18
Food is a human need . You can’t live without it!
A NEED is something you must have in order to survive. For example, you need shelter, clothing, food, water, and sometimes medicines.
A WANT is something you would like to have but can live without. A music player, television, and bike are wants, not needs.
But ice cream and other treats are wants , while healthy fruits and veggies are needs!
Wants or Needs Through History
Look at each of the periods of history below. Write a W next to the things that you think would have been a WANT in that time. Write an N next to the items that would have been needs. Cross out the items that didn’t exist at that point in history.
CATTLE HAT ROPE WHEELS
BOOTS HOUSE GUITAR HORSE
SANDALS FIRE GOLD SPICES CATS
GOATS SHELTER PYRAMIDS
FIRE WATER CAVE/SHELTER
SPEAR DOGS FRUIT FISH
What do you think? Over time, most needs have stayed the same. But some things are needs in one time period and wants in another. For example, during the times of the American West, having a horse helped people travel and hunt. While some people did not have horses, most did, and they were highly needed. Today, having a horse is more of a want. What do you think? In which time period would a digital tablet be a need, and in which time period would it be a want? Why would a digital tablet be a need in the time of coronavirus?
Draw a GREEN circle around needs that have stayed the same over time. Draw a RED circle around things that have been a need in one time period and a want in another.
© Vicki Whiting November 2025
familyresourcegroupinc.com
Made with FlippingBook Online newsletter maker