Illustration of military formation.

Civic Literacy

With managing a war-induced budget crisis as a backdrop, students develop an awareness of the federal government and how current events and competing priorities influence budgetary decisions.

National Budget Simulation

Financial Literacy

Students become familiar with government spending areas and use an interactive budget worksheet to bring more balance to a large budget deficit.

National Budget Simulation

Critical Thinking & Problem Solving

Balance competing domestic and military priorities challenges students to think critically about each line item, making comparisons to determine value and identify appropriate cuts.

National Budget Worksheet

Decision-Making & Communication

Students must not only make tough spending choices but also justify their advised cuts. Students are asked to write a paper that elaborates on their decisions.

Another option would be to break students into groups (several advisors to one president) and have them each present their cuts persuasively to the president.

Photo of students acting out roles in the classroom.

Further Development

Teachers can build Collaboration and Communication into this lesson by modeling the federal decisionmaking process.

Teachers can assign students into the roles of legislators and constituents. With a few ground rules, constituent groups can present arguments for cut limits leaving legislators to listen and reach consensus on their recommendations.