Lesson Plan

Resources → Subject Notes → Economics → Notes
Lesson Plan
Grade: Date: 17/01/2026
Subject: Economics
Lesson Topic: Impact of trade restrictions on the home country and its trading partners
Learning Objective/s:
  • Describe the main types of trade restrictions (tariffs, quotas, subsidies, embargoes).
  • Explain how each restriction alters consumer surplus, producer surplus, government revenue and creates dead‑weight loss in the home country.
  • Analyse the spill‑over effects on trading partners and evaluate possible retaliatory responses.
  • Apply the supply‑and‑demand diagram to calculate dead‑weight loss and discuss wider economic consequences.
Materials Needed:
  • Projector and screen
  • Whiteboard and markers
  • Printed worksheets with supply‑demand diagrams
  • Calculators
  • Handout of key equations and summary checklist
 Introduction:
Begin with a short news clip about a recent tariff dispute to capture interest. Ask students what they already know about tariffs and quotas, linking to previous lessons on market equilibrium. State that by the end of the lesson they will be able to evaluate the economic effects of trade restrictions at home and abroad.
Lesson Structure:
  1. Do‑now (5'): Quick quiz on definitions of tariffs, quotas, subsidies, and embargoes.
  2. Mini‑lecture (10'): Explain how each restriction shifts the supply‑demand curve; show the suggested diagram and introduce key equations.
  3. Group activity (15'): Using the worksheet, fill in a table analysing impacts on consumers, producers, government and overall economy in the home country.
  4. Partner analysis (10'): Discuss in pairs the effects on trading partners and brainstorm possible retaliatory measures.
  5. Calculation exercise (10'): Compute consumer/producer surplus changes and dead‑weight loss for a sample tariff using the provided formulas.
  6. Summary & check for understanding (5'): Teacher recap, class poll, and an exit‑ticket question on the most significant consequence of a trade restriction.
Conclusion:
Recap the four groups affected by restrictions and the wider economic consequences discussed. Collect exit‑ticket responses to gauge understanding, and assign homework: complete the “Impact Checklist” worksheet using a real‑world case study of a recent trade dispute.