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  Balance the Budget

Updated 09 April 2003, 17.08


Citizenship 11-14/KS3/Levels E&F
Central government

Overview
Students decide where they would increase spending and where they would cutback.

select this link to see how kids would spend the Budget

Learning aims

Icebreaker
Quick quiz on the Budget, the correct answer is marked *.

When you spend 50p on a can of drink - how much of the price is tax?

A: 9p*
B: 20p
C: 3p
D: Nothing - Kids don't pay tax

If you spend £50 on a pair of size 3 trainers, how much tax do you pay?

A: £9
B: £20
C: £3
D: Nothing - there's no tax on kids' shoes*

Which of these does the government spend most money on?

A: Fighting wars
B: Educating kids*
C: Making people obey the law

Income tax means

A: The more you earn the less you pay
B: The more you earn the more you pay*
C: The more you spend the more you save

Income tax in the UK was introduced to pay for

A: Hospitals and schools
B: A war with the French*
C: Henry VIII's Palaces

Who reads out The Budget?

A: Ex- chancellor of Quebeca
B: Chancellor of the Exchequer*
C: A bloke off the street

Your aunt wins the lottery, but she dies and leaves you a million quid. Do you have to pay tax on it?

A: Yes - Inheritance tax*
B: No - She gave it to you not the taxman

You pay VAT (Value Added Tax) when you:

A: Buy things*
B: Value things
C: Add things up

Which of these has the least tax on it?

A: Cigarettes
B: Beer
C: Petrol
D: Hats
E: Potatoes*

Online activities
If you have group internet access students can click on the headings below to link to online activities.


Vote on the Budget
A fun vote on who to tax and what to spend


Online quiz
An online quiz on taxation and the Budget


Main activity

[A] Read out the Press Pack report
I got the chance to create my own budget!

Students make their own decisions over how central government should spend the money they get from taxing the public.

Ask the class:

[B] Give out copies of the Budget 2003 worksheet.

Explain that the worksheet is split into and expenditure and income.

1. Expenditure
They should decide what percentage of their expenditure should go to each particular area.

For example:

They should write down their reasons for giving more to some areas and less to others, making clear why they feel some things deserve more money.

2. Income
Students decide which areas they would raise taxes in to get more money.

They should decide what percentage of their income should come from each particular area.

For example:

Write down their reasons for taking more from some areas and less from others, making clear why they feel some things should be taxed more heavily.

3. Use pie-charts
You may wish to give the two blank pie-charts on the worksheet to students to colour and label with their monetary decisions. Each sector represents 5% of the total budget.

Extension activity
Students can try their hand at making important monetary decisions online by following this link to BBC News: Budget 2003 - Be your own chancellor.

Plenary
Who would be the winners and losers if the chancellor took the group's advice?

Could there ever be a Budget that would please everyone?

Teachers' Background

Get the main points of the 2003 Budget using the link at top right.


For all links and resources click at top right.

More Info

Teachers Budget 2003 worksheet

Pictures In pictures: the Cabinet

Find Out Our Budget guide

Quiz The Budget quiz

Club I got the chance to create my own budget!



Past Stories

The NHS: Central government spending



BBC Links

Budget 2003 at a glance


 

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Full Teachers Section

Video report:
IDS deposed


NORTHERN IRELAND curriculum relevance

ENGLAND curriculum relevance

WALES curriculum relevance

SCOTLAND curriculum relevance

Guide to the UK Parliament

>> BBCi Schools: Loads more citizenship

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