Lesson Plan

• Describe how changes in employment levels affect a business's demand and labour costs.
• Explain the impact of rising and falling inflation on pricing, input costs and borrowing.
• Analyse how variations in economic growth influence consumer confidence and market opportunities.
• Evaluate strategic responses businesses can adopt to mitigate these macro‑economic effects.

• Projector and screen
• Whiteboard and markers
• Printed handouts of the business‑cycle impact table
• PowerPoint slides with diagrams
• Worksheets for group analysis
• Sticky notes for brainstorming

Begin with a quick poll: “If unemployment rises, how would your favourite store change its prices?” Connect this to prior learning on supply and demand, and outline that today students will identify how employment, inflation and growth shape business decisions, aiming to produce a strategic response plan.

1. Do‑now (5’) – Students match economic indicators to their definitions on a worksheet.
2. Mini‑lecture (10’) – Explain the business‑cycle phases and link each to employment, inflation and growth using slides.
3. Data analysis activity (15’) – In groups, examine the impact table and discuss real‑world examples; teacher circulates with questions.
4. Strategic response task (15’) – Groups select one indicator change and design a brief business strategy, recording ideas on sticky notes.
5. Gallery walk & peer feedback (10’) – Groups display strategies; classmates leave comments on effectiveness.
6. Check for understanding (5’) – Quick quiz (Kahoot or exit ticket) covering key concepts.

Summarise how macro‑economic shifts drive business decisions and highlight the key strategies discussed. Students complete an exit ticket stating one action a business could take when inflation rises. For homework, they research a recent news article illustrating one of the indicators and prepare a short summary.