1. Introduction to wants and needs
Human Family
Introduction to wants and needs

2. Discussion points
1. What RIGHTS does everyone have? 2. What NEEDS does everyone have? 3. What is the difference between a WANT and a NEED?

3. 1. What RIGHTS does everyone have?
Are rights different depending on: *where you live? *how old you are? * the color of your skin? *what language you speak? *anything else?

4. 2. What NEEDS does everyone have?
Do NEEDS differ based on:
*where you live?
*how old you are?
* the color of your skin?
*what language you speak?
*anything else?

5. 3. What is the difference between a WANT and a NEED?

6. A human can live 3 seconds without air, 3 days without water, and 3 weeks without food.
ACTIVITY 1-The students are instructed to categorize a list of items according to what they will provide: air, water, food, shelter or fun.
Why did you put each item in the category you did?

7. Want: something that is desired, but not necessary to live.
Need: something that is necessary for organisms to live a healthy life.
Basic Needs for humans: air, water, food, clothing and shelter to survive.
ACTIVITY 2- Students are instructed to list the items in your home and school that fulfill these requirements. Give each group 5 minutes to list as many items under each category as they can. They may also create new categories that they think are needs and list items under the new category. Review each list with the class and discuss why items are wants or needs. When the discussion is complete ask the class to list three environments where air is not readily available. Have the class vote on which environment they would like to visit. These environments might include under the ocean, on the moon or at a very high altitude.

8. Let’s be real, though… What do we use MONEY to buy?
. Ask class members to name things that people use money to buy. Include a variety of both needs and wants. Include services (electric bill, rent, visits to the doctor and dentist) as well as goods (food, clothing, furniture).
Now work as a class to sort the list into two lists: needs and wants.
People want many goods and services. We all have unlimited wants and limited resources. For each of the items on the two lists, let the group assign a reasonable estimate of the cost. Assuming we all have about half the resources we would like to have, add the total cost, divide by 2 and tell students that they have that amount to spend (budget). Give some time for students to determine what they will eliminate from the lists. Ask two volunteers who are willing to share their rankings and put their budgets on the board. How are they different? What priorities did they set? Did either of them miss a necessary expense (a need)?
. Ask class members to name things that people use money to buy. Make a list on the board. (You may get some ideas for class discussion from The site has conversation questions on Money and Shopping, and many of them are appropriate to trigger items for this listing exercise--and some are not). Include a variety of both needs and wants. Include services (electric bill, rent, visits to the doctor and dentist) as well as goods (food, clothing, furniture).
 Wants vs. Needs. Ask class members to name things that people use money to buy. Make a list on the board. (You may get some ideas for class discussion from The site has conversation questions on Money and Shopping, and many of them are appropriate to trigger items for this listing exercise--and some are not). Include a variety of both needs and wants. Include services (electric bill, rent, visits to the doctor and dentist) as well as goods (food, clothing, furniture).

9. Which is a NEED?
Which is a WANT?
Do we ever blur these lines?

11. Take away
As we move through the semester, think about the three questions we asked:
1. What RIGHTS does everyone have?
2. What NEEDS does everyone have?
3. What is the difference between a WANT and a NEED?