Understand the idea.
Use the situation
A need is something required in the situation described. A want is something someone would enjoy but can manage without in that situation. First ask what the person must do and what useful things they already have.
Explain the choice kindly
When money cannot cover everything, plan for the missing needs first. Explain your choice using the story: a working pencil may already meet a class need. People can still choose enjoyable extras when their needs and money allow it.
See the method in action.
A school need
Zara needs a pencil for today's class. She has 4 dollars. A pencil costs 2 dollars and a decorative charm costs 3 dollars. Which purchase meets the stated need?
Worked solution
- 1
Identify what today’s class requires.
Zara needs a pencil; a decorative charm cannot do the pencil’s job.
- 2
Check that she can pay for the pencil.
The two-dollar pencil fits her four dollars and leaves two dollars.
- 3
Choose the pencil first.
This purchase meets the stated need, while the charm is an extra in this story.
Buy the pencil first.
A need already met
Owen already has a full water bottle for the trip. He would like a new decorated bottle. Is the new bottle a need or a want in this story?
Worked solution
- 1
Check how Owen will get drinking water.
His full water bottle already supplies water for the trip.
- 2
Decide what the decorated bottle adds.
The new bottle is an extra he would like; it does not fill a missing need here.
- 3
Classify it for this situation.
It is a want because he can use the suitable bottle he already has.
A want in this situation.
Try it yourself.
Check your understanding
You need a notebook for class and already own a working pencil. Is a second pencil required by this story?
Show answer & reasoning
No. It is an optional extra here.
The working pencil already meets the pencil need. The notebook is the stated missing item, so a second pencil is an optional extra here.
Keep practising
6 worksheet questions
Read the questions online
- Ali must bring lunch but has none packed. Is food for lunch a need or a want in this story?
- Lily has a suitable school bag. She would like another in a new colour. Need or want here?
- A child needs a 3-dollar glue stick for a project and wants a 2-dollar sticker. They have 4 dollars. What should be bought first to complete the project?
- A story says both a 2-dollar pencil and a 3-dollar pad are needed. How much is needed altogether?
- Two children choose different optional treats with their spare money. Must one choice be wrong? Explain.
- You have 6 dollars. Needed socks cost 5 dollars and an optional toy costs 4 dollars. Can both fit the budget? What plan meets the need?
Read the worked solutions
- Ali must bring lunch but has none packed. Is food for lunch a need or a want in this story?
The story says lunch is required and has not been provided.
A need. - Lily has a suitable school bag. She would like another in a new colour. Need or want here?
A suitable bag is already available.
A want. - A child needs a 3-dollar glue stick for a project and wants a 2-dollar sticker. They have 4 dollars. What should be bought first to complete the project?
It meets the project's stated need and leaves 1 dollar.
The glue stick. - A story says both a 2-dollar pencil and a 3-dollar pad are needed. How much is needed altogether?
.
5 dollars. - Two children choose different optional treats with their spare money. Must one choice be wrong? Explain.
A want can differ between people; no unmet need or budget problem is stated.
No. They may have different preferences. - You have 6 dollars. Needed socks cost 5 dollars and an optional toy costs 4 dollars. Can both fit the budget? What plan meets the need?
exceeds 6; .
Both cost 9 dollars, so buy the socks first and keep 1 dollar.
Curriculum reference & lesson scope
Australian Curriculum v9 and SA Curriculum Mathematics
Comparing prices; $1/$2 coins and notes; purchases; limited money and saving; needs/wants; consumer choices.
Official curriculum source ↗