Understanding Poverty Impact

Overview

Subject: PSHE
Year Group: Year 13
Duration: 120 minutes
Curriculum Focus: Personal Development, Wellbeing and Social Responsibility
Specific Curriculum Area and Level: KS5 (Key Stage 5), Personal and Social Education

Lesson Objectives

• Understand the definition and scope of poverty in the UK.
• Explore how poverty impacts physical, intellectual, emotional, and social (P.I.E.S) aspects of individuals.
• Develop critical thinking skills regarding the social and economic structures in the UK.
• Encourage empathetic understanding and propose strategies for social change.

Materials Required

• Whiteboard and markers
• Projector and screen
• Handouts with statistics on UK poverty
• Case study materials
• Flip chart paper and pens
• Laptops or tablets for research
• Reflection journals

Lesson Outline

Introduction (15 minutes)

1. Starter Activity: What is Poverty?

   • Begin with a brief discussion to assess prior knowledge. Ask students to define poverty in their own words.

2. Context Setting: Poverty in the UK

   • Present an overview of poverty statistics across the UK using a few slides. Highlight recent developments and key facts.
   • Show a short video (5 minutes) depicting real-life scenarios of poverty in the UK to set an emotional context.

Main Activity (70 minutes)

1. Group Activity: Impact on P.I.E.S (25 minutes)

   • Divide the class into four groups. Assign each group one aspect of P.I.E.S:
     • Physical: Health impacts related to inadequate nutrition and healthcare.
     • Intellectual: Educational challenges and barriers.
     • Emotional: Mental health issues stemming from the stress of financial strain.
     • Social: Effects on relationships and social mobility.
   • Each group researches and discusses how poverty affects their assigned area. Encourage use of statistics and case studies.

2. Group Presentations (20 minutes)

   • Groups present their findings to the class.
   • Encourage critical questioning from peers after each presentation.

3. Class Discussion: Cycle of Poverty (15 minutes)

   • Facilitate an open class discussion about how the P.I.E.S impacts interlink and create a cycle of poverty.
   • Incorporate ‘think-pair-share’ to engage all students in evaluating potential solutions to break the cycle of poverty.

4. Case Study Analysis: Personal Stories (10 minutes)

   • Present a short case study or personal story of a young person affected by poverty in the UK.
   • As a class, analyze the situation using the P.I.E.S framework.

Conclusion (20 minutes)

1. Reflective Journaling

   • Ask students to reflect on the lesson in their journals. Prompt them with questions such as:
     • How has your perception of poverty changed?
     • How can society work to alleviate poverty’s impact?

2. Action Plan: Creating Change

   • In pairs, have students brainstorm practical actions they can take to raise awareness or contribute to tackling poverty. This could be personal or school-focused initiatives.
   • Share ideas with the class and discuss possible implementation.

Plenary (15 minutes)

1. Feedback Circle
   • Conduct a feedback circle where students share one new insight gained and one action they will commit to following the lesson.
   • Close with a brief motivational quote or story about resilience in overcoming poverty.

Assessment

• Formative Assessment: Participation in discussions, quality of group presentations, and engagement during activities.
• Summative Assessment: Evaluation of reflective journal entries for depth of understanding and personal insight.

Extension Activity

• Research Project: Assign students the task of researching a poverty reduction initiative in the UK. Prepare a short report or presentation on their findings for a future lesson.

This lesson plan not only addresses the topic of poverty and its effects on P.I.E.S in the UK but also engages students in critical thinking, empathy development, and action-oriented solutions, fostering a sense of responsibility and capability in addressing real-world issues.