Lesson Plan

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Lesson Plan
Grade: Date: 17/01/2026
Subject: Economics
Lesson Topic: How unemployment is measured (labour force survey)
Learning Objective/s:
  • Describe the three categories used in the Labour Force Survey (employed, unemployed, not in the labour force).
  • Calculate the labour‑force, unemployment, employment and activity rates from given data.
  • Explain the four steps of the LFS methodology and identify its main limitations.
  • Interpret unemployment statistics and discuss why they may not fully reflect joblessness.
Materials Needed:
  • Projector and screen
  • Whiteboard and markers
  • Printed worksheets with data tables
  • Calculator or spreadsheet software
  • Handout of the LFS flowchart diagram
  • Sticky notes for quick checks
 Introduction:

Begin with a quick poll: “If you were asked today whether you have a job, how would you answer?” Connect responses to students’ prior knowledge of employment definitions. Explain that today they will discover how the government turns individual answers into national unemployment statistics. Success will be measured by correctly calculating and interpreting the key indicators.
Lesson Structure:
  1. Do‑now (5'): Quick quiz on the definitions of employed, unemployed and not in the labour force.
  2. Mini‑lecture (10'): Present the LFS process – sample selection, interview, classification, aggregation – using the flowchart handout.
  3. Guided practice (12'): Walk through the example calculation of LF, UR, ER and AR with the class, filling in a worksheet.
  4. Group activity (10'): In teams, classify a set of fictional individuals, total the categories and compute the indicators; teacher circulates for support.
  5. Limitations discussion (8'): Review under‑counting, seasonal variation, informal economy and sampling error; relate to real‑world news.
  6. Check for understanding (5'): Exit ticket – one sentence explaining why the unemployment rate might underestimate true joblessness.
Conclusion:

Summarise how the LFS provides the data for key labour‑market indicators and why understanding its methodology and limits is essential. Collect exit tickets to gauge immediate understanding, and assign homework: students locate the latest national unemployment rate and write a short paragraph evaluating its reliability.