Unit Plan 31 (Grade 1 Social Studies): Choices and Saving

Focus: Help students understand that we can’t have everything at once, so we must make choices about needs, wants, and saving. Using a simple classroom token system, students practice deciding whether to spend now, save for later, or choose one thing instead of another, and explain what they gave up because of their choice.

Grade Level: 1

Subject Area: Social Studies (Economics • Decision-Making)

Total Unit Duration: 5 sessions (one week), 30–45 minutes per session

I. Introduction

In this unit, students explore the idea that resources are limited, so we must make choices. They revisit needs vs. wants and practice deciding how to use a small number of tokens (or play money) in a simple class “store.” Students learn that when they pick one thing, they often give up another choice, and that saving now can help them get something bigger or more important later. Through stories, role-play, and a classroom token routine, they practice talking about their thinking when they choose, spend, or save.

Essential Questions

• What is the difference between needs and wants?
• Why do we have to make choices instead of getting everything we want?
• What does it mean to save instead of spending right away?
• How do limited tokens or money help us learn about choices?
• When might it be a good idea to save for something later instead of spending now?

II. Objectives and Standards

Learning Objectives — Students will be able to:

1. Differentiate between needs and wants using pictures and simple examples.
2. Explain that we have limited resources (tokens, money, time) and must make choices.
3. Describe what it means to save and give at least one reason for saving.
4. Participate in a classroom token system, choosing to spend or save and stating what they gave up or got.
5. Create a simple picture or sentence story about a saving choice, including what they are saving for and why.

Standards Alignment — 1st Grade (C3-based custom)

• 1.C3.Econ.4 — Describe choices, saving, and simple trade/exchange.
  • Example: Classroom token system—save three tokens for a bigger reward.
• 1.C3.Econ.1 — Differentiate needs and wants; connect to limited resources.
  • Example: Food vs. toys; choose one item from a class “store.”

Success Criteria — Student Language

• I can tell the difference between a need and a want.
• I can explain that I cannot get everything, so I must make a choice.
• I can say what it means to save and name something I might save for.
• I can describe whether I spent or saved my tokens and what I gave up or got.
• I can tell a short story or draw about a saving choice I made or might make.