Curated OER
Using the newspaper to learn about state and local government
Students investigate the purposes of state and local government. They categorize newspaper articles into state and local issues. Pupils summarize nonfiction text. Students given an oral presentation on a news report to the class.
Curated OER
Your Tax Dollars at Work
In order to understand how tax dollars are spent, young economists use given data and graph it on a circle graph. Circle graphs are highly visual and can help individuals describe data. A class discussion follows the initial activity.
Curated OER
Identifying the Purposes of Local Government
Students work cooperatively in small groups to identify the purposes of local government. They review the five broad purposes of local government and match the services of government to the appropriate purpose.
Council for Economic Education
Government Spending: Why Do We Spend the Way We Do?
Learners examine the categories for federal spending using the internet to locate them. They create a list of expenditures noting them as government purchases or transfer payments. They analyze the patterns of spending during the past 40...
Curated OER
Government Goods and Services
Fifth graders investigate the connection between taxes and government services. In this economics lesson, 5th graders discuss the process and benefits of paying sales and income taxes. Using calculators, students compute the amount of...
Internal Revenue Service
Fairness in Taxes: How Taxes Affect Us
Students are able to compare the effects of the following, using income as a measure of ability to pay: a progressive tax, a regressive tas, and a proportional tax. They explain how a mixture of regressive and progressive taxes could...
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.
BBC
Local Democracy
Expanding our students' understanding of government at a local level is a great way to build an understanding of government at a global level. Start the understanding by using any of these fun teaching ideas. Learners engage in several...
Curated OER
Lesson Plan: Figuring Sales Taxes
Students define and discuss sales tax, identify items for which they do or do not have to pay sales tax, research information online about sales tax in their state, and complete practice sheet that requires calculating sales tax percent...
Curated OER
The Wealth Tax of 1935 and the Victory Tax of 1942
Learners 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
Prairie Voices: Community Development, Investigating Local History
Students investigate local history. In this research skills lesson, students examine historic landmarks, tax records, fire maps, town plans, historic photographs, newspapers, and other primary sources to learn about local communities in...
iCivics
Taxation
A paycheck stub can offer loads of information on the taxes American citizens pay. This resource not only includes analysis of a stub as an activity, but also provides a wealth of informative reading material on such topics as the...
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...
American Bar Association
What Is Separation of Powers?
Who has the power? Scholars investigate the creation of the three branches of government in the United States Constitution. They analyze just why the framers created the branches the way they did.
Curated OER
The Tax Man Cometh
Students examine websites and resources related to Bush's 2001 tax plan. They discuss the history of taxes and other tax topics. They look for evidence in the local newspaper of government spending at work.
Curated OER
The Role of Government
Students are introduced to the economic roles of the federal government. Using the internet, they read information related to government spending and the actual dollar amounts attached to budget items. In groups, they develop their own...
Curated OER
Understanding by Design
Fourth graders examine the origins, structures, and functions of the Colorado government. In this understanding by design lesson, 4th graders explore the three branches of government. Students identify the roles of state leaders and the...
Carolina K-12
Are You a Democrat or a Republican? Are You Really?
Have new or soon-to-be voters examine different political parties and their platforms as they figure out which one aligns most with their beliefs. After taking a few online quizzes, students split into pairs to discuss and then in larger...
Curated OER
The Cost of Community Services
Students identify the types of services provided to citizens by local government and evaluate tax revenue versus the costs of delivering these services to developments. They evaluate the advantages of spatial relations to delivery of...
Curated OER
Your First Job
Learners determine that they are responsible for paying income taxes through withholdings on earned income. They examine the Form W-4.
Curated OER
Ask Not What Your Government Can Do For You...Why Not?
Students explore tax incentives that are available for businesses to locate or expand their operations. They discuss reasons entrepreneurs should be aware of the governmental incentives that are available.
Curated OER
Participation in Local and State Government
Students investigate the state and local levels of government. They demonstrate an examineing of government at these levels. The identification of officials and resources can be used for assessment.
Curated OER
Organization of Fairfax County Government
Students examine the various components of the Fairfax County government in Virginia. In groups, they describe the purpose of the Board of Supervisors and County Executive. They identify three constitutional officers and their...
Curated OER
Lesson PlanThe Huexotzinco Codex
Students examine primary sources that include pictographs from Puebla, Mexico. In this Huexotzinco Codex instructional activity, students perform historical analysis as they investigate the codex as they make inferences and draw...