Learning Target:
- I can communicate and work effectively within a team or group.
- I can demonstrate an understanding of the role of the U.S. government in the U.S. economy.
- I can analyze government spending using a case study.
- RAP: Students started class with a mini pop quiz to review their understanding of government spending from the previous class. After answering a few short questions, we reviewed the answers. If you missed class, the notes are available in the google slides (scroll down to the bottom of the page).
- Main Stage: Next, we began working on our government spending analysis portion of our group projects. I modeled with students how to analyze government spending by showing them the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services budget within the Department of Homeland Security. We used this graphic organizer to help us collect information (click here). We reviewed the total budget (spending), the percentage of the spending as a portion of the larger department spending, and exploring how the agency spends its money. Students used this learning to identify how they can examine government spending for their assigned government agencies.
- Closing: Students used the remainder of class time to work on their group projects. Specifically, students needed to create and collaborate on a Google Slide presentation that includes: the title of their agency, the mission, an explanation of the agency's work, a budget analysis, and a current event discussion. Students also used this time to complete their Making Sense of Economics #2 assignment about their government agency.