Exploitation of people living in poverty; fair pay and interest on loans
Lesson details
Learning outcome
I can explain how unfair wages and high-interest loans exploit people and responses to this.
Key learning points
- Workers face poverty wages, poor conditions and exploitative loans trapping them in debt.
- Cases like Rana Plaza (2013) and 5,000% APR loans show widespread abuse.
- The Bible condemns unfair wages and exploitative lending, urging justice and compassion.
- Groups like Christian Aid and Fairtrade fight for fair pay, ethical trade and debt relief.
- Christians can respond through ethical choices, advocacy and supporting the vulnerable.
Keywords
Exploitation - the unfair treatment or use of individuals or groups, often for profit, by taking advantage of their vulnerability, limited resources or lack of power
Fair pay - payment that is appropriate for the work done
Interest - money paid back on loans in addition to the original amount borrowed
Loan - amount of money borrowed from a lender, usually paid back in installments with interest
Common misconception
Poverty is always the result of personal choices, so people just need to work harder or manage money better.
Poverty isn’t just about personal choices; systemic factors like low wages and predatory lending trap people despite hard work.
Teacher tip
Include up-to-date information on the living wage for different age groups in the UK and around the world, and look at how this compares with a living wage.
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.Match each term to the correct description.
a Christian movement challenging injustice
a priest who spoke out against oppression
a document outlining fundamental rights
Q2.What is a key cause of poverty that is linked to employment?
Q3.Why is education important for tackling poverty?
Q4.How does conflict contribute to poverty?
Q5.How does Christian Aid help fight poverty?
Q6.Why do some Christians support Liberation Theology?
Assessment exit quiz
6 Questions
Q1.Match each term to the correct description.
a movement ensuring fair wages and conditions
a charity that fights poverty and injustice
charging excessive interest on loans
a Christian group offering debt advice
Q2.What is a major problem faced by sweatshop workers?
Q3.How does Christian Aid help people in poverty?
Q4.What does the Bible say about fair pay?
Q5.Why are payday loans often criticised?
Q6.How can Christians respond to financial exploitation?
To help you plan your 11 religious education lesson on: Exploitation of people living in poverty; fair pay and interest on loans, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...
To help you plan your 11 religious education lesson on: Exploitation of people living in poverty; fair pay and interest on loans, 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 religious education lessons from the Religion, human rights and social justice unit, dive into the full secondary religious education curriculum, or learn more about lesson planning.