Draw the hierarchy of needs pyramid on the whiteboard. Section it off but do not fill in the blanks.
Instruct the children to imagine a character. Allow them time to name the character and draw him on a piece of paper.
Tell a story about the character. Explain how he wakes up in the morning and gets ready for the first day of summer. Pause when you get to the part of the story where the character eats breakfast. Ask the kids if the character could enjoy playing if he were hungry, tired, thirsty or had any other pressing physical need. Talk through how he would be distracted. Explain that the body's needs come first in Maslow's hierarchy, and list them at the bottom of the pyramid.
Explain how the character goes outside to play. Ask the kids if he'll have more fun when he feels safe or when he feels in danger. Talk through how this need compares to thirst. For example, ask if the character would drink from a pond if he was very thirsty, even if he was scared of the deep water. Explain that he would, because thirst overrules safety.
Move to belonging and love. Tell the kids that the character goes home. Explain that he likes hugs from his mom. Ask the kids if the character would want a hug from his mom if he was scared of her. When they say “no,” ask why. Explain that this is because security is more necessary than belonging.
Ask the kids if their character would rather get good grades or feel love from his parents. Call on a few of the kids to explain their answers. Ask them if their character would be more or less likely to do well in school if he didn't feel loved at home, or felt like nobody liked him.
Ask the kids if their characters like to explore and learn new things. Explain that this concept is high on Maslow's pyramid, and that people feel like exploring when they feel good about themselves, knowing they've learned and achieved things before.
Tell the kids that only when the character has all the other needs met will he fulfill the last need. Explain that self-actualization is when the character considers who he is and what his actions would look like if he became a better person. The character self-actualizes when he takes specific actions to become that better self. Ask the kids if they ever think about developing their potential. Let this evolve into a discussion about how each kid achieves self-actualization.