Lesson Plan

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Lesson Plan
Grade: Date: 17/01/2026
Subject: Economics
Lesson Topic: Causes of poverty: unemployment
Learning Objective/s:
  • Describe how unemployment leads to poverty.
  • Explain the different types of unemployment and their impact on poverty.
  • Calculate the unemployment rate using the standard formula.
  • Evaluate policy measures that can reduce unemployment‑related poverty.
  • Analyse the relationship between human‑capital loss and poverty cycles.
Materials Needed:
  • Projector or interactive whiteboard
  • Printed handouts of the unemployment‑type table
  • Calculator worksheets for unemployment‑rate calculations
  • Case‑study cards on policy responses
  • Sticky notes for brainstorming
  • Markers and flip chart
 Introduction:
Begin with a quick poll: how many of you know someone who has struggled to find work? Recall our previous lesson on the broader causes of poverty and the role of income. Today we will explore how unemployment directly contributes to poverty and learn to measure it. By the end of the lesson you will be able to explain the link, calculate unemployment rates, and assess policy solutions.
Lesson Structure:
  1. Do‑now (5'): Students write one way unemployment can affect a household and share with a partner.
  2. Mini‑lecture (10'): Explain the link between unemployment and poverty, introduce loss of income, human‑capital erosion, spill‑over effects, and the unemployment‑rate formula.
  3. Guided practice (8'): Calculate the unemployment rate from a sample data set using calculators.
  4. Group activity (12'): Analyse the table of unemployment types; match each type to its poverty impact on sticky notes and discuss.
  5. Policy debate (10'): In small groups, use case‑study cards to argue for one policy response and present a brief summary.
  6. Formative check (5'): Exit ticket – write one sentence summarising the key relationship between unemployment and poverty.
Conclusion:
To recap, we examined how unemployment reduces income, erodes skills and can deepen poverty, and we practiced calculating the unemployment rate. For the exit ticket, write the most effective policy you think addresses unemployment‑related poverty. For homework, complete the worksheet on designing a community‑based public works scheme.