How can communities improve the local economy?
Lesson details
Learning outcome
I can explain what businesses make up my local economy and how small businesses contribute to the local economy.
Key learning points
- Local economies include businesses like shops, financial institutions and social enterprises that support growth.
- Markets and credit unions help local people by providing goods, services and financial support.
- Small businesses create jobs, drive innovation and keep money circulating locally.
- Taxes from businesses fund public services like schools, healthcare and transport.
- Small businesses also support communities through charity, events and local investment.
Keywords
Local economy - all business activity and wealth creation in a specific area, town or community
Small business - independently owned companies that contribute to local employment and the local economy; they contain 0-49 employees
Common misconception
Only large businesses contribute to the local economy.
Small businesses also play a crucial role in job creation, local investment and community development. They generate employment, keep money circulating within the community and contribute significantly through taxation.
Teacher tip
Use role-play or small group discussions where pupils act as business owners, customers or local government officials to explore how small businesses support the community.
Content guidance
Depiction or discussion of sensitive content
Supervision
Adult supervision recommended
Licence
Lesson video
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Prior knowledge starter quiz
6 Questions
Q1. services such as healthcare, education and transport are essential for a strong local economy.
Q2.Which of the following is NOT a reason the local economy changes?
Q3.What can weaken a local economy?
Q4.The local government can support economic growth by investing in buildings and other .
Q5.What is the best definition of the local economy?
Q6.Match the factors to their impact on the local economy.
affects business rates and job creation
helps businesses and workers access opportunities
support a productive and skilled workforce
Assessment exit quiz
6 Questions
Q1.Match the word with its definition.
all business activity and wealth creation in a specific area
independently owned companies that contribute to the local economy
money collected from citizens to fund public services
the number of people who have jobs in a community
Q2.Small businesses help sustain the local economy by creating jobs and keeping money circulating locally, while also contributing to public services through ...
Q3.Which of the following is NOT a way that small businesses contribute to the local economy?
Q4.Match the start of the sentence with its ending.
provide local people with access to goods and financial support.
jobs, helping to reduce unemployment and improve economic stability.
help fund essential services like schools, healthcare and transport.
often reinvest in the community through sponsorships and events.
Q5.Which statement best explains why small businesses are important to the local economy?
Q6.Order the words to make a name of a financial institution:
To help you plan your 11 citizenship lesson on: How can communities improve the local economy?, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...
To help you plan your 11 citizenship lesson on: How can communities improve the local economy?, 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 4 citizenship lessons from the How can the local economy support sustainability? unit, dive into the full secondary citizenship curriculum, or learn more about lesson planning.