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Overview

In this lesson, students will explore the national debt, including what it is, how it accumulates and the ways it can affect the nation’s economy and future. Students will begin by watching a PBS News Hour video that provides an overview of the topic. They will then apply what they have learned by completing an activity in which they develop a plan for raising public awareness about the national debt and its potential impacts.

Estimated time

One 50-60 minute class period

Grade level

6-12

Essential questions

• What is the national debt, and how does it impact people in the United States?
• How can students raise awareness of the debt and its impact in their communities?

Warm-up activity

Have students first watch this video from PBS NewsHour. As students watch the video, they should try to answer the following questions.

• What does the government do to cover the gap between what the government spends and what it collects?
• When does spending typically ebb and flow?
• How much debt is held by the public?
• Why did Alexander Hamilton believe assuming states' debts was the right thing to do?
• Why does Kenneth Rogoff believe the current national debt poses a risk for future diasters/events?

Then, as a class, discuss the following questions:

• Do you think the national debt is concerning?
• What problems might the national debt pose for future generations?

Main activity

STEP 1

Students should take 5 minutes to learn about a competition titled the Up to Us Fiscal Advocacy Competition.

• What are the goals of the competition?
• How can campus campaigns be structured?

STEP 2

Students should gather into groups of 4-5 to plan a mock awareness campaign plan of different events, presentations or meetings they could set up to spread the word about the national debt.

Make sure students’ campaigns achieve the following, using both the video and the Up to Us website for guidance:

• Explicitly ties the national debt issue to the young generation
• Includes the makeup of the national debt (Also includes where it currently stands)
• Who is the debt owed to?
• Plans to reach out to elected officials voicing their concern on the debt
• Ways they can engage students of different grade levels

STEP 3

Finally, students should explain their ideas to the class in the form of a presentation and welcome feedback from classmates. How could each campaign be improved?

Extension activity

Students might also enjoy this fiscal ship game which will have them act as policymakers and decide where to cut or increase spending. Students will learn that there are many tradeoffs to different decisions and will be able to view arguments supporting or opposing each type of policy option.

This lesson was written on June 25, 2026, by Jackalyn Karamanougian, a rising senior at the University of Southern California, and News Hour's Victoria Pasquantonio.

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