Needs and Wants

Monday:

Today we’re starting social studies. This unit is called, “World of Work.” Throughout the course of the week, you’ll learn about needs and wants, goods and services, and buying, trading, and saving money.

Look closely at the photograph. What are the children holding? Where are they standing? Outside of a toy store. What do you think the children will do with the money? What kinds of things could they buy in the toy store? The children don’t have enough money to buy everything they want and they will have to decide what they want the most. What would you buy at a toy store? How would you use the items?

“Everything costs money, nothing is free today; so save your dimes and pennies- You always have to pay. This poem tells about a girl who wants to buy something with the money she saved. Do you think she made good choices? What do you think she bought? I’m going to read the poem again and this time I want you to join in and read the words with me. Imagine you have $5. What are some choices you have for what to do with your money? What will you decide to do with your money? Why?

We’re going to read from our big book about needs and wants. READ Let’s do some quick review. What are two needs that families have? Why do families have to make choices about ways to spend money?

How many of you have read the “Pigeon” books by Mo Williems. Today we are going to read, “Don’t Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus.” As I read be thinking about the pigeons want. READ. What does the want? He wants to drive a bus. Right, he wants to drive a bus but he doesn’t need to. I have a 3 other Pigeon books. What does the Pigeon want? Right, the pigeon wants a puppy but he doesn’t need one. Hotdogs, staying up late, a puppy, and driving a bus are the Pigeon’s wants. Let’s talk about the Pigeon’s needs. What does he need to live? The Pigeon actually needs the same things we do to live: Shelter, water, air, and food.

Repeat after me, “I can identify needs and wants.” Let’s take 5 minutes to brainstorm a list of our wants and needs. Wants are things we would like to have. Turn and talk with your partner, what are your wants? Needs are things we must have to live. Turn and talk with your partner, what are our needs?

I have a sorting activity for us. There are pictures and your job is to tell me if it’s a need or a want. Nice job! Repeat after me, “I can identify needs and wants.” Please turn towards the SmartBoard for a video on needs and wants. 

Tuesday:

Yesterday, we learned about needs and wants. What is a need? Something you have to have to survive- food, shelter, and clothing. What is a want? Something you would like to have- TV, toys, and candy. Today, I was going to read, “The Berenstain Bears Get the Gimmies” but instead, we are going to watch a video and listen to the story on Youtube. As we watch the video I have a job for you. I want you to create a list in your head of Brother and Sister Bear’s wants. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KcveGa829eo

In the story, “The Berenstain Bears Get the Gimmies” you learned that people often want much more than they need. As a result, people must make choices about what they truly need and what they can afford. For example, should someone buy pet food and groceries or buy a new video game? Why? Over the next week, you’ll learn to buy what you need before what you want just like the Berenstain Bears. They bought the grocery items on their list instead of candy, junk food, and toys. 

Wednesday:

We have been learning about wants and needs. What is a need? Something you have to have to survive- food, shelter, and clothing. What is a want? Something you would like to have- TV, toys, and candy. I have a song about needs and wants that I would like to teach you.

Today, we are going to create a class book about needs and tomorrow, we will create a class book on wants.

Goods and Services

Student Interview- Social Studies

Student Interview

If you had to explain to a stranger what social studies is, what would you say?

I would say social studies teaches us history.

What is history?

Like life long ago, it’s stuff that happened a really long time ago.

What kind of stuff?

You know, school and life.

What are important social studies topics?

Timelines, life long ago, transportation, communication, and school long ago.

Why are transportation and communication important social studies topics?

Because of all the inventions.

What kind of inventions?

The invention of the telephone, the invention of the car, you know, inventions like that.

Why do you think you are learning social studies?

Because Mrs. R wants to teach us about life long ago.

How can you use social studies in your everyday life? Can you give some examples?

No, I only use social studies at school.

Your teacher says, “It’s time for social studies.” What is going to happen? What will you be doing? What will Mrs. R be doing?

We will put our math book away and sit on the floor close to the board. Mrs. R will be teaching and I will be listening.

When you see someone who is good at social studies, what kinds of things can this person do?

They listen, know how to do the activity and they learn.

Do you think everyone can do well in social studies if they try?

Yeah!

Is social studies something that is useful to know? Why?

Yeah! If you know about social studies you can compare life long ago to now.

Are you good at social studies? Why?

Yes, because I try my hardest.

How do you best learn social studies?

Mrs. R and you teach social studies the best.

So, you learned social studies best when you have a good teacher?

Yes!

Is social studies your favorite subject? Why or why not?

No, Social Studies is okay, but I like math better.

A Timeline About Me

During our social studies unit about life long ago, we learned about timelines. Each student created a timeline and above is my example. I used this template and altered it because I wanted students to use dates instead of writing prompts. Students shared their timelines with the class and we all learned a lot about each other.

School Long Ago

In November, we started our social studies unit on life long ago. I taught a lesson on school long ago. I looked at our social studies book and it had two pages of information on school long ago. It was 3 paragraphs and I knew these first graders were capable of more than that. I kept the lesson objective the same as textbook, "Compare and contrast your school to one of long ago." I did research on Google and created my own PowerPoint. The PowerPoint was 20 slides long and covered Hornbooks, Dunce caps, quill pens, one room school houses, child responsibilities, subjects taught and more.

Here is one what my mentor teacher wrote about my lesson, "Ms. S taught a lesson in social studies about history. Our unit is comparing life long ago to now. She compared what school was like long ago to school now. She created a wonderful PowerPoint presentation complete with excellent photographs and visuals so students could compare and contrast school long ago to now. She also created an assessment where students had to write a sentence or two about school long ago and had to cut and paste pictures from school long ago into a school house. Both the PowerPoint presentation and assessment will be ones that I use in the future. They were so appropriate and engaging. After grading the assessment, we could truly see which students met the standard and which will need some re-teaching."

This is usually a lesson my mentor teacher skips so I was pretty excited when she asked if she could keep and use my PowerPoint and activity for the future. Below are some student examples of the assessment I created:

Emancipation Proclimation

For school the other week we had to create a 4 Door Diorama. I did a timeline of important dates leading up to the Emancipation Proclamation. I am obsessed with Abraham Lincoln and I always have been so whenever I have a history project 9 times out of 10 my topic has to do with Abraham Lincoln.

Planning Web

A few weeks ago in my Social Studies class, we had to create a planning web. I did mine on Lewis and Clark and I decided to post it here so I can reference it again at a much much later date.

Grand Canyon Little Book

One of my assignments for class this week was to go on a virtual field trip and create a little book. A little book is a six page book with a title page. I did mine on the Grand Canyon.