Lesson Plan

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Lesson Plan
Grade: Date: 17/01/2026
Subject: Economics
Lesson Topic: The three basic economic questions which determine resource allocation: who to produce for
Learning Objective/s:
  • Describe the three allocation mechanisms (market, command, mixed) and how they answer “who to produce for?”.
  • Explain the trade‑off between equity and efficiency for each mechanism.
  • Analyse the factors that influence a society’s choice of allocation method.
  • Evaluate the advantages and disadvantages of each mechanism using real‑world examples.
  • Apply the concepts to assess which allocation method best addresses a given resource‑scarcity scenario.
Materials Needed:
  • Projector and screen
  • Whiteboard and markers
  • Printed handout with the allocation mechanisms table
  • Worksheet containing the vaccine case‑study
  • Sticky notes for the opening poll
  • Digital quiz platform (e.g., Kahoot) for a quick check
 Introduction:
Begin with a quick poll: “If you could only give a life‑saving vaccine to a few people, who would you choose?” Collect responses on sticky notes. Review the three basic economic questions and highlight that today’s focus is on “who to produce for?”. Explain that by the end of the lesson students will be able to identify, compare, and justify the three allocation mechanisms.
Lesson Structure:
  1. Do‑now (5') – Students answer the vaccine poll and discuss initial thoughts.
  2. Mini‑lecture (10') – Recap the three basic economic questions; introduce the three allocation mechanisms with a slide.
  3. Interactive table analysis (15') – In pairs, students examine the handout table, fill in advantages/disadvantages, and discuss equity vs. efficiency.
  4. Case‑study activity (15') – Groups work on the vaccine scenario, decide which mechanism to use and justify their choice using the evaluation criteria.
  5. Whole‑class debrief (10') – Groups share decisions; teacher highlights key points and corrects misconceptions.
  6. Formative check (5') – Kahoot quiz on definitions and trade‑offs.
Conclusion:
Recap that deciding “who to produce for” requires balancing equity and efficiency, and that most economies adopt a mixed approach. For the exit ticket, each student writes one advantage and one disadvantage of the mechanism they consider most suitable for the vaccine example. Homework: research a real‑world resource allocation (e.g., water, housing) and write a short paragraph comparing the three mechanisms.