Introduction

This lesson will examine the many uses of your tax dollars.  You will examine the federal, state and local distribution of your mandatory contributions.  In addition, you will learn about the history of taxes in the U.S. and the various types of taxes.

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Task

You will search the internet and examine various tax related website, noting any interesting facts and figures.  This will allow you to explore any areas of interest you may have as well as learn important background information on taxation.  Once this is completed, students will complete activities on-line to improve their understanding of how income taxes are calculated and where their tax dollars go.

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Process

• Students will work independently to research ideas that interest them and complete worksheet
• Students will go the irs.gov website to complete tutorial on the history of taxation in the U.S.
• Students will go the irs.gov website and complete tutorial on where their tax dollars go
• Students will go the ct.gov website and examine any new issues arising in our state concerning taxation
• Students will go the official website of the state they have been assigned, and use this and any other credible website to fill out the questionnaire (handout) and work with their assigned partner, drawing up a table of similarities and differences between the tax policies of the states to be handed in
• Use the scenarios given, locate 2004 Federal Income Tax Withholding Tables and calculate the amount of taxes to be withheld

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Resources

• Microsoft Word
• Internet
• Classroom partner
• www.irs.gov
• www.ct.gov
• http://tripod.petechrz
•  

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Evaluation

There will be four (4) assignments to be handed in for grades at the completion of these exercises:

1. Completed handout from my website concerning the history of taxation – Quiz grade
2. Completed tutorial worksheet on “Where your tax dollars go?” from the www.irs.gov website – Homework grade
3. Completed Comparison matrix from my website (to be handed in with partner) to be filled in with consensus answers and brief synopsis to round-table discussion and graded according to rubric below – ½ of a test grade
4. “Critical Thinking” Tax calculation worksheet from my website to be printed out, taken home and completed – Homework grade

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Conclusion

At the conclusion of this exercise, students will demonstrate an understanding of:

• A timeline of taxation in the U.S.
• The many local, state and federal uses of their tax dollars
• Differences between states concerning their taxation policies and use of taxpayer dollars
• How to calculate the amount of Federal and State withholdings from their weekly paychecks

Students will enhance their learning by using the following:

• Small group work
• Technology for research
• Critical analysis of word problems
• Calculation and table-reading techniques

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Rubric for Comparison Matrix Exercise           

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