Lesson Plan

Lesson Plan
Grade: Date: 17/01/2026
Subject: Accounting
Lesson Topic: comparability
Learning Objective/s:
  • Describe the purpose of accounting policies and why comparability is essential.
  • Explain how consistency, uniformity, and transparent disclosure achieve comparability.
  • Apply the steps for retrospectively restating financial statements when a policy changes.
  • Identify required disclosures for accounting policies in the notes to the financial statements.
Materials Needed:
  • Projector or interactive whiteboard
  • Printed handout of the comparability checklist
  • Sample financial statements (paper or digital)
  • Worksheet with depreciation policy change scenario
  • Whiteboard markers
  • Sticky notes for exit ticket
Introduction:
Begin with a quick poll: “When you look at two years of a company's accounts, what helps you see real changes?” Review students' prior knowledge of accounting policies and introduce comparability as a key quality of useful financial information. Explain that by the end of the lesson they will be able to describe, apply, and disclose policies to maintain comparability.
Lesson Structure:
  1. Do‑now (5’) – Students list three reasons why financial statements need to be comparable; share answers.
  2. Mini‑lecture (10’) – Define accounting policies, discuss consistency, uniformity, and disclosure with examples.
  3. Guided practice (12’) – Work through the depreciation policy change example; calculate a simple reducing‑balance depreciation and note the effect.
  4. Group activity (10’) – Teams complete the checklist on a sample set of statements, identifying any policy changes and required disclosures.
  5. Check for understanding (8’) – Quick quiz (Kahoot or paper) on key principles; teacher clarifies misconceptions.
Conclusion:
Summarise how consistent application and clear disclosure keep financial information comparable across periods and entities. Ask students to write one exit‑ticket note describing a situation that would require a policy change. Assign homework to review a real company’s annual report and highlight its accounting policy disclosures.