First grade students are learning about needs and wants, analyzing examples of goods and services, and distinguishing between producers and consumers. Students have learned that a need is something one must have in order to survive such as air, food, water, and shelter. A want, however, is something one would like to have but can survive without, such as toys, games, televisions, and computers. In addition to viewing brief videos on the topic, students have participated in a variety of fiction (A Chair for My Mother, A Bargain for Frances, and If You Give a Mouse a Cookie) and nonfiction read alouds (Needs and Wants and Needs).
Expanding our learning, students have completed several make and take books about economics, cut and sorts, and other center games. Using magazine cutouts, first graders have created posters showing examples of goods, services, needs, and wants. Tomorrow, wrapping up our studies, students can look forward to creating advertisements. We will address a final key concept, how people often want more than they need, and discuss different scenarios that help children to make good choices when saving and spending.
