Making Choices

All people need certain things, like food, clothes, and a place to live. What is the difference between needs and wants? Talk about this with your family before starting this activity.

Set up a pretend supermarket by cutting out pictures from magazines, newspapers, or supermarket flyers and posting them around the room. Feel free to use household objects if you don’t have enough print materials. Use a bucket, bowl, or basket as your “shopping cart,” then pretend you’re shopping with your family. Fill your cart with your needs first; then add one or two wants. Now, if you had $20 to spend for all of your family’s needs and wants for the next seven days, would your shopping choices change?

Time needed: 30-45 minutes
Materials needed:

• Magazines, newspapers or flyers
• Scissors
• A bowl or basket