Lesson Plan

• Describe how low wages contribute directly to poverty.
• Explain the main causes of low wages (skills, labour supply, institutions, informal sector, discrimination, productivity).
• Calculate weekly income from hourly wages and determine poverty‑line status.
• Analyse the broader economic and social impacts of low wages.
• Evaluate policy measures that can raise wages and reduce poverty.

• Projector and laptop for slides
• Whiteboard and markers
• Printed handout with the wage‑vs‑poverty line table
• Calculator worksheets
• IGCSE practice question sheet
• Poster paper and coloured pens for group activity

Begin by asking students to imagine a part‑time job they could do and how much they would earn per hour. Review the definition of the poverty line and why it matters. Explain that by the end of the lesson they will be able to calculate weekly income, identify low‑wage poverty and suggest realistic policy solutions.

1. Do‑now (5'): Students calculate weekly income for a given wage scenario on a worksheet.
2. Mini‑lecture (10'): Explain low wages as a direct cause of poverty and outline the six underlying reasons, using a slide presentation.
3. Guided analysis (10'): Work through the provided wage‑vs‑poverty line table; discuss which entries are “poor”, “at poverty line”, or “not poor”.
4. Group activity (12'): Teams investigate one cause of low wages and design a poster proposing a policy response.
5. Class share (8'): Groups present their posters; teacher highlights connections to poverty reduction.
6. Practice questions (10'): Students answer two IGCSE‑style questions individually.
7. Exit ticket (5'): Write one sentence summarising how a minimum wage can both reduce poverty and potentially increase unemployment.

Recap the link between low wages and poverty, the key causes, and the policy options discussed. Collect the exit tickets to gauge understanding, and assign the remaining practice questions as homework for further reinforcement.