Lesson Plan

Resources → Subject Notes → Accounting → Notes
Lesson Plan
Grade: Date: 17/01/2026
Subject: Accounting
Lesson Topic: non-financial aspects
Learning Objective/s:
  • Describe key non‑financial limitations of accounting statements.
  • Explain how omission of intangible assets and human factors can affect decision‑making.
  • Evaluate the impact of environmental and social considerations on financial reporting.
  • Apply complementary information sources (MD&A, KPIs, sustainability reports) to assess business performance.
Materials Needed:
  • Projector or interactive whiteboard
  • Printed handout of limitation summary table
  • Whiteboard markers
  • Sticky notes for group activity
  • Sample sustainability report excerpts
  • Laptop with internet access for research
 Introduction:
Begin with a quick poll: “What information do you think investors need beyond profit figures?” Discuss students’ ideas, linking to prior learning on financial statements. Explain that today they will explore non‑financial aspects that limit those statements and identify ways to supplement them. Success will be measured by their ability to articulate at least three limitations and suggest appropriate complementary sources.
Lesson Structure:
  1. Do‑now (5’) – Students list three pieces of information they wish were in the income statement.
  2. Mini‑lecture (10’) – Present key non‑financial limitations using slides and the summary table.
  3. Group analysis (15’) – In small groups, examine a case handout and identify which limitations are evident; record on sticky notes.
  4. Whole‑class debrief (10’) – Groups share findings; teacher clarifies misconceptions.
  5. Complementary sources activity (15’) – Teams match each limitation to a suitable supplementary source (MD&A, KPI, sustainability report, balanced scorecard) using provided excerpts.
  6. Quick check (5’) – Exit ticket: write one limitation and one way to address it.
Conclusion:
Summarise how non‑financial factors can distort the picture provided by traditional statements and why complementary information is essential. Collect exit tickets and highlight common themes. Assign homework to locate a recent company’s sustainability report and note two non‑financial metrics that could enhance its financial analysis.