Lesson Plan

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Lesson Plan
Grade: Date: 17/01/2026
Subject: Business
Lesson Topic: how physical environmental issues might influence business behaviour
Learning Objective/s:
  • Describe key physical environmental issues that affect businesses (e.g., climate change, resource scarcity, pollution, natural disasters, biodiversity loss).
  • Explain how these issues impact costs, supply chains, regulation, reputation and strategic decision‑making.
  • Analyse business responses such as risk assessment, innovation, sustainability initiatives and compliance strategies.
  • Evaluate a real‑world case study of a retailer’s response to plastic pollution and identify lessons for other organisations.
Materials Needed:
  • Projector and laptop for slides
  • Whiteboard and markers
  • Printed handout of the summary table
  • Case‑study worksheet
  • Sticky notes for group activity
  • Exit‑ticket slips
 Introduction:
Recent extreme weather events have dominated the news – discuss how a flood or heatwave might affect a local business. Connect this to students’ prior knowledge of external influences on firms. State that by the end of the lesson they will be able to identify environmental issues, explain business impacts and propose appropriate responses.
Lesson Structure:
  1. Do‑now (5’) – Students list recent environmental events and suggest possible business impacts.
  2. Mini‑lecture (10’) – Overview of physical environmental issues and their relevance to business (slides + summary table).
  3. Case‑study analysis (15’) – Pairs complete a worksheet on the retailer’s plastic‑reduction initiative, identifying issue, impact and response.
  4. Whole‑class discussion (10’) – Groups share findings; teacher highlights links to cost, reputation and innovation.
  5. Scenario planning activity (15’) – Small groups receive a flood‑disruption scenario and devise a risk‑mitigation action plan, then present key steps.
  6. Quick check (5’) – Exit ticket: one sentence summarising how physical environmental issues shape business behaviour.
Conclusion:
Recap the main ways physical environmental issues influence cost structures, supply chains, regulation, reputation and strategic choices. Collect exit tickets to gauge understanding, and assign homework: research a local business’s environmental initiative and write a short paragraph on its impact and any competitive advantage gained.