Lesson Plan

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Lesson Plan
Grade: Date: 17/01/2026
Subject: Economics
Lesson Topic: The three basic economic questions which determine resource allocation: what to produce
Learning Objective/s:
  • Describe the three basic economic questions and explain why “what to produce” is central.
  • Explain opportunity cost and how it is represented on a Production Possibility Frontier (PPF).
  • Analyse how consumer preferences, resource endowments, technology, government policy, and international trade influence the “what to produce” decision.
  • Apply the concept of opportunity cost to a real‑world example of a country’s production choice.
Materials Needed:
  • Projector or interactive whiteboard
  • Whiteboard and markers
  • Printed handout of a PPF diagram
  • Worksheet with practice question
  • Laptop for teacher slides
  • Sticky notes for group activity
 Introduction:
Begin with a quick poll: “If you had limited resources, which product would you choose to make first?” This activates prior knowledge about scarcity and choice. Explain that today’s lesson will focus on the “what to produce” question and that students will be able to identify factors influencing this decision and interpret a PPF.
Lesson Structure:
  1. Do‑now (5’) – Students answer the poll on sticky notes and share ideas; teacher records responses.
  2. Mini‑lecture (10’) – Review the three economic questions and introduce the “what to produce” concept with the PPF diagram.
  3. Guided analysis (12’) – Examine the factors table; discuss in pairs how each factor shifts the PPF and influences product choice.
  4. Interactive activity (10’) – Groups use a printed PPF to plot a scenario (e.g., cars vs. wheat) and calculate the opportunity cost.
  5. Exam practice (8’) – Students answer the provided question on resource endowment, then peer‑check using the suggested answer structure.
  6. Recap (5’) – Teacher summarizes key points and checks understanding with a quick exit ticket.
Conclusion:
Summarize that scarcity forces societies to decide what to produce, using opportunity cost and the PPF as tools. Students complete an exit ticket stating one factor that would most affect their country’s production choice. Assign homework: research a real country’s resource endowment and write a short paragraph linking it to its main export.