๐ Lesson Plan: The U.S. Debt Legacy โ How Itโs Passed Down to Future Generations
- The Chairman
- Oct 8
- 3 min read
๐ Subject:
Financial Literacy / Economics / Civics
๐ซ Grade Level:
High School (Grades 10โ12)
๐ฏ Lesson Objectives
By the end of this lesson, students will be able to:
Define national debt, debt ceiling, and budget deficit.
Differentiate between public and intragovernmental debt.
Explain how national debt affects future generations.
Analyze intergenerational equity and fiscal responsibility.
Evaluate policy options to reduce national debt responsibly.
Connect the debt burden to personal financial literacy concepts (e.g., interest, borrowing, taxes).
๐ Florida Sunshine State Standards
SS.912.FL.1.1ย โ Analyze how decision-making relates to scarcity and opportunity costs.
SS.912.FL.4.3ย โ Explain how interest rates affect the cost of using credit.
SS.912.FL.5.5ย โ Identify ways government policies influence financial decisions and economic conditions.
SS.912.FL.6.5ย โ Explain how inflation, taxation, and government borrowing affect purchasing power.
SS.912.E.2.4ย โ Evaluate the role of government in a market economy.
SS.912.C.3.13ย โ Evaluate the significance and impact of fiscal policy decisions.
๐งฐ Materials Needed
Printed blog article or digital access: โThe U.S. Debt Legacyโ
Whiteboard or Smartboard
Student handout packet:
Debt Breakdown Chart (Public vs Intragovernmental)
Debt Consequences Analysis Chart
Policy Proposal Worksheet
Access to internet/devices for optional research
Exit Ticket slips
โฑ Lesson Duration:
90 minutes
๐ Lesson Procedure
๐ Bellringer / Warm-Up (10 min)
Prompt on board:
โIf you borrow $100,000 today but never pay it back, who should be responsible in the future?โ
Have students journal their thoughts, then share ideas in a quick roundtable.
๐ Direct Instruction (20 min)
Introduce Concepts: National debt, debt ceiling, deficit vs debt.
Use whiteboard to diagram:
Debt held by the public vs intragovernmental
How interest on debt compounds
Read aloud key sections of the blog (students follow along).
Discuss how government borrowing is like personal debt.
๐ค Group Activity โ "Generational Impact Lab" (30 min)
Instructions:
Divide class into groups of 4โ5.
Each group gets:
A Debt Consequences Analysis Chart
A Policy Proposal Worksheet
Students analyze 3 of the 6 listed consequences of debt (e.g. higher taxes, less investment, etc.) and present:
How that consequence affects future citizens
Real-world example or analogy
Suggested policy fix
Challenge: Groups must use correct economic vocabulary.
๐ง Class Discussion / Socratic Seminar (15 min)
Key Questions:
Is it fair to pass debt to future generations?
Should there be a national debt cap enforced by the Constitution?
How does this relate to your own financial planning and borrowing choices?
What should Congress prioritizeโspending cuts or revenue growth?
โ Exit Ticket (5 min)
Answer one:
"What is one thing I learned today that I didnโt know before?"
"If I were in Congress, my first fiscal policy would be to ________ because ________."
๐ Assessment / Grading
Component | Points |
Group Analysis Worksheet | 30 pts |
Policy Proposal Form | 30 pts |
Participation in Seminar | 20 pts |
Exit Ticket | 10 pts |
Vocabulary Accuracy | 10 pts |
๐งฉ Extension / Homework (Optional)
Assignment:ย Write a 250-word blog post titled:
โWhat I Owe the Future: My Generationโs Responsibility with Debtโ
Encourage students to consider both personal and national debt perspectives.
๐ Vocabulary Words
National Debt
Debt Ceiling
Budget Deficit
Interest Payments
Crowding Out
Fiscal Policy
Intergenerational Equity
Entitlement Programs
Inflation
Debt-to-GDP Ratio
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