SORTING ACTIVITY · TEXT VERSION
Needs, Wants or It Depends?
A sorting activity for ages 4–7. This page contains the words and labelled choices from all five printable pages. You can enlarge the text, use a screen reader or print it. The original picture cards remain available below.
Page 1: Start the conversation
Cut out the cards. Talk about each choice. Sort each one into NEED, WANT or IT DEPENDS.
- Need
- Things we must have to be healthy, safe or able to take part in daily life.
- Want
- Things we would like to have, but we don’t need them to be healthy or safe.
- It depends
- It might be a need or a want depending on the situation. We can talk about it and decide!
Quick sorting cards
- School coat
- Bus fare
- Medicine
- Water bottle
- Birthday present
- Ice cream
- Toy robot
- Packed lunch
- Winter gloves
- Second pair of trainers
- After-school snack
- Charity gift
Talk together: There are no wrong answers! Some things can be different for different people.
Page 2: Set A, Need cards
Talk about: why each of these helps us live, learn, stay healthy or stay safe.
Cut, mix and talk: Print on card, cut on the dashed lines and mix Sets A, B and C before use.
- Food
- Water
- Somewhere safe to sleep
- A warm coat in cold weather
- Shoes that fit
- Medicine when ill
- What you need for schoolwork
- Soap and toothpaste
Grown-ups: Let children give their own reasons before you share yours.
Page 3: Set B, Want cards
Talk about: a want can be fun to have without being something we need. A want is not a bad choice.
Cut, mix and talk: Print on card, cut on the dashed lines and mix Sets A, B and C before use.
- Chocolate
- A video game
- A new toy
- Sweets
- Sparkly trainers when yours fit
- A theme park trip
- A squishy toy
- Another art kit
Grown-ups: Ask for a reason. Needs aren’t good and wants aren’t bad. What matters is the reason your child gives.
Page 4: Set C, It depends cards
Talk about: what could change whether something is a need or a want?
Cut, mix and talk: Print on card, cut on the dashed lines and mix Sets A, B and C before use.
- New shoes
- An umbrella
- A tablet
- A bike
- A snack after school
- A school bag
- Football boots
- A haircut
Grown-ups: Ask: “What would you need to know before deciding?” It’s fine for an answer to change when you learn something new.
Page 5: Sorting mat
Put each card in a zone and say why. If a card is tricky, ask: what else would we need to know? You can use Tap. Tap. Pause. first.
- Need
- Important for living, learning, health or safety.
- Want
- Something a person would like but can live without.
- It depends
- The situation or missing information changes the answer.
Safe distance: Discuss the card or a story character. Do not ask what anybody’s family owns, buys or can afford.