Resource

COVID and the Economy

Imposing a national lockdown is one of the hardest decisions a government is ever likely to face.

What would you have done in their position? And what role would economy have played in your decision? This free lesson plan thrusts students into the centre of a debate about how to spend government money in a time of crisis.

Lessons KS4 (ages 14-16) KS5 (ages 16-18)

Overview

During this session, students will critically examine some of the key economic considerations of the pandemic. They will explore the actions the Government has taken to save lives and what impact these are having on the economy.

Working in teams they will explore what impact the pandemic had on a specific industry area. Finally, they will be challenged to evaluate what proportion of a fictitious £10 billion recovery grant should be allocated to their industry area.

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

Describe a range of the key economic decisions made by the Government during the ongoing pandemic and begin to explain the possible reasons behind these decisions;
Identify three different ways that the Government has provided support to individuals and businesses over the last 12 months;
Analyse the economic impact that the pandemic has had on a specific industry area;
Assess what support a specific industry area might require in order to recover.

Acknowledgment:

These teaching and learning resources were developed in partnership with the global firm, FTI Consulting. We are grateful for their support in boosting young people’s awareness of our democracy, and the ways we can work together to strengthen society for everybody.

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