Kindergarten - Social Studies
6 printable versions - Challenge Me - About 7 minutes each
Kindergarten - Social Studies - Challenge Me
Worksheet 1Is clean water a need or a want?
Which reason explains why a new toy is a want?
A family can buy food or a new game. What comes first?
Why can a person not choose every item at once?
Is a new toy a need or a want?
Which reason explains why a warm meal is a need?
In snow, which comes first: a coat or sticker?
Saving for a toy means making which choice?
Needs are things people require for health and safety, such as clean water, nourishing food, shelter, and suitable clothing. Wants can make life enjoyable but are not required for survival, such as an extra toy, sticker, treat, or game. Kindergarten children may call a strongly desired item a need because the feeling is intense, or assume that every food and every piece of clothing fits the same category in every situation. This worksheet starts with clear examples, then adds context: a warm coat becomes necessary in snow, while a second game remains optional when money or space is limited. Support items sort one object at a time. Standard questions ask why it fits. Challenge items require choosing a need before a want when both cannot be obtained. Watch for moral language. Wanting something is not bad; the economic skill is identifying priorities and making a choice when resources are limited.
On a snowy day, a warm coat protects the body from cold, so it is a need. A new toy may be wanted, but it does not provide that protection.
Calling anything strongly desired a need without asking whether it protects health or safety.
Ask: do I need this to be healthy and safe, or would it simply be nice to have?