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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Census Countdown

For Teachers 5th - 8th
Students read and discuss the census and how the census is used by the government. In this census lesson plan, students use the data collected to compare different census's and their outcomes.
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Interactive
Curated OER

Fact and Opinion Pre-Test

For Students 3rd - 5th
In this fact/opinion worksheet, students complete 10 multiple choice questions. Students may click on a link to view correct answers. 
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Interactive
Curated OER

Fact and Opinion: Post Test

For Students 5th - 8th
For this fact and opinion worksheet, students identify sentences as being facts or opinions or choose the fact or opinion sentence. Students complete 10 multiple choice questions.
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PPT
Curated OER

Academic Raceway 500

For Teachers 3rd - 4th
In this community government PowerPoint, students participate in a game with a race track format in which they answer questions about local government, the election process, and the decision making process used in a democracy.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Basic Budgeting

For Teachers 6th - 9th
Students create a personal budget.  In this creating a personal budget lesson, students create a list of 3 necessary things they need to survive.  Students rank these things in order of importance and determine their...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Reformation

For Teachers 7th
Seventh graders explore the Reformation.  In this World History instructional activity, 7th graders analyze primary sources on being Protestant and Catholic.  Students discuss as a class the impact of the Reformation. 
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Doctor's Dilemma: Advocacy for Whom?

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students investigate why doctors feel torn between patients and insurance companies. They examine the health care system and how it affects patients. They discuss one's ability to afford health insurance as well.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Future of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge

For Teachers 7th - 10th
Students research the governments role is preserving the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge. They discuss the proponents and the opponents side of the issue.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

City Spotlights

For Teachers 3rd - 6th
Students discover the names and history of cities in San Mateo county. Using the Internet, they research the history of their city and share their information with their classmates. They also write an essay in which they reference...
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Lesson Plan
Internal Revenue Service

Irs: Federal/state/local Taxes Lesson Plans

For Teachers 9th - 10th
This lesson plan will help students understand that federal, state, and local governments need revenues to provide goods and services for their residents.
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Article
Other

The Igen Blog: Ultimate Excise Tax Guide Definition, Examples, State vs. Federal

For Students 9th - 10th
This is a fairly detailed explanation of state and federal excise taxes designed for the layperson, not for tax experts.
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Lesson Plan
Council for Economic Education

Econ Ed Link: Preparing a 1040 Ez Income Tax Form

For Teachers 9th - 10th
Many students in high school or in college have part time jobs and learn the concept of gross pay and net pay. Their employers take out taxes at the federal and state level. This activity takes a common situation and helps students...
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Website
Bankrate

Bankrate.com: Taxes

For Students 9th - 10th
This site explores the basics of taxes including finding your tax bracket, income tax calculator, earned income tax, state taxes, states with no income tax, and capital gains.
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Handout
Cornell University

Cornell University: Law School: Income Tax Law: An Overview

For Students 9th - 10th
A collection of resources for understanding income tax law, including its roots in the Constitution, federal and state statutes and regulations, judicial decisions, and links to the websites of government and tax agencies.
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Activity
Other

Tax and Accounting Sites Directory

For Students 9th - 10th
This is a tax and accounting site directory. Includes links to varied tax information.
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Lesson Plan
Alabama Learning Exchange

Alex: Preparing for Tax Day

For Teachers 9th - 10th
This unit is to expose students to different types of earnings, determine gross earning, calculate payroll deductions, and net pay. This project will have students journalize payment of payroll, employer payroll taxes, and payment of...
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Article
The Balance

The Balance: Sin Tax: Definition, Their Pros and Cons, and Whether They Work

For Students 9th - 10th
Both the federal government and many state governments impose "sin taxes" that tax items and activities which are considered socially harmful. This article explains these taxes and shows how much states and the federal government raise...
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Article
Lectric Law Library

Lectric Law Library: Understanding the Federal Courts

For Students 9th - 10th
This document provides an overview of the organization, operation, and administration of the entire federal court system. The article gives information on the federal judicial branch, the state and federal courts, the structure of the...
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Interactive
Annenberg Foundation

Annenberg Classroom: Federal Taxation

For Students 9th - 10th
Check out this interactive timeline documenting the history of federal taxation in the United States.
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Lesson Plan
Council for Economic Education

Econ Ed Link: Why Cities Provide Tax Breaks

For Teachers 9th - 10th
Like the state and federal government, local governments offer tax incentives to businesses to help solve economic and/or environmental problems. For this lesson, students will explore three different cities and determine what incentives...
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Article
Independence Hall Association

American Government: Financing State and Local Government

For Students 9th - 10th
Taxes are collected by federal, state, and local governments to pay for a wide variety of services. This article helps students understand where their tax money goes.
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Primary
US Government Publishing Office

U.s. Government Publishing Office: Constitution of the United States of America: 16th Amendment Income Tax [Pdf]

For Students 9th - 10th
Read this text of the 16th Amendment, followed by the history of the Amendment and an analysis. (PDF)
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Handout
Thomson Reuters

Find Law: u.s. Constitution: Annotation 1: Sixteenth Amendment

For Students 9th - 10th
This article provides the background of the 16th Amendment, which established a federal income tax.
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Activity
US Government Publishing Office

Ben's Guide to u.s. Government: Exclusive Powers of the National Government and State Governments

For Students 6th - 8th
Presents a chart contrasting the powers of the National government to the powers of a State government. The powers shared by both levels of government are listed below the chart.