This week in our Philosophy for Children lesson, Year Two have been using the beautiful picture book Last Stop on Market Street by Matt de la Peña as our inspiration for thinking deeply about the difference between wants and needs.
We have been reading it in our English lessons, and the story follows a young boy, CJ, and his grandmother as they travel through their city on a bus. Along the way, CJ wonders why they don’t have some of the things other people do – such as a car, a phone, or fancy clothes. Nana’s reply is always gentle and encouraging as she warmly helps him to see the beauty and value in the things they do have.
This sparked a brilliant discussion in class! We thought about things we may want (toys, sweets, new games) and what we really need to live happy, healthy lives such as a home, clean water, a community, food and friendship. The children shared thoughtful and respectful ideas, showing real care in their listening and responses.
To keep the conversation going beyond the classroom, we also invited parents and carers to continue the discussion by sending the question home: “What is the difference between wanting something and needing something?”
We’ve loved reading the responses – thank you so much to all the grown-ups who took the time to share their thoughts. Your engagement helps deepen the children’s thinking and makes their learning even more meaningful.
Thank you for being such wonderful partners in our learning journey!
