Ask: could we live without it? Food, water, a home and clothes are needs. Things that are nice to have but not needed to live are wants.
needsomething we must have to live
wantsomething nice to have but not needed
pricehow much something costs
¢cents; a penny is 1¢
Watch for: Calling something a need because they really want it. Calling all food a need, even candy. Counting how many coins there are instead of what they're worth.
At home: At the store, ask your child to sort things in the cart into needs and wants. Talk about which you'd buy first if money ran short.
Sample sheet and answer key
Freddie's Frog Pond
Kindergarten · Wants and needs · K.9D
NameDate
Freddie the frog lives in a busy pond full of bugs, lily pads and friends. Solve each problem to help Freddie out!
Need or want?
We need some things to live. Others we just want. Circle one.
a teddy bearneedwant
a balloonneedwant
a coatneedwant
breadneedwant
a ballneedwant
a kiteneedwant
Can you buy it?
Count the coins. Are they enough? Circle yes or no.
¢yesno
¢yesno
¢yesno
Paying for things
Money people earn pays for needs and wants.
1
Pip buys bread for 7¢ and a toy car for 2¢. How much in all?
¢
2
Fern earns 9¢ and buys milk for 2¢. How much is left?
¢
Sheet
Freddie's Frog Pond
Kindergarten · Wants and needs · K.9D
Answer key
Freddie the frog lives in a busy pond full of bugs, lily pads and friends. Solve each problem to help Freddie out!
Need or want?
We need some things to live. Others we just want. Circle one.
a teddy bearneedwant
a balloonneedwant
a coatneedwant
breadneedwant
a ballneedwant
a kiteneedwant
Can you buy it?
Count the coins. Are they enough? Circle yes or no.
12¢yesno
10¢yesno
6¢yesno
Paying for things
Money people earn pays for needs and wants.
1
Pip buys bread for 7¢ and a toy car for 2¢. How much in all?
7 + 2 = 9
9¢
2
Fern earns 9¢ and buys milk for 2¢. How much is left?
9 − 2 = 7
7¢
Answer key
New problems every time, three levels (gentle, core and stretch), themes to pick from, a second page if you want one. Each sheet comes with an answer key and a one-page guide for grown-ups.
