Government and the Economy
Session 4: Public Services

Materials

• Information on local, state, and national public services in the student’s area

Instructional Activities

1. Review the previous activity.
   
   
2. Ask the students to raise their hands if they traveled on a public road that morning on their way to school. Ask them, also, how many have had to use the services of the fire department, the police department, or the ambulance service.
   
   
3. Explain that services such as those mentioned above are considered public services. Ask students to list other goods and services that are provided to the public by the government.
   
   
4. Ask students to list reasons the government provides these goods and services instead of leaving it up to individuals to take care of these services themselves. Ensure the discussion includes the following:
   •    It is more efficient.
   •    The goods or services may benefit individuals other than the purchaser.
   •    The value of the goods or services is greater than the individual consumer could afford.
   •    It promotes economic equity.
   
   
5. Discuss the local, state, and/or national government organizations that provide these services. Ask the students how the government collects the funds to pay for these services. (Ensure they include income, sales, and property taxes as well as any other methods the government has to raise funds.)
   
   
6. Assign a teacher-selected reading, worksheet, or other reinforcement activity.