Lesson Plan

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Lesson Plan
Grade: Date: 25/02/2026
Subject: Economics
Lesson Topic: How these reasons influence the wages of workers, depending on whether the worker is working in the private sector or public sector
Learning Objective/s:
  • Describe the main factors that determine workers' wages.
  • Compare how productivity, bargaining power, market conditions, government policy, and non‑monetary benefits affect wages in the private and public sectors.
  • Analyse the impact of these factors on workers' career‑choice decisions.
  • Evaluate the role of pay scales and performance incentives in shaping wage levels.
Materials Needed:
  • Projector or interactive whiteboard
  • Slide deck summarising wage‑determining factors
  • Handout with private‑vs‑public sector comparison table
  • Worksheet with case‑study scenarios
  • Calculator for simple MPL calculations
  • Markers and chart paper for group diagram
 Introduction:

Start with a quick poll: who would prefer a higher cash salary or greater job security? Review students' prior knowledge of supply‑and‑demand and how wages are set in a competitive market. Explain that by the end of the lesson they will be able to identify and compare the key reasons wages differ between the private and public sectors.
Lesson Structure:
  1. Do‑now (5'): Students record on sticky notes whether they value cash pay or security and list any wage‑influencing factors they know.
  2. Mini‑lecture (10'): Present the five wage‑determining factors and the MPL formula using slides.
  3. Private‑sector case study (10'): In groups, calculate a wage from a given MPL and discuss performance incentives.
  4. Public‑sector case study (10'): Groups examine a government pay‑scale scenario, identifying budget constraints and non‑monetary benefits.
  5. Comparison activity (10'): Whole‑class Venn diagram on the board comparing private vs public sector wage drivers.
  6. Check for understanding (5'): Quick quiz (Kahoot or exit‑ticket) with three targeted questions.
Conclusion:

Recap that wages are shaped by productivity, bargaining power, market conditions, policy, and benefits, with private firms linking pay closely to output and the public sector emphasizing stability. Students complete an exit ticket stating which sector they would choose and why. For homework, research a real‑world public‑sector pay scale and write a short paragraph analysing its key features.