Shutdown Breakdown Worksheet
Civics & Government • Grade 5
Shutdown Breakdown Worksheet
Unit: How Government Works
Name:
Date:
Class:
1
Civic Word Match
Match terms to definitions (write letter A–D)
1. Budget
2. Taxes
3. Congress
4. Essential Services
A. Vital jobs like police and flight safety that protect the public.
B. Lawmakers who debate and approve spending plans for the nation.
C. An official plan that shows how government funds are spent each year.
D. Money paid by citizens to fund roads, parks, schools, and services.
2
Sequence the Shutdown Cycle
Number the four stages in order (1 to 4)
Back to Work
Lawmakers make a deal; workers return and services restart.
Budget Deadline
Congress discusses and prepares the yearly spending budget.
Doors Close
Without funding, non-essential offices pause and workers stay home.
Disagreement
Lawmakers cannot agree on spending before funding runs out.
Slide Check: Why is a government shutdown compared to losing an allowance or a store closing?
3
Service Sorter: Open or Paused?
Write each service from the word bank into the correct column:
Police & Firefighters National Park Centers Air Traffic Control Passport Processing Military Doctors Science Research Labs
Keeps Working (Essential)
Stops or Delays (Non-Essential)
Government Shutdown 2025 • Student Learning Guide Page 1 of 2
Part II: Real World Impact
Timeline & Lawmaker Challenge
Government Shutdown Investigation
4
Case Study: The January 2025 Shutdown
Review the real-life timeline from Slides 9–10 and write your answers in complete sentences.
Dec 2024 Budget debated in Congress
Jan 1 Funding ends; shutdown begins
Jan 10 Parks shut; pay delayed
Jan 18 Deal reached (18 days)
Jan 19 Workers back; parks reopen
A. According to the timeline, how many days did the shutdown last, and what allowed workers to return on Jan 19?
B. What were two ways everyday families and vacationers were affected during this shutdown?
C. Why is a government shutdown difficult for workers even if they are promised pay after it ends?
5
Your Voice in Congress: The Budget Challenge
Imagine you were elected to Congress! You must decide how to spend tax funds. Pick one top priority to champion:
Public Schools & Lunches National Parks & Clean Trails Public Safety & Firefighters
1. Which priority did you choose, and what are two reasons why your community needs this funding?
2. Reaching a Compromise: Another lawmaker wants to fund something different. What can you both do so Congress reaches an agreement and avoids a shutdown?
Government Shutdown 2025 • Student Learning Guide Page 2 of 2
