Lesson Plan

• Describe how different types of pollution and resource depletion arise from business activities.
• Explain the economic and social impacts of environmental damage on businesses and communities.
• Evaluate mitigation strategies businesses can adopt to reduce negative environmental effects.
• Analyse case‑study evidence to identify external costs and sustainability challenges.

• Projector and screen
• Whiteboard and markers
• Printed handouts of the case study and review questions
• PowerPoint slides summarising key concepts
• Worksheets for the mitigation‑plan activity
• Internet access for a short video on pollution

Begin with a striking image of a polluted river beside a factory to capture interest. Ask learners what they already know about how businesses affect the environment and note their ideas on the board. Explain that by the end of the lesson they will be able to describe impacts, evaluate costs, and propose realistic mitigation measures.

1. Do‑now (5') – Quick quiz on key terms (pollution, external cost, sustainability).
2. Teacher input (10') – Present key concepts and types of pollution using slides and a short video.
3. Group analysis (10') – Examine the Company X case study, identify environmental impacts and associated business costs.
4. Whole‑class discussion (5') – Share group findings and link them to external costs and reputation effects.
5. Activity (10') – In pairs, design a mitigation plan on the worksheet, selecting at least two strategies from the list.
6. Exit ticket (5') – Write one concrete action a business could take and why it matters.

Summarise how pollution and resource depletion create financial and social challenges for businesses, reinforcing the link to sustainability. Collect the exit tickets to check understanding and clarify any misconceptions. For homework, ask students to research a local company’s environmental policy and prepare a brief report on its effectiveness.