Needs and Wants Activities for Primary Learners 

Everyone in the world has needs… everyone. Your stomach needs to be fed, your home needs a roof, you need to breathe air! But sometimes, don’t you want something that’s not a need? Maybe something as simple as an inexpensive treat like ice cream, or as important as a new bike? As adults, this concept is simple. But young learners struggle to tell the difference.

Discuss these topics and review the difference between needs and wants with your students with a set of 16 needs and wants discussion cards and accompanying writing response worksheet.

Needs and Wants Activity Scaffolding and Extension Tips 

• Challenge fast finishers to write their own questions about examples of needs and wants.
• To support struggling students, have them work with partners or in small groups to decide on the correct answers.

Easily Prepare This Resource for Your Students

Use the download button to download the PDF or Google Slides resource of your choice. Print your document and prepare your students for some deep conversations about needs and wants.

Get more handy needs and wants resources here!  

This resource was created by Lindsey Phillips, a teacher in Michigan and a Teach Starter Collaborator. 

Don’t stop there—check out more social studies activities like these to help your students learn more about their community: 

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