to have but that a person can live without, such as a toy, a treat or sunglasses. Learning to tell them apart is the first step in economics, because families, schools and towns have only so much money and have to choose what to buy first. On this sheet a third grader looks at twelve pictures and writes the word need or want under each one, with no choices to pick from.
Building Confidence uses the clearest examples, On Level adds foods and clothes that are easy to mix up with treats, and Challenge Me includes items where the child has to think about what a person truly cannot do without. Talk about a family shopping trip: which things go in the cart first?
What your child will learn
- Tell a need from a want
- Name food, water, clothing and shelter as needs
- Explain why a toy or a treat is a want
- Understand why people choose needs before wants
C3 Framework standard: D2.Eco.1.3-5
Worked example
A loaf of bread is food, and a person must eat to live, so bread is a need. A toy robot is fun, but a person can live without it, so it is a want.
Common mistake
Calling something a need because you love it, such as a favorite toy or a treat.
Helpful hint
Ask: could a person stay alive and healthy without it? If not, it is a need.
Questions parents ask
What is the most common mistake with wants and needs?
Calling something a need because you love it, such as a favorite toy or a treat.
How can I help my child with wants and needs?
Ask: could a person stay alive and healthy without it? If not, it is a need.
Are these 3rd grade social studies worksheets free to print?
Yes. All 6 printable versions on this page are free to download and print, with no account needed.
Similar: Goods and Services · Scarcity and Choice
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