Texas TEKS K.5.A

Social StudiesKindergartenEconomics

The Standard

K.5: Economics. The student understands the difference between human needs and wants and how they are met. The student is expected to:

identify basic human needs of food, clothing, and shelter

Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills for Social Studies

Teacher's field guide

What Students Need to Do: Students name things people need to stay healthy and safe. They sort examples into needs and wants, then explain their choices with simple reasons.
What Mastery Looks Like: A student correctly identifies meals, weather-appropriate clothes, and a safe place to live as needs. The student can tell why each one helps people live safely.
Common Misconceptions: Students may call favorite toys, candy, pets, or screens needs because they strongly want them. They may also think everyone needs the same foods, clothes, or type of home.
How to Assess It: Show pictures of a sandwich, coat, house, toy, and tablet. Ask students to circle the needs and explain one choice aloud.

Lesson moves

Give pairs picture cards to sort onto two mats labeled Need and Want, then have them explain one card choice.
Ask, "What would a person need during a cold night?" and have students draw and label three items.
Play Need or Want Corners by naming an item and having students move to the matching side of the room.
Examine a packed lunch, jacket, and home photo, then discuss how families meet needs in different ways.

Free download

A ready-to-print activity worksheet aligned to K.5.A, with an answer key for the teacher on its own page. No account needed.

PDF, US Letter, prints cleanly in black and white.

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