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Collection
Understanding Fiscal Responsibility

Teach students how to think critically about public policy using these Understanding Fiscal Responsibility lessons focusing on government institutions, programs, the Federal Reserve, Social Security, and events such as the Panic of 1893. Students become informed citizens as they consider the tradeoffs involved in setting public policy. They learn to articulate their own views by evaluating primary and secondary sources, engaging in group activities and discussions, and writing brief essays.

Lesson

Grades 9-12

FRED and the Federal Budget Interactive Lesson

Students will use a Federal Reserve Economic Data (FRED) data dashboard to calculate budget deficits, surpluses, how much federal budgets...
Key Concepts: Balance of Trade and Balance of Payments, Budget Deficit, Budget Surplus…
Lesson

Grades 9-12

Balancing the Federal Budget

ESSENTIAL DILEMMA When, if ever, should the nation prioritize balancing the federal budget?
Key Concepts: Balance of Trade and Balance of Payments, Budgeting, Credit…
Lesson

Grades 9-12

The Economics of National Security

ESSENTIAL DILEMMA How do we know if we are getting good value out of the money we spend on defense?
Key Concepts: Budgeting, Credit, Decision Making/Cost-Benefit Analysis
Lesson

Grades 9-12

Medicare and the National Debt

In this economics lesson, students will discuss the value we place on guaranteeing quality health care to the elderly.
Key Concepts: Credit, Decision Making/Cost-Benefit Analysis, Financial Markets…
Lesson

Grades 9-12

Taxation and the National Debt

In this economics lesson, students will analyze arguments concerning income and corporate taxes and the impact of national debt.
Key Concepts: Budget Deficits and Public Debt, Fiscal Policy, Taxes
60 mins
Lesson

Grades 9-12

Social Security and the National Debt

In this economics lesson, students will analyze charts and proposals to learn about the issues facing Social Security.
Key Concepts: Budget Deficits and Public Debt, Fiscal Policy, Roles of Government
60 mins
Lesson

Grades 9-12

The Panic of 1893 and the Election of 1896

ESSENTIAL DILEMMA Were the contradictory responses political leaders had to the panic of 1893 driven more by economic/political self-interest or...
Key Concepts: Budget Deficit, Budgeting, Business Cycles…
Lesson

Grades 9-12

The History of Medicare

In this economics lesson, students will learn that Medicare was the fulfillment of what was believed to be Social Security.
Key Concepts: Fiscal Policy, Insurance, Roles of Government
60 mins
Lesson

Grades 9-12

The History of Social Security

In this economics lesson, students will examine the creation of Social Security.
Key Concepts: Fiscal Policy, Income Distribution, Roles of Government
90 mins
Lesson

Grades 9-12

Rhetoric

In this economics lesson, students will learn about Rhetoric and how it effects the economy. 
Key Concepts: Budget Deficit, Credit
45 mins
Lesson

Grades 9-12

Political Beliefs and the Federal Budget

In this economics lesson, students will examine political forces influencing the federal budget.
Key Concepts: Budget Deficits and Public Debt, Fiscal Policy, Roles of Government
90 mins
Lesson

Activity

Grades 9-12

Social Security Benefits Increase

In this economics activity, students will creatively comment on political cartoons.
Key Concepts: Budget Deficits and Public Debt, Fiscal Policy, Income Distribution
15 mins
Activity

Grades 9-12

Uncle Sam

In this economics activity, students will creatively comment on political cartoons.
Key Concepts: Fiscal Policy, Income Distribution, Roles of Government
15 mins
Activity

Grades 9-12

Rise of the AARPs

In this economics activity, students will creatively comment on political cartoons.
Key Concepts: Fiscal Policy, Income Distribution, Roles of Government
15 mins
Activity

Grades 9-12

Lost and Found

In this economics activity, students will creatively comment on political cartoons.
Key Concepts: Budget Deficit, Fiscal Policy, Roles of Government
15 mins
Activity

Grades 9-12

Policy Perspectives on the Federal Budget

In Policy Perspectives on the Federal Budget, a digital interactive activity, students think critically about Federal Budget policy choices from...
Key Concepts: Balanced Budget, Economic Functions of Government, Federal Budget
Activity

Grades 9-12

Policy Perspectives on Medicare

In this interactive activity, students think critically about Medicare policy choices from the perspectives of varied personas.
Key Concepts: Decision Making/Cost-Benefit Analysis
Activity

Grades 9-12

Policy Perspectives on Social Security

In Policy Perspectives on Social Security, a digital interactive activity, students think critically about Social Security policy choices from the...
Key Concepts: Credit, Decision Making/Cost-Benefit Analysis, Scarcity
Activity

Grades 9-12

Taxation and the National Debt (A) | Activity

Use this Image Annotation Tool to enable your students to creatively comment on political cartoons, and to share their annotated...
Key Concepts: Budget Deficit, Budget Deficits and Public Debt, Credit…
Activity

Grades 9-12

Taxation and the National Debt (B) | Activity

Use this Image Annotation Tool to enable your students to creatively comment on political cartoons, and to share their annotated...
Key Concepts: Budget Deficit, Budget Deficits and Public Debt, Credit…
Activity

Grades 9-12

Balancing the Federal Budget | Activity

Use this Image Annotation Tool to enable your students to creatively comment on political cartoons, and to share their annotated...
Key Concepts: Balance of Trade and Balance of Payments, Budgeting, Credit…
Activity

Video

Grades 9-12

Balancing the Federal Budget | Classroom Demo

Help your students to understand how the federal budget is established using CEE's animated video Overview of the Federal Budget...
Key Concepts: Budget Deficits and Public Debt, Budgeting, Fiscal Policy
Video

Grades 6-8, 9-12

Overview of the Budget Process | Animated Video

How is the federal budget established, what is influencing decision makers, and what do we need to know? Help students...
Key Concepts: Budget Deficit, Budget Deficits and Public Debt, Decision Making/Cost-Benefit Analysis
Video

Professional Development

Grades 9-12

Taxation and the National Debt | Lesson Demo

This video models a lesson from our Understanding Fiscal Responsibility curriculum in the classroom, discusses lesson objectives and provides pointers...
Key Concepts: Budget Deficit, Budget Deficits and Public Debt, Credit…
Video

Grades 9-12

Social Security and the National Debt | Lesson Demo

This video models a lesson from our Understanding Fiscal Responsibility curriculum in the classroom, discusses lesson objectives and provides pointers...
Key Concepts: Credit, Decision Making/Cost-Benefit Analysis, Scarcity
Video