Group 1 – Creating a Class Constitution

Your group’s mission is to create a set of six rules that everyone in the class must follow. You have

10 minutes to do this. Your finished product will be a sheet of paper with the rules clearly written on it.

When you finish, answer these questions as a group:

1. What made this activity hard to do?

2. Which rules were the hardest to agree upon?

3. Which rules were the easiest to agree upon?

4. What would life be like in a country where there were no rules?

5. What would life be like in a country where there were too many rules?

6. A constitution is a written set of rules for a county. Why do countries make constitutions?

7. What do you know about the Articles of Confederation, the first Constitution of the United States?

Group 2 – Living on a Budget

Working in pairs, you will play 2 rounds of The Budget Game. Be sure to answer the discussion questions at the end of each round.

Both pairs will come together to do the group presentation. Point out to the whole group the resources from the Federal Trade Commission which are free to anyone who requests them!

Group 3 – You are Paid to Come to Class

Using the data above, your group will answer the following questions:

1. What is the difference in yearly earnings between having a high school diploma and not having a

high school diploma?

2. What is the difference in yearly earnings between having a high school diploma and having an

associate’s degree?

3. Let’s assume that someone will work for 45 years. What are the lifetime earnings for:

Less than a high school diploma ______

High school diploma ______

Associate’s degree ______

4. What conclusions can we draw between education and earnings?

5. So, how can we say that someone is paid to attend class even if they don’t get a paycheck from

their instructor?

Group 4 - The Economic Costs of Raising a Child

1. How many in your group are parents or expect to be parents one day?

2. Brainstorm a list of the expenses a child incurs (food, clothing, medical care, transportation, day

care, etc.)

3. Based on these expenses, what is the yearly cost of raising a child?

4. How much will it cost to raise a child to age 18?

5. Ask your instructor to share with you the USDA info graphic estimate. How does your estimate

compare?

6. What financial impact will having children or does having children have on your life?

Adapted from Reading Reasons (Gallagher)