ETE 335

Elementary Social Studies Lesson

deBono’s Thinking Hats

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 ETE 335

Elementary Social Studies Lesson

deBono’s Thinking Hats

Elizabeth Irvine
Economics
2
Wants vs. Needs
 ETE 335

Elementary Social Studies Lesson

deBono’s Thinking Hats
Goals:
The goal is for students to be able to distinguish the
difference between wants and needs.

Objectives:
Content/Knowledge:
Students will be able to examine why people need shelter,
clothes, and food to live
Students will be able to define and distinguish wants and needs

Process/Skills:
Students will be able to define their own wants and needs.

Values/Dispositions:
Receiving, responding, valuing, organization, characterization
 ETE 335

Elementary Social Studies Lesson

deBono’s Thinking Hats
Rationale:
The expanding horizons curriculum starts with the self and families in
grades K and 1. This lesson will help students understand their own wants
vs their own needs.

Standards:
State – Illinois Common Core or Learning Standards
SS.EC.1.6-8.MdC. Explain how external benefits and costs influence choices.
SS.EC.3.6-8.LC. Explain why standards of living increase as
productivity improves.National – NCSS Themes
Production, distribution, and consumption
 Objective

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 Objective
Describe the teaching and learning activity, and identify the resources/materials needed.

On their own, students will be given a few minutes to

write down a list of things that humans need in order to
live.
 Intuitive

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 Intuitive
Describe the teaching and learning activity, and identify the resources/materials needed.

Next, they will be given a few more minutes to write down

a few of their favorite things, or things that they really
like, like toys, games, etc.
 Positive/Strengths

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 Positive/Strengths
Describe the teaching and learning activity, and identify the resources/materials needed.

Explain to students that people need food, water, clothes,

and shelter. Our bodies need food and water to give us
nutrients and energy to live. We need shelter to protect us
from the sun and the cold and the rain and a place to
sleep. We need clothes to keep us warm and protect us
too.
 Negatives/Weaknesses

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 Negatives/Weaknesses

Describe the teaching and learning activity, and identify the resources/materials needed.

Discuss with students, that even though there are some

things they really like, it is not a need. For example, Miss
Irvine really likes jewelry, but that is not a need that I
have, and if I didn’t have a lot of money, I would not get
to buy jewelry because I need to spend my money on
things I need like food and a house instead. Explain that
there are some people who don’t get to spend their money
on things that they want, because they need to get things
that they need.
 Creative

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 Creative
Describe the teaching and learning activity, and identify the resources/materials needed.

Students will write a brief journal entry about one thing

they would get if money wasn’t an issue and they could
have anything they wanted.
 Thinking About Thinking

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 Thinking About Thinking

Describe the teaching and learning activity, and identify the resources/materials needed.

Students will be completing a worksheet with several

different items such as a house, a soda, a necklace, a
teddy bear, clothes, etc. and then they pick one thing that
they really like or really want and add it to the list. They
will have to say if the item is a want or a need.
 ETE 335

Elementary Social Studies Lesson

deBono’s Thinking Hats
Visual Learning, Assessment, and Online Resources:
Visual Learning:
NOTE: Be sure to include one image that is germane to
the focus of your lesson on each of the 6 lesson activity
PowerPoint slides.
Assessment:
The assessment will be an informal observation while
students are working to see if they are comprehending
the concept or if they need more practice. The worksheet
at the end will also be collected.