Needs & wants sorting task (KS1)

A KS1 needs and wants sorting activity for Y1–Y2. Cut out 8 picture cards and sort into needs and wants.

This task gets to the heart of one of the most important ideas in financial education: there are things you need to live, and then there’s everything else. The items are chosen to prompt genuine discussion rather than easy agreement; water and food sit alongside clothes and a home, but also a balloon, stickers, chocolate and a gaming console.

The cards work equally well as a hands-on pair activity, a whole-class sorting task on the board, or a discussion starter before or after teaching. Simple to set up, no preparation beyond printing and cutting.

Supports the KS1 PSHE curriculum and financial education objectives around needs, wants and spending decisions.

This activity is one of hundreds of resources on the Tykeoons primary financial education platform. Start your school’s FREE pilot.

This activity is taken from the full Tykeoons lesson on needs and wants, which is also available to download free on TES.

This resource contains:
Eight picture cards to cut out and sort: water, food, clothes, a home, chocolate, stickers, a balloon and a gaming console (print one copy per pair)