Lesson Plan

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Lesson Plan
Grade: Date: 17/01/2026
Subject: Sociology
Lesson Topic: Globalisation, poverty and inequalities
Learning Objective/s:
  • Describe the key concepts of globalisation, poverty and inequality.
  • Explain the main theoretical perspectives (World‑Systems, Dependency, Neoliberal, Social Process) and their relevance to poverty.
  • Analyse empirical evidence (Gini, HDI, case studies) to evaluate how globalisation influences poverty and inequality.
  • Compare optimistic and pessimistic arguments about globalisation’s impact.
  • Apply critical lenses (structural vs agency, quantitative vs qualitative) to assess policy implications.
Materials Needed:
  • Projector and screen
  • PowerPoint slides summarising concepts and data
  • Handout with key terms, tables, and case‑study summaries
  • Whiteboard and markers
  • Printed excerpts on case studies (e.g., China’s opening‑up)
  • Access to online poverty/inequality datasets (World Bank, UNDP)
 Introduction:
Begin with a provocative image of contrasting city skylines – a gleaming metropolis beside a low‑income settlement – to spark discussion about global wealth gaps. Ask students what they already know about globalisation and its links to poverty, noting any misconceptions. Outline today’s success criteria: students will be able to define core concepts, compare theoretical perspectives, and critically evaluate evidence on globalisation’s effects.
Lesson Structure:
  1. Do‑now (5'): Students match key terms to definitions on the handout.
  2. Mini‑lecture (10'): Present key concepts and theoretical perspectives using slides.
  3. Data analysis activity (15'): In groups, examine Gini and HDI tables, chart relationships between globalisation indicators and poverty rates, and answer guiding questions.
  4. Debate (15'): Half the class adopts the optimistic view, half the pessimistic view; each side presents evidence, followed by whole‑class synthesis.
  5. Case‑study carousel (10'): Stations on China, Sub‑Saharan Africa, and Latin America; students rotate, noting impacts on poverty and inequality.
  6. Check for understanding (5'): Exit ticket – one sentence stating which perspective best explains the evidence.
Conclusion:
Summarise how globalisation can both reduce and deepen poverty and inequality, highlighting the importance of context and policy. Prompt students to complete an exit ticket reflecting on which argument they find most convincing and why. Assign homework: write a 300‑word critique of one case study using the analytical lenses discussed.