Federal budget Teacher Resources

How can a federal debt accumulate over time? The Federal Reserve Economic Data (FRED) dashboard allows scholars to actively research each aspect of the federal budget. In pairs, they analyze economic data to determine the best way to...

The federal budget has never been so fun! Using an interactive game, high schoolers choose from a variety of policy options after identifying goals and try to balance these changes in policy with a federal budget. 

Students examine how to balance the federal budget. In this American economics lesson, students read the provided article "Congress Debates Cutting the Budget." Students then collaborate in small groups to determine how to balance the...

Your class members have been selected by the president to help solve the budget crisis as part of a special deficit commission. After learning about fiscal policy, economic theories, and the federal budget through a detailed PowerPoint...

Students create, present, revise, and defend a Federal budget.

Students analyze the federal budget of the United States. In this national debt lesson, students listen to their instructor present a lecture regarding the details of the balancing the federal budget. Students respond to discussion...

What is the fiscal cliff, what does it imply, and why are some people fearful of it? This video uses President Obama's proposed budget proposal of 2013 and that of republicans to provide a context for understanding the fiscal cliff. The...

Students discover details about the federal budget. In this contemporary government instructional activity, students research the efforts to maintain a balanced federal budget in the United States since the 1980's. Students then...

Every adult should know that it is their responsibility to help fund public goods and services by paying taxes. Help young people get a handle on the history, evolution, purposes for, and reasons why they should pay taxes too. 

Young scholars research how the government works together to create a budget. In groups, they examine each major spending category and their purpose. They identify the many challenges and compromises that must take place to agree on a...

In this government spending - earmarks activity, students research this topic (there are many links listed), examine the issue, write a letter to their congressional representative or a local newspaper, make a video or analyze the...

Students identify major sources of revenue for government spending and identify the type of tax that makes up the largest percentage of the federal budget. They are introduced to the major services provided by local, state and national...

Use this economic activity to focus on writing summaries of informational text. First, middle schoolers define common economic terms used to describe news about the economy. They closely read news about the federal budget deficit and...

Students, in groups, represent a single deparment in the executive branch and research the work of their department and their current budget via a provided Internet site and then must decide how to cut their budget for an emergency.

Give learners a crash course in balancing the books on the United States federal government level with an economics and government resource. Class members engage in a warm-up discussion and brainstorming session before answering...

Prevent the Federal Reserve System from becoming a dry topic for your middle and high schoolers by using an informative, engaging resource! The cartoon takes your class on a journey with aliens from the planet of Novus to observe the...

Sobering, informative, and relevant for today, this presentation is sure to fill in some of the gaps between the current financial crisis and the theories of economics. With explanatory graphs and strong discussion points, these slides...

Upper graders listen to a podcast on the EconTalk website featuring economist Keith Hennessey. The podcast focuses on the Budget Control Act of 2011, the national debt, and government spending. They read specifics about the BCA, then...

What goes into accounting the United States budget deficits and its net operating costs? How do shifts in the economy affect government spending? How is increasing interest projected to affect our federal debt in the future? This video...

Continuing from a previous video explaining the various budgetary proposals of 2013 in the United States, this video illustrates a more in-depth analysis of the fiscal cliff. It reviews complex concepts such as the pros and cons of...

Just what should the federal government do to help low-income citizens find safe and affordable housing? After viewing several video clips on the Department of Housing and Urban Development, including an interview with the current HUD...

Learners work through ten transactions that will help them understand credits and debts on a global scale. They then discuss each transaction in terms of the global economy. An extension activity and discussion questions are included.

What is the Federal Insurance Contributions Act (FICA) tax's connection to Social Security and Medicare, and what are the differences in how are individuals in the United States are taxed relative to their income? This video provides...