Lesson Plan

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Lesson Plan
Grade: Date: 17/01/2026
Subject: Design and Technology
Lesson Topic: The relationship between the scale of production and unit cost.
Learning Objective/s:
  • Describe the concepts of fixed and variable costs and how they affect unit cost.
  • Explain economies of scale and diseconomies of scale.
  • Analyse a cost table to identify where economies of scale diminish.
  • Apply the scale‑cost relationship to make informed design decisions.
  • Evaluate how material selection and manufacturing processes influence cost efficiency.
Materials Needed:
  • Projector and screen
  • Whiteboard and markers
  • Handout with cost table and scale‑cost diagram
  • Calculator or spreadsheet software
  • Sticky notes for group activity
  • Sample product design brief (optional)
 Introduction:
Begin with the question “Why do some products become cheaper when produced in large numbers?” Review prior learning on fixed versus variable costs, then state today’s success criteria: students will calculate unit cost, interpret economies of scale, and apply these ideas to design choices.
Lesson Structure:
  1. Do‑now (5'): Students calculate unit cost from a simple data set.
  2. Mini‑lecture (10'): Explain fixed/variable costs, formulas, and the concepts of economies and diseconomies of scale.
  3. Guided analysis (10'): Work through the provided cost table and plot unit‑cost vs. output on a graph.
  4. Group activity (15'): Using a design brief, groups decide an optimal production volume based on cost insights.
  5. Whole‑class debrief (10'): Groups share decisions; teacher highlights key influencing factors.
  6. Exit ticket (5'): Students write one design implication of economies of scale.
Conclusion:
Recap how increasing output spreads fixed costs and can lower unit cost until diseconomies appear. Students complete an exit ticket describing one design change they would make based on today’s learning. For homework, research a real product and identify its scale‑cost relationship.