Overview

This 60-minute lesson plan is crafted for Year 10 Business students in New Zealand. It focuses on understanding and calculating Written Down Value (WDV) depreciation, aligning closely with the New Zealand Curriculum and relevant Numeracy learning objectives. The lesson weaves in mathematical skills necessary for financial literacy, including rounding, estimation, and working with decimals, as specified in the NZ curriculum for Year 10. It uses a blend of explanations, real-life business contexts, examples, and student practice questions.

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Learning Objectives

By the end of this lesson, students will be able to:

• Understand the concept of asset depreciation using the Written Down Value (WDV) method.
• Calculate WDV depreciation using given depreciation rates and asset costs.
• Apply rounding and estimation techniques to check the reasonableness of calculations.
• Communicate and justify their calculations with correct financial vocabulary.
• Develop problem-solving strategies to calculate depreciation in business contexts.

Curriculum References

• Business Studies: Financial literacy and management of business assets aligned to Year 10 Business curriculum.
• Mathematics & Statistics (Years 9-10):
  • Use of decimals and percentages in practical problem contexts.
  • Use of rounding, estimation, and inverse operations to predict and check calculations.
  • Representing and interpreting information numerically and symbolically.
  • Justify solutions and explain reasoning clearly using appropriate mathematical language.

These competencies relate to Te Mātaiaho | Mathematics and Statistics in the New Zealand Curriculum Years 9-13, particularly Number and Financial Mathematics strands .

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Resources Needed

• Whiteboard and markers
• Student worksheets with WDV examples and practice problems
• Calculators
• Projector for worked examples
• Asset depreciation example handouts

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Lesson Sequence

1. Introduction & Context (10 minutes)

• Hook: Start with a brief real-life business context explaining why depreciation is important — businesses need to account for asset loss of value over time to manage finances properly.
• Explain: Define depreciation and specifically the Written Down Value method.
  • WDV depreciation applies a fixed percentage rate to the current value of the asset rather than the original cost.
  • Formula:
    [ \text{Depreciation for the year} = \text{WDV at start of year} \times \text{Depreciation rate} ]
    [ \text{WDV at end of year} = \text{WDV at start of year} - \text{Depreciation for the year} ]
• Use a simple example:
  An asset valued at $1,000 with a depreciation rate of 20%. Calculate depreciation for the first 3 years.

2. Step-by-step Demonstration (15 minutes)

• Write down a detailed worked example on the board/projector:
  • Year 1:
    Depreciation = $1,000 × 20% = $200
    WDV end of Year 1 = $1,000 - $200 = $800
  • Year 2:
    Depreciation = $800 × 20% = $160
    WDV end of Year 2 = $800 - $160 = $640
  • Year 3:
    Depreciation = $640 × 20% = $128
    WDV end of Year 3 = $640 - $128 = $512
• Discuss rounding rules (e.g., round to nearest dollar) and why estimating helps check reasonableness.
• Emphasise using correct terms like depreciation, WDV, rate, value.

3. Student Practice (20 minutes)

Provide worksheets with 3-4 different assets and rates, such as:

Asset Cost	Depreciation Rate	Questions
$3,000	25%	Calculate WDV for 3 years
$5,000	15%	Calculate WDV for 4 years
$750	10%	Calculate WDV for 5 years

• Encourage students to:
  • Show all calculations clearly.
  • Use rounding and estimation to check their answers.
  • Write the final answers in proper financial format, e.g., "WDV at end of Year 3 = $X".

4. Sharing and Reflection (10 minutes)

• Have students share their answers in pairs or small groups.
• Facilitate a class discussion:
  • Discuss differences in answers if any.
  • Talk about the usefulness of WDV depreciation in business.
  • Encourage explaining reasoning using appropriate vocabulary.

5. Summary and Assessment (5 minutes)

• Recap key points: definition, formula, calculations, and checking answers.
• Quick quiz questions (oral or written) for quick checks, e.g.:
  • What is depreciation?
  • How do you calculate depreciation in the WDV method?
  • Why do businesses use depreciation?
• Collect worksheets to assess understanding.

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Assessment Criteria

Students will be assessed on:

• Accuracy of WDV depreciation calculations.
• Use of appropriate rounding and estimation strategies.
• Clear communication of calculations with correct business and mathematical terminology.
• Ability to apply formulas correctly in different scenarios.

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Differentiation and Extensions

• Provide calculators for students needing computational support.
• Challenge advanced students with a question involving changing depreciation rates or partial years.
• Link depreciation to concepts of profit, loss, and asset management in business.

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Notes for Teachers

• This lesson integrates financial literacy with numeracy skills, important for both Business Studies and Mathematics learning paths.
• Emphasise the real-world application to motivate Year 10 students.
• Use visual aids for representing depreciation timelines.
• Encourage mathematical reasoning by asking "What if?" questions (e.g., different rates, longer time).

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This plan draws directly on New Zealand Curriculum mathematics and financial numeracy outcomes, ensuring relevance while introducing key business concepts confidently and engagingly for Year 10 students .