Westlake students balance the federal budget

A student considers her next move as she works to balance the federal budget using the People’s Pie game.

Mr. Carver’s 7th grade students at Westlake were challenged with balancing the federal budget through an engaging lesson using the People’s Pie game. They explored funding options, weighed tough decisions, compared needs vs. wants and considered public approval ratings. With each decision they made, they watched as their public approval rating went up or down, and how their decisions financially impacted the function of the government. They had to ensure they funded important programs without setting taxes too high or borrowing too much money.

In an extension activity, students also had the opportunity to rank their top three most important departments and discuss why they chose them with their peers. They further explained their choices in the form of written work, illustrated cartoon strips or in audio recordings. Students thoroughly enjoyed exploring their options as they attempted to create a budget that kept their “residents” happy and avoided a burdensome debt.