Why is poverty still a global problem?
Lesson details
Learning outcome
I can explain why poverty remains a global issue and describe the factors that contribute to it.
Key learning points
- Poverty is when people don't have enough money or resources to meet their basic needs, like food and shelter.
- How poverty is measured can be different depending on where you live.
- Global poverty still exists because of factors like inequality, lack of education and limited access to resources.
- Poverty can be exacerbated by other factors such as conflict, government instability and climate change.
- The UN and NGOs work hard to tackle global poverty through programmes and initiatives.
Keywords
Absolute poverty - when someone doesn’t have enough money or resources to meet their most basic needs, such as food, shelter and clean water
Relative poverty - when someone’s income is much lower than the average in their society (typically 50-60% less), meaning they struggle to afford the same standard of living as most people around them
Common misconception
There’s no way an individual or national organisation can make a difference to tackling global poverty.
There are many NGOs, global organisations and communities that are working hard to make a difference to global poverty.
Teacher tip
Encourage pupils to consider absolute & relative poverty in their discussions, highlighting how poverty can look different depending on context. Use real-world examples to make the concepts relatable, and emphasise the importance of understanding the root causes and global efforts to reduce poverty.
Content guidance
Depiction or discussion of discriminatory behaviour
Depiction or discussion of discriminatory behaviour
Depiction or discussion of sensitive content
Depiction or discussion of violence or suffering
Depiction or discussion of sensitive content
Depiction or discussion of violence or suffering
Supervision
Adult supervision required
Licence
Lesson video
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Prior knowledge starter quiz
6 Questions
Q1.What is this describing? A method of drilling into the Earth to extract oil and natural gas by injecting high-pressure fluids to crack rocks and release the resources trapped inside.
Q2.Match the sentence starter to its end.
on causes with governments, but are not controlled by them.
sources, like the Sun, wind and water, that do not run out.
the basic rights that all people are entitled to.
Q3.Fracking has been in some countries due to its potential risks, including pollution and harm to wildlife.
Q4.Which of the following is a consequence of human rights abuses in some countries?
Q5.Which of the following documents sets out basic human rights for all people in the UK?
Q6.Which of the following best describes the role of public authorities in relation to human rights in the UK?
Assessment exit quiz
6 Questions
Q1.Match the causes of poverty to their correct descriptions.
unequal distribution of wealth and resources
limited job opportunities due to lack of skills
environmental changes affecting vulnerable communities
Q2.Complete the sentence: {} poverty occurs when people don’t have enough money to meet their basic needs, such as food, water and shelter.
Q3.Which of the following are key factors that can make poverty worse?
Q4.Which organisation is actively involved in addressing global poverty through international programmes?
Q5.Complete the sentence: poverty is measured when someone's income is much lower than the average in their society, making it difficult to live the same lifestyle as most people around them.
Q6.What is one reason why poverty can be measured differently depending on where you live?
To help you plan your 8 citizenship lesson on: Why is poverty still a global problem?, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...
To help you plan your 8 citizenship lesson on: Why is poverty still a global problem?, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs.
The starter quiz will activate and check your pupils' prior knowledge, with versions available both with and without answers in PDF format.
We use learning cycles to break down learning into key concepts or ideas linked to the learning outcome. Each learning cycle features explanations with checks for understanding and practice tasks with feedback. All of this is found in our slide decks, ready for you to download and edit. The practice tasks are also available as printable worksheets and some lessons have additional materials with extra material you might need for teaching the lesson.
The assessment exit quiz will test your pupils' understanding of the key learning points.
Our video is a tool for planning, showing how other teachers might teach the lesson, offering helpful tips, modelled explanations and inspiration for your own delivery in the classroom. Plus, you can set it as homework or revision for pupils and keep their learning on track by sharing an online pupil version of this lesson.
Explore more key stage 3 citizenship lessons from the What can we do about global problems? unit, dive into the full secondary citizenship curriculum, or learn more about lesson planning.