LEARN NC

K–12 teaching and learning · from the UNC School of Education

Goal 6

The learner will apply basic economic concepts to home, school, and the community.

Objective 6.01

Examine wants and needs and identify choices people make to satisfy wants and needs with limited resources.

Resources aligned to this objective

Supermarket sweep: Day 1
Students will talk about choices that families make when purchasing groceries. Students will make a booklet of frequently purchased grocery items.
Format: lesson plan (grade 1 English Language Arts, English Language Development, and Social Studies)
By Angela Hunt and Melody Holmes.
"Kids as Decision Makers" -- Distinguishing between Needs and Wants
The students will have hands-on experiences with sorting pictures into groups according to the social studies objective: The learner will apply basic economic concepts to home and school. This lesson will focus on distinguishing between wants and needs.
Format: lesson plan (grade 1 Social Studies)
By Tonya Kales.
Family gardening in rural North Carolina
This lesson for grade one uses a series of activities related to plants and gardening to help students learn about gardening, plant life, families, and making healthy choices.
Format: lesson plan (grade 1 Healthful Living, Science, and Social Studies)
By Penny Willard.

Resources on the web

Working hard for a living
Students learn that work is a means for obtaining money. (Learn more)
Format: lesson plan (grade K–2 Social Studies)
Provided by: National Council on Economic Education
Who pays for city hall?
Students learn that city governments provide goods and services by collecting taxes from citizens. (Learn more)
Format: lesson plan (grade 1–3 Social Studies)
Provided by: National Council on Economic Education
What do other people want to be?
Sudents graph people's job choices and identify the goods and services each job provides. (Learn more)
Format: lesson plan (grade 1–2 Mathematics and Social Studies)
Provided by: National Council on Economic Education
Vincent van Gogh's "Flower Beds in Holland"
Students gain an understanding of opportunity costs. (Learn more)
Format: lesson plan (grade K–2 Social Studies)
Provided by: National Council on Economic Education
Toys for me: A lesson on choice
Students are introduced to the concept of scarcity by illustrating how time is finite and how life involves a series of choices. (Learn more)
Format: lesson plan (grade K–1 Social Studies)
Provided by: National Council on Economic Education
To market to market
Students will participate in a marketplace simulation by role-playing producers and consumers. (Learn more)
Format: lesson plan (grade K–2 Social Studies)
Provided by: National Council on Economic Education
A Pet for Beans from 'Jack and the Beanstalk'
Students learn about trading through a discussion of “Jack and the Beanstalk.” (Learn more)
Format: lesson plan (grade K–2 Social Studies)
Provided by: National Council on Economic Education
Native American cultures across the U.S.
Students discuss the differences between five Native American tribes within the U.S. (Learn more)
Format: lesson plan (grade K–2 Social Studies)
Provided by: National Endowment for the Humanities
Little Bill the producer!
After watching the video and completing an activity about producers, they produce their own books about Little Bill, Alice the Great, or Dr. King. (Learn more)
Format: lesson plan (grade K–2 Social Studies)
Provided by: National Council on Economic Education
Every penny counts
Students will learn about choice as consumers. (Learn more)
Format: lesson plan (grade K–2 Social Studies)
Provided by: National Council on Economic Education
Country mouse makes a decision!
Students will make a cost/benefit chart showing their understanding of the differences between costs and benefits, based on the story “Country Mouse and Town Mouse.” (Learn more)
Format: lesson plan (grade K–2 Social Studies)
Provided by: National Council on Economic Education
Costs and Benefits of 'The Three Little Pigs'
Students identify the costs and benefits of decision making as they look at positive and negative outcomes of different decisions. (Learn more)
Format: lesson plan (grade K–2 Social Studies)
Provided by: National Council on Economic Education
The ABCs of saving
Students will identify the steps to being a successful saver and learn how saving for tomorrow requires giving something up today. (Learn more)
Format: lesson plan (grade K–1 Social Studies)
Provided by: National Council on Economic Education