Impact of Poverty

Lesson Overview

Curriculum Area: Personal, Social, Health and Economic (PSHE) Education
Key Stage: 5
Level: Year 13 (Ages 17-18)
Duration: 120 minutes
Class Size: 8 students

Learning Objectives:

1. Understand the multifaceted impact of poverty on personal, intellectual, emotional, and social (PIES) development.
2. Analyse statistical data regarding poverty in the UK.
3. Evaluate the effects of poverty on individual well-being and community health.
4. Develop action-oriented strategies to mitigate the impacts of poverty.

Preparation and Materials

• Materials: Whiteboard and markers, projectors, handouts with statistics, case studies, role-play scenarios.
• Resources: Access to online databases for statistics, examples of community programmes addressing poverty.
• Pre-lesson Assignment: Students to research the definition of poverty and bring one fact or statistic related to poverty in the UK.

Lesson Structure

Introduction (15 minutes)

1. Welcome and Warm-Up:

   • Greet the students and introduce the topic: "Impact of Poverty on P.I.E.S."
   • Define P.I.E.S. – Personal, Intellectual, Emotional, and Social development.

2. Discussion Starter:

   • Ask students to share their pre-lesson assignment findings.
   • Write key points on the whiteboard to create a mind map of poverty-related facts.

Main Activities

Activity 1: Understanding Poverty (30 minutes)

• Group Work:

  • Divide the class into two groups for discussion.
  • Task: Explore the definitions and aspects of poverty. Encourage the use of facts and real-life examples to contextualize within the UK.

• Sharing Insights:

  • Each group presents their findings.
  • Facilitate a discussion on similarities and differences noted during the presentations.

Activity 2: Analysing Impact on P.I.E.S (30 minutes)

• Case Study Analysis:

  • Provide students with two UK-based case studies focusing on poverty’s effect on personal and intellectual development.
  • Students work in pairs to identify impacts on personal self-esteem and educational outcomes.

• Discussion:

  • Lead a class discussion. Compare observations and discuss broader effects on emotional health and social relationships.

Activity 3: Addressing the Impacts (30 minutes)

• Interactive Role-Play:

  • Prepare role-play scenarios where students step into roles of policymakers, social workers, and affected individuals.
  • Scenario: Implementing initiatives to reduce poverty’s impact in a community.
  • Objective: Develop initiatives that improve quality of life in the P.I.E.S. framework.

• Debate and Reflection:

  • Conduct a mock debate on the effectiveness of various initiatives.
  • Encourage students to reflect on the roles they played and insights gained.

Conclusion (15 minutes)

• Summary and Q&A:

  • Summarise key takeaways of poverty’s comprehensive impact on P.I.E.S.
  • Facilitate an open Q&A session allowing students to ask questions and clarify doubts.

• Feedback Collection:

  • Encourage students to share what they found most surprising or thought-provoking.
  • Gather feedback on the lesson to understand their learning experience.

Homework (Optional)

• Research Project:
  • Assign students to research and prepare a short presentation on a community project in the UK aimed at reducing poverty.
  • Focus on evaluating the project’s effectiveness using the P.I.E.S framework discussed in class.

Additional Notes

• Reinforce understanding of poverty's complex nature and highlight real-world applications of lessons learned.
• Consider inviting a local social worker or community activist for a follow-up discussion.

By focusing on both the analytical and empathetic understanding of poverty's impact, students will develop a nuanced view of societal challenges and become empowered to contribute positively to their communities.