Who Has What They Need?

Worksheet Description

The “Is It a Need or a Want?” worksheet is a critical thinking exercise that prompts students to analyze everyday scenarios to distinguish between needs and wants. The top of the worksheet, emblazoned with a shopping cart icon, signals the theme of consumer decisions. Students are given pairs of scenarios involving individuals contemplating various items or actions, ranging from food and clothing to leisure activities and home repairs. The task is for students to identify which person in each scenario is focused on a need—an item or action that is essential for a basic living standard.

Each scenario is crafted to challenge students to think about the context and implications of choices people make. For instance, they consider whether hunger should be satisfied with a sandwich or a donut, or if shopping should prioritize recreational items or necessary school clothing. The worksheet delves into more complex decisions as well, such as differentiating between desired luxuries and important career choices or household necessities. With spaces provided after each scenario, students write the name of the person whose thoughts align with a need, reinforcing the concept of prioritization in everyday life. This exercise not only enhances understanding of the difference between needs and wants but also promotes literacy in making informed and responsible personal choices.