Federal Reserve Bank
Monetary and Fiscal Policy in Times of Crisis
Following the 2008 financial crisis in the United States, why did fiscal policymakers increase government spending and reduce taxes? Discover the motivation behind these actions and learn about the separate functions of monetary and...
Curated OER
Circular Flows
To study circular flow, learners use the plans to trace through a series of interconnected economic and financial flows to explain the workings of the American economy. They use the model developed to comprehend the effects of Federal...
Curated OER
I'm The Taxman!
Students develop an understanding of how federal revenues are gained by taxes. This foundation enable students to decipher changes in federal tax policy. Groups of students study different types of taxes and prepare presentations on each...
Curated OER
Taxes in U.S. History: The Social Security Act of 1935
High schoolers explain the history of the Social Security Act and the FICA tax. They describe what Social Security is and whom it is intended to help. They explain the purpose of the FICA tax.
Curated OER
Are Taxes "Normal?"
Students explore the concept of normal distribution. For this normal distribution lesson, students find the normal distribution of taxes in the 50 US states. Students make histograms, frequency tables, and find the mean and median of tax...
Curated OER
Should America Balance the Federal Budget?
Young scholars analyze the federal budget of the United States. In this national debt lesson plan, students listen to their instructor present a lecture regarding the details of the balancing the federal budget. Young scholars respond to...
Curated OER
What is Taxed and Why
Students are exposed to the need for federal, state and local governments to tax constituents to provide goods and services for their residents. They identify the different kinds of taxes and give examples of the goods and services taxed.
Curated OER
Dual Federalism
Students compare and contrast the roles of federal and state governments in the United States. In this government lesson, students research state and national governments' joint and individual powers prior to debating a topic relevant to...
Curated OER
The Wealth Tax of 1935 and the Victory Tax of 1942
Students explain that during the Great Depression and World War II, the Roosevelt administration implemented new, broader, and more progressive taxes in order to cover the costs of the New Deal programs and the war.
Curated OER
Module 12-Self-Employment Income and the Self-Employment Tax
Students explain self-employment income and the self-employment tax. They distinguish between an employee and an independent contractor and explain how to compute and report self-employment profit.
Curated OER
Taxes: Where Does Your Money Go?
Students explore the concept of taxes. For this tax lesson, students investigate types of taxes and deductions taken out of a paycheck before they see it. Students calculate the tax on a given dollar amount. Students discuss 401(k)s...
Curated OER
The Federal Period 1780 - 1820
Within this unit, students evaluate the prosperity of a New England town during the Federal Period. Throughout the unit, students are looking for evidence of prosperity by examining artifacts such as inventories, tax lists, and photos to...
Curated OER
Income Tax Time Word Problems Lesson
Students investigate what taxes are and solve related problems.
Curated OER
Debate Topics and Ideas
Students examine both sides of arguments surrounding given debates. They use the internet and other research to collect information to support their stand on the controversial issue. Students debate their chosen topic. This lesson plans...
NY Learns
Taxes and Social Security
In an effort to help prepare teens for the realities of taxes, the teacher fills out a sample 1040EZ while it's projected for the class to see. This is part of a unit on taxes and social security that culminates in a 50+ question test...
Curated OER
People and Government
Introduce your elementary students to US Government. This slide show briefly defines the three levels and branches of government, and taxes. Tip: Use this resource to introduce the topic by asking students what they know, clearing up...
Curated OER
Qualifying to Vote Under Jim Crow
Literacy tests, poll taxes, grandfather laws? Scholars study the systematic ways African-Americans were kept from voting even after it was made a law. They analyze a series of primary source documents, complete a worksheet, and engaged...
Curated OER
World of Work
Twelfth graders research want ads on the Internet or in the newspaper. They calculate the estimated weekly, monthly, and yearly pay for an hourly, salary and commission positions. They calculate a paycheck including state tax, federal...
Curated OER
Taxes in U.S. History: Evolution of Taxation in the Constitution
Young scholars receive an overview of the role and purpose of taxes in American history. They identify different types of taxes implemented by the US government and explain the origin of the federal income tax.
Federal Reserve Bank
“W” Is for Wages, W-4 and W-2
Don't let your young adults get lost in the alphabet soup of their paychecks and federal income taxes. Using sample pay stubs and reproductions of government forms, your class members will identify the purpose of such forms as a W-4 and...
Visa
Nothing But Net: Understanding Your Take Home Pay
Introduce your young adults to the important understanding that the money they receive from their paychecks is a net amount as a result of deductions from taxes. Other topics covered include federal, state, Medicare and social security...
The New York Times
Understanding the Mathematics of the Fiscal Cliff
What exactly is the fiscal cliff? What are the effects of changing income tax rates and payroll tax rates? Your learners will begin by reading news articles and examining graphs illustrating the "Bush tax cuts" of 2001 and 2003. They...
Federal Reserve Bank
FRED in the Classroom: Debt and Deficit
Here is a hands-on activity where your class members will discover different ways to measure the government's financial situation and work to add data and redraw graphs in order to calculate the ratio of gross federal debt held by the...
Curated OER
Federal Income Tax 1040EZ Worksheet Lesson
Students practice filling out the Federal Income Tax 1040EZ tax form.