Educator Resources for Budget Hero
Who can restore the federal budget to long-term fiscal health? In the Budget Hero game, students can make policy changes by playing a variety of policy cards. They can then monitor the effects of their policy changes on the national budget deficit/surplus, the size of government as a percentage of GDP, the national debt as a percentage of GDP, and the projected year in which the budget “busts.” Students can choose up to three badges that reflect their budget priorities, such as defense, health and wellness, and green initiatives. We recommend allowing students to experiment with government investments and budget cuts and then compare their results to others’.
For more teacher resources, visit Public Information Network
Balancing Budgets Lesson Plan: The Budget Hero Game
Grades: 6-12
In this lesson plan, which is adaptable for grades 9-12, students use BrainPOP resources to explore the principles of both personal and government budgets. Students will attempt to balance the U.S. government budget through online game play, and formulate arguments for an approach to reducing the federal deficit and defend their position during a debate.
Common Core State Standards Alignment:
6th Grade
CCSS.Math.Cont.6.RP.A.1 Understand the concept of a ratio and use ratio language to describe a ratio relationship between two quantities.
CCSS.Math.Cont.6.RP.A.3c Find a percent of a quantity as a rate per 100 (e.g., 30% of a quantity means 30/100 times the quantity); solve problems involving finding the whole, given a part and the percent.
