What Do I Need Lesson PlanWhat Do I Need Right Now? 1st Grade • 30 Minutes • Self-Advocacy & Communication Why This Matters Learning to express needs is fundamental for self-advocacy. It helps students feel understood, safe, and supported, preventing frustration and promoting classroom independence. Learning Objective Students will identify at least two immediate personal needs and use simple "I need..." phrases to express them to a trusted adult. Prep Review slides Print & cut charades cards Print checklists for all Materials Needed Needs & Wants Explorer Slides Feeling & Need Charades My Needs Checklist Trusted Adult (Teacher!) Instructional Steps 5m Warm-Up: What Do You Need? Ask students what they need to feel comfortable right now (e.g., "stretch," "water"). Discuss the difference between "want" (nice to have) and "need" (must have for health/learning). 10m Explore Needs with Slides Present the Needs & Wants Explorer Slides. Discuss common needs like a break, help, or quiet. Invite students to share when they've felt these needs before. 10m Feeling & Need Charades Activity Use the Feeling & Need Charades cards. Students act out needs non-verbally while others guess. Practice verbalizing the need immediately after: "I need a drink." 5m My Needs Checklist Distribute the My Needs Checklist. Students circle needs they often feel and practice drawing/writing how they will ask for help from a trusted adult. Optional Cool-Down Ask each student to share one thing they might need today. This can be a verbal "check-out" or a drawing on a sticky note.
Needs Wants Explorer SlidesWhat Do I Need Right Now? Understanding what we need and how to ask for it! Teacher Notes Welcome students and introduce the topic of needs and wants. Start with an engaging question to activate prior knowledge. Needs vs. Wants Needs Things we must have to live, learn, and be healthy. Food & Water Sleep Help & A Break Wants Things that are nice to have, but we don't need them to survive. Toys Candy Video Games Teacher Notes Explain the difference between wants and needs. Use simple examples kids can relate to in the classroom. Common Classroom Needs I need help I need a break I need quiet I need a drink I need the restroom I need a friend Teacher Notes Discuss each need. Ask students: "When might you feel you need help?" or "What does needing quiet feel like?" How Do I Ask? Use Your Voice Look at the person Use a clear voice Say "I need..." Raise Your Hand A quiet way to show your teacher you have a need or something to say! Teacher Notes Emphasize eye contact and clear speech. Role-play asking for a drink or a break with the class. Practice Time! What Do You Need? Sometimes, we show our needs without even using words. Can you think of how? Teacher Notes Use this as a bridge to the Charades activity. Ask for a few non-verbal examples (rubbing eyes for tired, etc.). Your Voice Matters! It is okay to have needs. It is brave to tell a grown-up what you need! We are here to help! Teacher Notes Conclude with a warm, supportive message. Remind them that every grown-up in the school is a safe person to ask for help.
Feeling Need Charades CardsFeeling & Need Charades Instructions: Cut out the cards below. Students take turns acting out the feeling or need without using words. Friends guess the feeling/need. Once guessed correctly, the actor should practice saying: "I feel..." or "I need..." I need a break I need help I feel tired I feel hungry I need the restroom I feel sad I feel happy I need quiet I need a drink I feel frustrated I need a hug I need a friend I feel excited I need to stretch I feel confused I need a tissue
My Needs Checklist WorksheetMy Needs Checklist Knowing what I need helps me learn! Name: Date: Circle the things you sometimes need at school. Then, think about how you can ask for them with your voice or by raising your hand! I need help • When work is hard • When I can't reach I need a break • When I feel tired • When I'm too wiggly I need quiet • To help me focus • When it's too loud I need water • When I feel thirsty Restroom • When my body tells me I need a friend • When I feel lonely • When I want to play Something else I might need: How can I ask? Write or draw how you can tell a grown-up about one of your needs. My Need: