Grades K–2
Draw Your Needs and Wants
Kids draw and label 3 needs and 3 wants of their own, then tell which one they could live without.
Social studies worksheet · Needs and wants
Need or Want?
Read 12 everyday things and circle N for need or W for want.
- Grade level
- Grades K–2
- Time
- About 10 minutes
- Topic
- Needs and wants
- Answer key
- Yes, page 2 of the PDF
- Kids practice
- Needs and wants, Money and choices, Goods and services, Basic economics
What kids do
“Read each word. Circle N if it is a need. Circle W if it is a want.”
Printed on the sheet:
- 1. Healthy food
- 8. A trampoline
- 9. A toothbrush
- 10. A movie ticket
- 5. A bed to sleep in
- 12. Sparkly stickers
- N = need W = want
- Something I want is… Something I need is…
Teacher tip
Ask kids to explain one answer out loud.
How to use it
- Talk about how needs are the same for everyone, and wants are different.
- Connect it to a class store or a pretend shopping trip.
- Pair it with a picture book or a short video on the same topic.
Watch for
Money can be a sensitive topic. Keep examples pretend and never ask about family income.
Talk about it
- What would you save for?
- What question would you ask an expert on this topic?
Take it further
Plan a pretend class party on a budget.
US Letter, prints well in black and white. Free for home and classroom use: print as many copies as you need.
More needs and wants worksheets
Grades K–2
Shopping With $10
A simple store with prices: kids spend $10 on needs first, add up the cost and see what is left for a want.
Grades K–2
Save, Spend, Share
Three money jars to fill: kids split $10 into save, spend and share and draw what each part is for.
Grades 1–2
Goods and Services Cut and Sort
Cut out 12 cards and sort them into goods (things you can hold, like a bike or a pizza) and services (jobs people do for you, like a haircut or a bus ride).
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