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Kindergarten · Social Studies · Unit 9 of 12

Needs & Wants

What do we really need?

What your child practices

Sorting needs (food, water, a home, warm clothes) from wants (toys and treats), and how families meet their needs.

New York State Learning Standards learning standard: K.9a · telling needs, which people must have, from wants, which they would like to have

How we explain it

Children can open this short lesson before they practice.

  1. A need is something we must have to live.
  2. Food, water, a home and sleep are needs.
  3. A want is nice to have, like a toy. We can live without it.

Example: Which one is a need: water or a toy? Can we live without a toy? Yes. Can we live without water? No. Answer: water

Needs & Wants in New York

In the New York State Learning Standards, this is unit 9 of 12 in Kindergarten Social Studies, after Yesterday, Today, Tomorrow and before Money & Work.

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
    • 🪀a yo-yo
    • 💧water

  2. Question 2

    It is cold outside. What do you need?

    ❄️
    • 🧥a warm coat
    • 🪁a kite
    • 🍦ice cream

  3. Question 3

    Need or want? Tap a picture, then its basket.

    Sort into: 🏠 need · 🎁 want

    • 🎮a video game
    • 🛏️a bed to sleep in
    • 🏡a home
    • 🥕healthy food
    • 🍭candy
    • 🎈a balloon

  4. Question 4

    Why do we need a home?

    • 📺to watch TV
    • 🧸to keep toys
    • 🏠to be safe and warm

  5. Question 5

    A family has a little money. What should they buy first?

    • 🧸a toy
    • 🍞food
    • 🍬candy

  6. Question 6

    Why do we need sleep?

    🛏️
    • 🧸to get new toys
    • 🌧️to make it rain
    • 😴to rest our bodies

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