📖

Wise Choices Honor God

Economics: Needs and Wants

Day 109of 180
Week 22of 36
25Minutes
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🖨️ Download Worksheet (PDF)
🎯 What You'll Learn

Learning Objectives

1

Understand the difference between needs and wants

2

Learn how biblical wisdom applies to economic choices

3

Practice making wise financial decisions

📖 Scripture Connection

Proverbs 21:20

“There is precious treasure and oil in the dwelling of the wise, but a foolish man swallows it up.”

— Proverbs 21:20 (WEB)

God wants us to be wise with our resources and make thoughtful choices

📦 Materials Needed

  • Needs vs. wants sorting cards
  • Play money
  • Small whiteboard and marker
📚 Step-by-Step

Lesson Plan

1Opening (5 min)

Gather students in a circle and ask them to share one thing they really need and one thing they want

💭 Review Question: What's the difference between something you need and something you want?
2Teaching (10 min)

Explain that God gives us resources and wants us to use them wisely. Just like we need to take care of our toys and money, we need to make smart choices about what we spend on

📌 Key Talking Points:
  • Needs keep us alive: food, water, shelter, clothing
  • Wants make life fun but aren't necessary
  • God wants us to be thankful for what we have
💬 Discussion Questions:
  • What are some needs we all have?
  • How can we be thankful for what we have?
  • What might happen if we always buy wants instead of taking care of our needs?
3Activity: Wise Spending Sort (7 min)
hands-on

Students sort cards into needs and wants, using play money to 'buy' only essential items

📝 Instructions:
  1. Spread out sorting cards
  2. Give each student some play money
  3. Ask them to buy only what they truly need
  4. Discuss their choices as a group
🔄 Variations:

Simpler: Teacher helps sort cards

Challenge: Limited money forces harder choices

4Closing (3 min)

Review key learning points about needs, wants, and being wise

📝 Review Questions:
  • What's a need?
  • What's a want?
  • How can we make wise choices?
🙏 Prayer:

Dear God, help us be thankful for what we have and make wise choices with our resources.

Coming up: Tomorrow we'll learn more about saving and sharing

💎 Memory Verse

Proverbs 21:20

“There is precious treasure and oil in the dwelling of the wise, but a foolish man swallows it up.”

— Proverbs 21:20 (WEB)

🎯 Activity: Memory Chain: Students pass a ball and each says one word of the verse

👨‍👩‍👧 For Parents

Teaching Notes

📚 Background:

Economic concepts introduced at an age-appropriate level

💡 Teaching Tips:
  • Use real-life examples
  • Encourage gratitude
  • Model wise spending
🤔 Common Struggles:

Children may confuse wants and needs

👀 Signs of Understanding:

Understanding of basic economic concepts

🚀 Want More?

Extension Activities

  • Create a simple budget for a piggy bank
  • Draw pictures of needs vs. wants
  • Talk about ways to save money

Ready for Tomorrow?

Great job completing today's lesson!

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