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2nd grade · Social Studies · Unit 8 of 14

Needs & Wants

What do we really need?

What your child practices

Telling needs from wants and how communities help meet people's needs.

New York State Learning Standards learning standard: 2.8b · deciding how to use money based on needs and wants

How we explain it

Children can open this short lesson before they practice.

  1. A need is something we must have to live: food, water, shelter, clothing and care.
  2. A want is nice to have, but we can live without it.
  3. Communities help meet needs: farms grow food, stores sell it, doctors and nurses care for us.

Example: Which one is a need: clean water or a new game? Ask: can we live without it? We can live without a game, but not without water. Answer: clean water

Needs & Wants in New York

In the New York State Learning Standards, this is unit 8 of 14 in 2nd grade Social Studies, after Our Community Changes and before Work and Prices.

Gradelings describes a child's practice on this unit as Beginning, Approaching, Meeting or Exceeding (Four practice steps). That reflects practice, not a report-card mark: the teacher decides the mark.

Source: New York State Education Department (NYSED)

Sample questions

A taste of this unit. In the app, questions change every time and get easier or harder to match your child.

  1. Question 1

    Which one is a need?

    • 🍭a lollipop
    • 💧clean water
    • 🧸a new toy

  2. Question 2

    Is it a need or a want? Tap an item, then tap its basket.

    Sort into: 🏠 need · 🎁 want

    • 🛹skateboard
    • 🍭candy
    • 🤖toy robot
    • 🩹medicine when sick
    • 🏠a home
    • 🧥warm clothes

  3. Question 3

    Where can families buy food in a community?

    • 🛒a grocery store
    • 🚒a fire station
    • 📚a library

  4. Question 4

    Everyone needs a safe place to live. What is that called?

    • 🏪a store
    • 🏠shelter
    • 🛝a playground

  5. Question 5

    Who helps people when they are sick?

    • 🎨a painter
    • 🚌a bus driver
    • 🧑‍⚕️a doctor or nurse

  6. Question 6

    Which one is a want?

    • 🍎food
    • 🧥a warm coat
    • 🎮a video game

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