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Department of Treasury
Click on the above title to use the lesson in TrackStar.

Curtis Middle School

The Department of Treasury was one of the first departments established after our country’s constitution was written.

As well as being one of the most enduring offices it is also one of our largest and most diverse. You may think that this office only deals with money.   The Duties and Functions of the Treasury Department, however, are much more diverse than that. It also deals with federal taxes, postage stamps and protection of the President and Vice President. 

Several activities below help you understand the various duties and functions of the US Department of Treasury.

Use these Constitution links for reference:

Constitution of the United States of America
www.nara.gov/exhall/charters/constitution/constitution.html

About the Constitution
http://bensguide.gpo.gov/3-5/documents/constitution/about.html

*Note: If you do not understand a word click, on this dictionary link http://www.m-w.com/home.html and type in the word you do not understand. Please use this link throughout the unit as you come across words that you do not understand.

Mint

Know Your Money for Kids
www.ustreas.gov/kids/kidsmoney.html

Open the word processor on your computer (Appleworks, Microsoft Office, etc). You will toggle between your word processor and the Internet to do the following assignments. If you are unsure of how to toggle between the two programs, have your teacher show you. Remember to word process your answers and to use complete sentences in your answers! Please label each section of your word processor document in accordance with each section that you complete.

Research and answer the following questions. Use the ‘Know Your Money’ button to find your answers. Once you have finished your research, complete the task portion of this assignment.

1. Choose one bill and retell the biographical information of that person who is on the

    front.

2. What is the denomination of the largest bill in print?

3. What was the motivation for the design of the five, ten, and twenty dollar bills?

Your Task: Use a drawing or paint program on your computer to design a million dollar bill.  Who would you put on the front, and who would you put on the back?  Defend your choices. 

A History of the United States Mint
www.acoins.com/usmint.html

Open the word processor on your computer (Appleworks, Microsoft Office, etc). You will toggle between your word processor and the Internet to do the following assignments. If you are unsure of how to toggle between the two programs, have your teacher show you. Remember to word process your answers and to use complete sentences in your answers! Please label each section of your word processor document in accordance with each section that you complete.

Research and answer the following questions. Once you have finished your research, complete the task portion of this assignment.

1. What was the historical significance of the Denver and San Francisco mints?

2. Give two reasons why the mint was opened in West Point, New York.

Your Task: Use a drawing or paint program on your computer. Design a new coin.  Who would you put on the front, and who would you put on the back?  Defend your choices.

History of the Denver Mint
www.ustreas.gov/opc/opc0067.html

Open the word processor on your computer (Appleworks, Microsoft Office, etc). You will toggle between your word processor and the Internet to do the following assignments. If you are unsure of how to toggle between the two programs, have your teacher show you. Remember to word process your answers and to use complete sentences in your answers! Please label each section of your word processor document in accordance with each section that you complete.

Research and answer the following questions. Once you have finished your research, complete the task portion of this assignment.

1. How many coins were produced during the first year?

2. What types of coins were created?

3. What national symbol appears on this 1906 coin?

Your Task: Use the new coin design that you created in the section before.  Your job is to introduce this new coin to the general public. Remember that with the exception of the new state quarters, the general public has not accepted other coins introduced in the past. This introduction may take the form of a commercial, brochure, or a press release statement.

Stamps

United States Postage Stamps: Celebrating America's History
http://educate.si.edu/migrations/stamps/stampind.html

Open the word processor on your computer. You will toggle between your word processor and the Internet to do the following assignments. If you are unsure of how to toggle between the two programs, have your teacher show you. Remember to word process your answers and to use complete sentences in your answer!

1. What was the year that the first stamp was created to commemorate your state?

2. To what museum would you go if you wanted to see this stamp in person?

Your Task: Use presentation software, HyperStudio, PowerPoint, or Appleworks on your computer to create a short presentation for the following senario.

a. We have colonized the planet Mars.  Explain the intergalactic mail system and illustrate your method of transportation.

b. Create an honorary stamp for the intergalactic mail system in memory of the “good old days.”

IRS

Internal Revenue Service
http://www.ustreas.gov/opc/opc0042.html#irs

Open the word processor on your computer. You will toggle between your word processor and the Internet to do the following assignments. If you are unsure of how to toggle between the two programs, have your teacher show you. Remember to word process your answers and to use complete sentences in your answer!

1. The IRS was established in 1862. Why was “new” money needed at this time?
2. Who was the President at this time?
3. Which amendment gave Congress the authority to enact an income tax?
4. What is tax evasion?  Name three famous people who have been convicted of this crime?
5. Since the ware is over, why do we still pay taxes?
6. Why did the Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms Division separate with the IRS to become an independent bureau?
7. How long have taxpayers been able to file electronically?
8. What are three benefits that we get from the taxes we pay?

Your Task: Debate the proposed half-cent tax increase to pay for the new downtown sports arena. Use your computer to create tables or graphs representing your stand on the issue.

Secret Service

United States Secret Service
http://www.ustreas.gov/usss/index.shtml

Open the word processor on your computer. You will toggle between your word processor and the Internet to do the following assignments. If you are unsure of how to toggle between the two program have your teacher show you. Remember to word process your answers and to use complete sentences in your answer!

Research and answer the following questions. Once you have finished your research, complete the task portion of this assignment.

1. Why was the Secret Service developed?

2. How long was it before the Secret Service started protecting the President and which

   President was it?

3. What events precipitated the Secret Service assuming full time responsibility for the

    protection of the President?

4. When did the Secret Service start protecting George W. Bush, and when did they begin

    the coverage of his family?

5. Support or refute this statement: Presidents should have lifelong protection by the

    Secret Service after their term in office.

Your Task: Use a word processor on your computer. Your job, should you decide to accept it, is to protect the President of the United States. Submit a resume to the review board to convince them of your superior qualifications. You may use the following website to assist you in this venture:

Resume Tutor
http://www1.umn.edu/ohr/ecep/resume/step1.htm

Standards

ISTE Standards

1. Basic operations and concepts.
2. Social, ethical, and human issues.
3. Technology productivity tools.
4. Technology communication tools.
5. Technology research tools.

Social Studies Standards - Eighth Grade

Government/Program Standard 1

All Students will demonstrate knowledge of the United States Constitutional Democracy and citizen participation in its preservation.

1. All students will identify and define the meaning of civic life, politics, and government.

d. All students will describe the major characteristics of systems of shared powers and of parliamentary systems.

4. All students will explain how the government established by the Constitution embodies the purposes, values, and principles of American Democracy.

b. All students will explain the necessity of taxes and the purposes for which taxes are used.

Research/Program Standard 3

All students will demonstrate the ability to locate retrieve, interpret and present information using a variety of sources, media, and technology.

1. All students will use the problem solving approach to frame a research question.

2. All students will apply information retrieval skills and reorganize information in their own words from a variety of sources.

3. All students will investigate, interpret and analyze multiple viewpoints while employing critical judgment.

4. All students will analyze, organize, synthesize, evaluate and apply information to a focused social studies topic.

5. All students will apply prewriting, drafting, revising and editing strategies.

Economics/Program Standard 5

All students will demonstrate an understanding of the economic system of the United States in a world market, and the individual's responsibility to function as a contributing member.

3. All students will explain the importance of money in our economy.

a. All students will describe how money performs its three basic functions.

b. All students will identify and explain what makes up the U.S. money supply.

c. All students will describe the role the Federal Reserve plays in controlling our money supply.

6. All students will identify and describe the role the government plays in our economic system.

Language Arts Standards

Writing/Program Standard 1

All students will be able to write by generating, selecting, rethinking and reviewing ideas resulting in effective communication for different occasions, audiences and purposes.

1. What students know and are able to do independently includes demonstrating their use of the writing process.

a. All students will engage in prewriting strategies, such as mapping, listening, clustering ideas, and brainstorming, to generate ideas.

b. All students will write drafts using ideas generated in prewriting.

c. All students will approach drafts with specific goals for revisions.

d. All students will apply editing skills to their own written works.

e. All students will prepare and present written works to be shared with others.

Language/Program Standard #2

All students will use the conventions, structure and power of language to achieve purpose.

1. What students know and are able to do independently includes using language to satisfy purpose audience.

a. All students will choose words to convey intended message in a precise, interesting, and natural way.

b. All students will use words appropriate purpose and audience.