Lesson Plan

• Define absolute and relative poverty and distinguish their key characteristics.
• Explain how each type of poverty is measured and interpret the associated formulas.
• Compare the policy implications of absolute versus relative poverty.
• Analyse how both measures inform development goals and social‑welfare strategies.
• Apply the concepts to real‑world examples and evaluate which measure is appropriate.

• Projector and screen
• Digital slide deck with definitions and formulas
• Printed handout of the comparison table
• Worksheet with case‑study scenarios
• Calculators
• Markers and whiteboard
• Exit‑ticket slips or online quiz tool

Start with a quick poll: “What does poverty mean to you?” Connect students’ ideas to prior knowledge of basic needs. Explain that today they will explore two ways economists measure poverty and see how these measures shape policy. Success criteria: students will be able to define, measure, and compare absolute and relative poverty.

1. Do‑now (5 min): Students write a personal definition of poverty on sticky notes and share briefly (activate prior knowledge).
2. Mini‑lecture (10 min): Present definitions, formulas ($$P_{abs}$$ and $$P_{rel}=k\\times\\tilde{y}$$) using slides (knowledge building).
3. Guided analysis (12 min): Examine the comparison table; students complete a worksheet contrasting aspects of each measure (application).
4. Group activity (10 min): Small groups calculate poverty status for given scenarios using both measures and discuss likely policy responses (collaboration).
5. Class discussion (8 min): Groups present findings; teacher highlights key differences and policy implications (checking understanding).
6. Quick quiz/exit ticket (5 min): 2–3 short questions to assess comprehension (formative assessment).

Recap the core distinctions between absolute and relative poverty and their relevance to policy design. Collect exit tickets that ask students to state one real‑world implication of each measure. For homework, assign a short paragraph where students choose a country and compare its absolute and relative poverty levels, reflecting on which measure better informs development strategies.