When I ask my students: ‘What is money?’, they hardly ever know. Most adults don’t either. This lesson looks at what money is, how the banking crisis happened, what the difference between good debt and bad debt is, and the current global inequality in wealth. It includes individual and group work activities, as well as whole class discussions, to try and stimulate students understanding and critical engagement with the world as it is. A lesson that could work as an introduction for economics, PHSE, SEAL, SMSC and Careers lessons for children aged 11+. Extensions, start and plenary are included to aid differentiation and the learning journey. Learning questions also increase in difficulty as the lesson progresses. Learning questions include: What is money? What’s the difference between good debt and bad debt? What is crypto-currency? Extension: Is financial inequality out of control, and if so how can it be resolved? Instructions on how to use the resource are in the notes of the powerpoint, which also includes a number of youtube videos, and included here is also a short word document which has some of the debate about where money originated from and what preceded it. This document is made from a summary of Graeber’s recent work and watching the ‘crash course’ video on money. Adam Smith’s idea that barter preceded minted coinage seems, in recent academia, to be incorrect. Rather, minted metal coinage seems to have been part of a ‘military-mining-slavery complex’ where wars created slaves to mine metal to pay soldiers.

A lesson for careers students to understand workers' rights, what unions are, and the history of workers fighting for their rights. It includes youtube clips, role plays and independent activities for students to understand their rights in the changing world of work. It will also help them understand what a decent work place looks like, and how to find one. Learning questions: What is a Union? What are Worker’s Rights? How can I protect myself from being mistreated in the workplace? What does a decent workplace look like? There are good links to PHSE and citizenship, and many of the activities naturally lend themselves to differentiation (both for SEND students and more able students).

A 9 lesson Preparation for Working Life Scheme of Work. This includes practice exam papers, mark schemes, powerpoints, youtube clips, worksheets, glossaries, revision booklets and exam practice skills. A great way to get your year 11s prepped for the exams in double quick time!