Subject(s):

Estimated Time:

Grade Level:

Objective:

• Learn the definition of sequestration.


• Learn about government budgets, spending and cuts.


• Learn about the potential impact of Sequestration on communities across America.


• Learn the difference between layoffs and furloughs.

Procedure:

1. Begin a discussion about sequestration by proposing these warm up questions:
   
   
   
   
   • What is a budget?
     
     
     
     
     • An estimate of costs, revenues, and resources over a specified period, used to predict future financial conditions and goals. (Source: BusinessDictionary.com )
     
     
     
     
   
   
   • What is debt?
     
     
     
     
     • A duty or obligation to pay money, deliver goods, or provide service under an agreement. (Source: Business Dictionary.com )
     
     
     
     
   
   
   • How much money do you think the U.S. government has borrowed?
     
     
     
     
     • Approximately $16.4 trillion (Source: U.S Debt Clock and PBS NewsHour )
     
     
     
     
   
   
   
   


2. Have students watch the first part of this PBS NewsHour Report on Sequestration: Despite Gloomy Urgings, No Signs of Give From Congress on Sequester
   
   
   
   
   • You can also pass around this backgrounder from the National Journal: What Is Sequestration and What Does It Mean for Me?
   
   
   
   


3. Ask students what they think will happen.  Questions might include:
   
   
   
   
   • What is a layoff?
     
     
     
     
     • The act of suspending or dismissing an employee. (Source: Free Dictionary ) What is a furlough? A temporary layoff or a reduction in work days with a corresponding reduction in take-home pay (Source: Free Dictionary )
     
     
     
     
   
   
   • What are the differences between a layoff and a furlough?
     
     
     
     
     • A furlough is a temporary, defined period of unpaid time off, at the end of which the employee returns to work on a paid basis. On the other hand, a layoff is the removal of an employee from the workforce, without pay and without guarantees of returning to work. (Source: Lawyers.com )
     
     
     
     
   
   
   
   


4. Students should use this writing prompt to assess their understanding of the issue:
   
   
   
   
   • What is sequestration?
     
     
     
     
     • It's a series of automatic, across-the-board cuts to government agencies, totaling $1.2 trillion over 10 years. The cuts would be split 50-50 between defense and domestic discretionary spending.
     
     
     
     
   
   
   
   

• Additional writing or discussion prompts .
  
  
  
  
  • Who does sequestration impact?
  
  
  • What can be done to avoid sequestration?
  
  
  • Transportation Secretary Warns Sequestration Would Disrupt Air Travel from PBS NewsHour
  
  
  • Housing Support Faces Sequester Chop from CNN Money
  
  
  • Sequester cuts would be a “catastrophe” for DOD civilians from CBS Evening News
  
  
  • Sequester cuts could hurt food inspections from CBS Evening News