Grades 1–2
Not Enough for Everyone
Learn the word scarcity with 4 classroom problems (6 kids and 3 swings, one last cookie), then think of fair ways to share.
Social studies worksheet · Needs and wants
Party on a Budget
Plan a party with $20: add up cake, balloons and juice, find what is left, and learn why a budget means choosing.
- Grade level
- Grades 1–3
- Time
- About 20 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
“You have $20 to plan a party. Read the prices, then answer the questions.”
Printed on the sheet:
- 1. You buy the cake, balloons, plates and juice. How much is that? $
- 2. How much money is left from your $20? $
- 3. Can you buy the piñata with the money left? Why or why not?
- 5. How much would everything cost? $
- Is that more than $20?
Words on this sheet
CakePlatesJuicePiñataParty hatsCandles
Teacher tip
Use play money to plan the party.
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.
- Use finished sheets for a quick gallery walk or a partner share.
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 1–3
My Savings Goal
A savings goal tracker: kids pick a goal, color a step of a 10-rung ladder for every dollar saved and plan where the money will come from.
Grades 1–3
Money Words
Match 8 money words (save, spend, earn, deposit, withdraw, budget, interest and price) to their meanings, then use one in a sentence.
Grades K–2
Needs and Wants Word Search
A 10 by 10 word search with 10 needs-and-wants and money words (food, water, home, clothes, save, spend, share and more) for early readers.
Free for teachers
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