Holiday Needs and Wants Lesson Plan

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Academic Standards

 

Reading Objective:

Children will distinguish between things that people need to live, and things that people want.

 

Social Studies Focus:

Economics, needs and wants

 

CCSS:

SL.1.2 Discuss a video; L.1.4 Clarify words and phrases; RI.1.1 Key details; RF.1.2.A Long/short vowels; W.1.1 Opinion writing; RI.1.10 Read and discuss first-grade texts, L.1.1 Conventions of English when writing

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  • Watch the video "Do You Need It or Want It?"
  • After watching, ask, “What is something you need every day? What is something special you might want over the holidays?” (SKILL: SL.1.2 Discuss a video)
  • Play the vocabulary slideshow. This issue’s featured words are need, want, and shelter. (SKILL: L.1.4 Clarify words and phrases)
  • Read the issue together.
  • Get kids up and moving with the Dance Break video.
  • Then project and discuss the reading checkpoint skill sheet. Later, children can fill in their own copies. (SKILL: RI.1.1 Key details)

Reinforce the content kids learned in the issue with the online Need or Want game. (SKILL: Critical thinking)

  • Kids practice long and short vowel sounds to reveal a picture of a gingerbread man with this skill sheet. (SKILL: RF.1.2.A Long/short vowels)
  • Kids write about their favorite needs and wants with this skill sheet. (SKILL: W.1.1 Opinion writing)
Example of a framed gift

Objective: Children will create a special gift for someone they love.

Materials: washable paint, white paper, ribbon or pipe cleaner, rayon, colored construction paper

  • Love is something we all need—and it’s free! This gift of love is something any caregiver will treasure. First, have children lightly dip a hand in paint and press it on paper to make a print.
  • Next, have kids decide who the gift will be for, and write a message for that person under the handprint, starting with “I love you because . . . ” The end of the sentence could be anything, from “you give good hugs” to “you read to me.”
  • Now, kids can “frame” the print by attaching it to a larger piece of colored construction paper.
  • Finally, help kids create a “hook” to hang the print by attaching a loop of ribbon or a piece of pipe cleaner to the top. (SKILL: L.1.1 Conventions of English when writing)