New
New
Year 8

Perspectives on inequality and development

I can explain different perspectives on inequality and development.

New
New
Year 8

Perspectives on inequality and development

I can explain different perspectives on inequality and development.

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Lesson details

Key learning points

  1. Inequality is the uneven distribution of resources, opportunities, and living conditions.
  2. Inequality can be categorised as economic, social, political, digital and environmental.
  3. Inequality can vary over geographical space and between different groups.
  4. Development refers to the improvement in people's quality of life within a country or region.
  5. There are a variety of different perspectives on development.

Keywords

  • Inequality - the uneven distribution of resources, opportunities, and living conditions.

  • Development - the improvement in people's quality of life within a country or region

  • Sustainable - meeting the needs of today without damaging the needs of future generations

Common misconception

Inequality just refers to the uneven distribution of wealth.

Inequality is about more than wealth. It is the uneven distribution of resources, opportunities, and living conditions. It includes different categories such as economic, political, social, environmental and digital.


To help you plan your year 8 geography lesson on: Perspectives on inequality and development, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...

The lesson refers to inequality across different ethnic groups. You may consider adapting this depending upon your local context.
Teacher tip

Equipment

Content guidance

  • Depiction or discussion of sensitive content

Supervision

Adult supervision recommended

Licence

This content is © Oak National Academy Limited (2025), licensed on Open Government Licence version 3.0 except where otherwise stated. See Oak's terms & conditions (Collection 2).

Lesson video

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Prior knowledge starter quiz

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6 Questions

Q1.
What human geography factors affect peoples lives around the world?
Correct answer: Wealth
Climate
Landforms
Correct answer: Housing
Correct answer: Laws
Q2.
What does GDP per capita measure?
The size of a country’s population.
Correct answer: The average income of people in a country.
The total number of factories.
Q3.
What is the meaning of inequality?
Equal distribution of wealth
The average age of people in a country
Correct answer: Differences in wealth, opportunities, and living conditions
Q4.
We can learn about countries by comparing their average income but...
we also need to know where people live within a county clearly.
Correct answer: it gives us a limited understanding of what a place is like.
we can also rely on stereotypes.
Q5.
What is life expectancy?
The number of people in a country
Correct answer: How long people are expected to live
The number of children in school
Q6.
What does ‘development’ mean in geography?
The number of people in a country
The size of a country’s population
The amount of land a country has
Correct answer: The improvement of people’s quality of life

Assessment exit quiz

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4 Questions

Q1.
Which of the following best describes inequality?
Only the uneven distribution of wealth
Differences in personal opinions and beliefs
Correct answer: The uneven distribution of resources, opportunities, and living conditions
A country's total population
Q2.
Which of the following is an example of inequality?
Everyone having access to education
Correct answer: Some people having better healthcare than others
Equal pay for all workers
Every country having the same amount of money
Q3.
What is sustainable development?
A focus on short-term economic growth
Expanding industries without considering the impact
Only protecting the environment
Correct answer: Meeting present needs without harming future generations
Q4.
Match up the description with the correct type of inequality.
Correct Answer:economic,inequality in income and wealth

inequality in income and wealth

Correct Answer:social,inequality in access to healthcare

inequality in access to healthcare

Correct Answer:political,inequality in voting rights

inequality in voting rights

Correct Answer:environmental,inequality in air quality

inequality in air quality

Correct Answer:technological,inequality in access to internet technology

inequality in access to internet technology