Who Pays Taxes?: A Good Answer to a Good Question (Who HQ Presents)
Who Was . . . ? Series, Who HQ Now
What’s inside...
Direct from Who HQ, the team that brings you the New York Times Best-Selling Who Was? biography series, comes Who HQ Presents. These short illustrated e-Books provide quick, simple answers to the important questions being asked today about politics, social issues, the environment, and more. The series dives into topics such as the US tax system, explaining who pays taxes, who doesn't, and where all that money goes.
Series reading
Non-Sequential
Age
10-12
Length
20 pages
Text complexity
Discussion points
Why do you think people need to pay taxes?
How do taxes help build and support our community?
Can you imagine what might happen if no one paid taxes?
What public services do you think are most important that are funded by taxes?
How do you feel about the idea of contributing to society when you grow up?
Tip: Role play these questions
Start by asking your child what they already know or think about taxes to gauge their current understanding and build on it.
Use examples from your own community such as schools, parks, and emergency services to illustrate how taxes are used.
Encourage critical thinking by discussing different perspectives about taxation and why it can sometimes be a debated topic.
Relate the discussion back to the book, identifying specific parts that mention how taxes impact different characters or scenarios.
Praise your child for their thoughts and questions, reinforcing that it's great to think about how society functions.
Key lessons
Example Lesson: Understanding Civic Responsibility
Explanation: The book explains the concept of taxes and why citizens are required to contribute financially to the community.
Real-World Application: Children can apply this understanding by recognizing and appreciating community services such as schools, libraries, and parks that are funded by taxes.
Example Lesson: Importance of Contributing to Society
Explanation: Through engaging storytelling, the book demonstrates how taxes help fund essential services that benefit everyone in society.
Real-World Application: This lesson helps children grasp the importance of contributing to their community, encouraging them to participate in community and school activities.
Example Lesson: Financial Literacy
Explanation: The book introduces basic concepts of financial responsibility and management related to taxes.
Real-World Application: Children can use this knowledge to manage any small amounts of money they receive, such as allowances, and understand deductions like sales tax.
Example Lesson: Understanding Government Roles
Explanation: It breaks down how government uses tax money, helping children understand different governmental responsibilities.
Real-World Application: This knowledge makes children more aware of how government functions and its impact on their daily lives, fostering early interest in civics.
Example Lesson: Critical Thinking about Public Services
Explanation: The book encourages questioning and critical thinking about why taxes are necessary and how they are used.
Real-World Application: Children learn to think critically about public spending and can discuss or ask questions about where money goes and why certain public services are important.