Unit Plan
Indiana University

The Center on Congress: E Learning Module: Federal Budget Allocation

For Students 9th - 10th
Interactive learning activity teaches how Congress allocates funds in the federal budget for programs such as Homeland Security, Defense, and Education.
Website
Other

U.s. National Debt Clock: Real Time

For Students 9th - 10th
Presented to you in real time, discover the most accurate snapshot of our country's spending and debt. Numbers include individual debt per citizen, unemployment rates, Medicare spending, and the trade deficit. Watch and compare as the...
Article
The Balance

The Balance: u.s. Military Budget: Components, Challenges, and Growth

For Students 9th - 10th
Defense spending in the second largest budgetary item in the U.S. national budget. This explains in general terms how the funds are allocated and provides a chart showing military spending since 2003.
Website
US Senate

Us Senate Budget Committee

For Students 9th - 10th
Use this resource to learn more about the Senate Budget Committee. It is divided into two parts. The first is a Republican website and the second is a Democratic website.
Website
University of Groningen

American History: Outlines: The Federal Budget

For Students 9th - 10th
Overview on the complexities of the federal budgeting process and the Congressional Budget Office (CBO).
Website
University of Groningen

American History: Outlines: Budgets and Deficits

For Students 9th - 10th
Brief overview of the George H. W. Bush administration policies on finance and spending.
Activity
Federal Reserve Bank

Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis: The Piggy Bank Primer [Pdf]

For Students 3rd - 5th
A workbook for children on how to save and manage their money, and how to create a budget.
Article
Other

I Grad: Managing a College Student Budget

For Students 9th - 10th
Help for high school students anticipating college expenses, so they can make the most of the money they have to spend when they get there.
Website
Other

Nathan Newman: National Budget Simulation

For Students 9th - 10th
This online simulation should give you a better feel of the trade-offs which policy makers need to make in creating federal budgets and dealing with deficits. The simulation comes in a short and long version and allows learners to see...
Lesson Plan
PBS

Pbs: Personal Spending Spreadsheet

For Teachers 10th - 12th
This activity helps students create their own personal spending plan.
Article
Cato Institute

Cato Institute: More Defense Spending for Smaller Forces

For Students 9th - 10th
"More Defense Spending for Smaller Forces: What Hath D0D Wrought?" by William A. Niskanen, from Policy Analysis No. 110, Cato Institute, July 29, 1988.
Unit Plan
PBS

Pbs Kids: It's My Life Managing Money: Spending and Saving

For Students 3rd - 8th
It is important for kids to learn how to manage their own money. This section of It's My Life-Managing Money focuses on spending and saving. Additional topics including money goals, expenses, savings, budgeting, and money tips are listed...
Website
Other

Cbpp: The Balanced Budget Constitutional Amendment

For Students 9th - 10th
This resource provides a series of papers from the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities.
Graphic
US Senate

Trends in Congressional Appropriations [Pdf]

For Students 9th - 10th
Provides numerous graphs accompanied by explanations of the government spending since the 1960s. Focuses on the restraint of the 1990s but shows the steady growth in the last forty years. Link to .pdf file. Requires Adobe Reader.
Interactive
Practical Money Skills

Visa: Practical Money Skills for Life: Financial Football

For Students 9th - 10th
Football-themed game tests your consumer-finance aptitude regarding interest, banking, credit, budgeting, saving, and spending.
Lesson Plan
Council for Economic Education

Econ Ed Link: The Role of Gov. National Debt v. Deficit

For Teachers 9th - 10th
Using the website federalbudget.com, students research information about the federal budget. Includes questions and links to other budget websites.
Activity
Other

Federal Reserve Bank of Cleveland: Great Minds Think: A Kid's Guide to Money

For Students 3rd - 8th
Sixteen-page booklet helps the reader learn all about managing money: how to earn it, the real cost of spending it, how to plan a budget, and saving money.
Graphic
Other

Insightful Interaction: Visualizations

For Students 9th - 10th
A collection of interactive visualizations that were produced through analysis of economic, political, and market research data. Topics are diverse, e.g., military spending and trade, immigration, consumer spending, crime, unemployment,...
Website
Other

St. Petersburg Times: Money Stuff

For Students 9th - 10th
This resource makes finance and all aspects of managing money understandable, including budgets, banking, credit, buying a car, and more.
Interactive
Thinkport Education

Maryland Public Television: Sense and Dollars

For Students 9th - 10th
Engaging, fun tutorials and interactive games related to earning, spending, saving, and budgeting money.
Activity
Education Development Center

Tune in to Learning: Is Paying Over Time a Smart Move?

For Students 9th - 10th
At T.V. 411 you can explore the concept of paying over time with situations involving credit cards, rent to own items, and more. This interactive lesson gives the learner an opportunity to make decisions about money management.
Lesson Plan
Alabama Learning Exchange

Alex: Pigs and Money

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
After reading the book "Pigs Will Be Pigs" by Amy Axelrod, students will practice how to add money. They will practice how to spend money without spending more than they have in their budget.
Unit Plan
Practical Money Skills

Practical Money Skills: Avengers Comic Teaches Mad Money Skills

For Students 9th - 10th
The Avengers teach Spider-Man the principles of saving and spending as they save a bank from the evil powers of Mole Man. This site includes an online comic book, an instruction guide for teachers, and a budget worksheet.
Interactive
South Carolina Educational Television

Etv: Job Play: Director

For Students Pre-K - 1st
Use real world applications to determine a budget for the Kids Work! ETV Festival.