KNES Secondary School Course Outline 2016-2017 TERM OVERVIEW: ECONOMICS: Term 1,2,3 CLASS: 10 The focus for term 1 will be to develop an understanding of economic terminology and principles and of basic economic theory. Students will learn the basic functions of economics and understand economic terms and concepts. Students will learn to handle simple data and undertake economic analysis, evaluate information and discriminate between facts and value judgments in economic issues. The syllabus also encourages a better understanding of the world in which students live, and helps them play an active part in the decision-making process, whether as consumers, producers or citizens of the local, national and international community Students will have a major part of lessons that will focus on analysis and evaluation made easy through case studies and real life economic situations that require them to assess and find solutions. Tests and assignments will be given every week as well as homework. Students need to undertake extensive research through internet as well as print media like newspaper in order to have better understanding of the economic world around us. Text: Economics: Complete Economics by Dan Moynihan and Brian Titley [second edition] Economics for IGCSE [Activity Book] by Robert Dransfield, Terry Cook and Jane Kind Teacher s expectation/discipline policy 1. Homework should be submitted on time. Excuses are unacceptable unless they are medical in nature and have sufficient evidence in the form of medical certificates. The same rule applies to a situation where a pupil misses a test or a deadline on an assignment. Missing a test means 0%. 2. Being absent from a lesson is in no way an excuse for not doing homework, as you are expected to get the homework assignment from a classmate. If homework is left at home it will be considered as not being done. 3. All necessary resources needed for the lesson should be with pupils at all times. 4. All class work is to be completed in class and should be up-to-date. Students must be on time to lessons. 5. Students need to maintain an organized and neat exercise book. All work should be up to date and in case of absence it s the student s responsibility to complete any work that he/she has missed. 6. Students need to maintain a separate file for all project work and assignments. 7. Food/drink is not allowed in class and students need to make sure to use the toilet during break. Chewing gum in class is strictly not allowed. 8. Students should be in class with shirts tucked in at all times.
TERM 1: There will be a general review of year 10 curriculum. Focus on refreshing key Economic terms and reviewing topics that have already been covered. Getting students ready for term curriculum. This may take the first 2 lessons of week 1 and based on that the course outline will be adjusted by a day or two here and there. Week Topic / Chapter Learning outcome: Students will be able to 1 UNIT 1 Chapter 1: Introduction to economics. Resources and human needs and wants. Pages 1 to 9. Activities 1.1,1.2,1.3 2 UNIT 1 Chapter 1: Basic economic problem: Economic Problem, Scarcity, Opportunity cost, Factors of production PPC (Production Possibility Curves) Activity 1.4/1.5/1.6/1.7 Assignment: activity 1.8 page 16. 3 UNIT 1 Chapter 2: Basic economic problem: choice and the allocation of resources Specialisation 4 UNIT 2. Chapter 3: The allocation of resources: how the market works. Market Failure. Activity 2.1. Pg. 23 Activity 2.3 Pg. 27 Private and Public Expenditure. Students will learn about: The need for economics, Understand that economics involves trying to increase people s choices. Definitions and understanding of what economics is all about, Scope of economics. Resources: how they are used to produce goods and services. Natural, human and man-made resources. Classification of resources. Land, labour, capital and enterprise. Students will learn about the following consumption, exchange, consumer goods and services, durable and non-durable goods, capital goods and public/merit goods. define the nature of the economic problem (finite resources and unlimited wants); define opportunity cost and analyse particular circumstances to illustrate the concept; What is Production Possibility Curve? Evaluate the implications of particular courses of action in terms of opportunity cost. Students learn about the concept of specialization and Definition, How it helps in an economy, Advantages and disadvantages of specialization. Students understand what an economy is. What, how and for whom to produce. Market Failure and government Intervention. Pg. 81Different Economic Systems: Free economies, Planned or command economies, Mixed economies (private and public sectors together). Understand the features of each system and their advantages/disadvantages. Differences between the private and the public sector. Government Intervention 5 UNIT 2 Chapter 6: How Markets work? Demand Pg. 39 to 48.What is individual demand? Students will be able to demonstrate the factors that affect the market for goods services. Understanding how consumer demand affects market prices. Derive and draw a market demand curve and a use them to explain shifts and movements in the demand
Activity: 2.8,9, 10, 11. curve. Substitutes/complements, Inferior/normal goods, real/disposable income. Activity 2.8 to demonstrate the factors that could affect prices. What are the factors that affect the demand for a product? 6 UNIT 2 Chapter 6: Supply Supply curves and drawing supply graphs. Equilibrium price. Pg. 48 to 58. Activities 2.13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18. Students will be able to draw simple Supply graphs and show the shifts in supply curve Plotting the movement across the graph. What are the factors that affect supply? What is equilibrium price and what does it show. Students plot equilibrium price on a graph. 7 UNIT 2 Chapter 6: Price Elasticity of demand/supply. Activity 2.20, 2.21, 2.22. Students to complete the Exam Preparation questions on page 65. 8 UNIT 2 Chapter 7: Social Costs and Benefits Pages 75 to 90 Students learn to define price elasticity of demand and supply. Students will learn to perform simple calculations to ascertain the PED and PES. Difference between price elastic and price inelastic demand/supply What are the factors that affect the PED and PES. BY the end of this unit students will be able to define private and social costs/benefits. Discuss conflicts of interest. Understand and be able to discuss the importance of conserving versus consumption. Private versus public expenditure. The economic use of resources and economic welfare. 9 UNIT 3. Chapter 9A: Money and finance. Pages 103 to 116. Activity: 3.1, 2, 3, 4 10 UNIT 3. Chapter 9B: The banking system: The role and functions of the Central bank and Commercial banks. Pg.: 117-121. Exam preparation questions 3.1 on page 119.0. Students will learn the Barter System of exchange and The evolution of money and why money is needed. The functions of money. What makes good money and The 5 characteristics of good money? The money market and interest rates. Pg. 115. Students will learn to describe the role of Central banks and commercial banks in an economy. Distinguish between different types of banks and the functions of central and commercial banks. How the Central bank evaluates the Banking system in a country and how it manages the Monetary policy of the government.
11 Revision & Term one Examination Students undertake extensive revision through the week covering all topics covered in term one. Revision exam questions at end of each chapter to be reviewed and completed. Multiple choice questions as well as short structured questions modeled on IGCSE style and case study questions to evaluate analysis and evaluation as well as application skills. TERM ASSESSMENT CRITERIA DESCRIPTION Weekly assignments: students will be given an assignment in the form of a case study which will be relevant to the topic discussed each week. (assignments should be original and a % mark deducted if students fail to present the assignment or delays it) Homework and class work on a regular basis. Marks will be awarded for completion of work on time. Delays and failures will result in 0% being awarded. Project work. Students research a topic related to curriculum and submit a report. (1 project per term). Student presentation on topics covered in class. Classroom participation, interaction, discussions and displaying positive interest in subject matter. As part of work experience it is mandatory for all economics students to attend the work experience and Job Shadow Programme.(marks will be deducted wholly if students fail to actively participate) Tests, Quizzes and Pop Quizzes. (Tests will be given after completion of every unit). Marks will be deducted if students miss a test. Test averages will be taken and percentages awarded based on the number of tests given in the term. End of term exam Questions covering entire 1 st term curriculum. TERM MARK 5% 5% 5% 15% 50% Case study, short answers and essay type questions that assess students on their analytical skills, knowledge, understanding, evaluation, and interpretation. Questions will be modeled on IGCSE exams
TERM 2. Focus on refreshing key Economic terms and reviewing topics that have already been covered. Getting students ready for term curriculum. This may take the first 2 lessons of week 1 and based on that the course outline will be adjusted by a day or two here and there. Weekly schedules will be adjusted to accommodate any changes. Week Topic / Chapter Learning outcome: Students will be able to 1 UNIT 3.2 Occupations and Earnings Pages 129 to 139 Students will by the end of this unit be able to identify the factors affecting an individual s choice of occupation. ( wage factors and non-wage factors will be discussed). Demand and supply of labour and the factors affecting them. Describe the differences in earnings between different occupational groups. 2 UNIT 3.3 The role of Trade Unions. Page 150 to 159. Activities: 3.14, 3.15 Exam preparation questions on page 154 3 UNIT 3.4 Spending, Saving and Borrowing. Pages 161 to 174. Activities: 3.16, 3.17, 3.18. Case 4 UNIT 4: The private firm as producer and employer: Pages 183 to 189 Activity 4.2, 4.3 and 4.4 5 UNIT 4 The private firm as producer and employer: Multinational and Cooperatives. 6 UNIT 4.2 : Production Pages 210 to 235. Activities 4.8,4.9,4.10 Students learn what a trade Union is and the reasons why they exist. The functions of a trade union. How trade unions are organized and collective bargaining. What is industrial action and when is it used by a trade union? Types of industrial action. The importance of trade unions to the economy and what determines the strength of trade unions. Students learn to Analyse the different motives for spending, saving and borrowing. Consumption and spending patterns. Disposable income. Why do people consume goods and services? What determines the level of borrowing? Students learn to: how to start a business: Pg. 183.Describe the type of business organization in the public and private sectors: Sole proprietors and partnerships Private companies and public companies. What is limited and unlimited liability? Students will be introduced to Multinationals and the advantages and disadvantages of such companies to the country in which they set up. Why do governments encourage Multinationals? Multi-nationals, co-operatives and public corporations; Economics in Action activity: Should developing countries encourage Multinationals to locate in their economies? Page 201 Students will be able to: describe what determines the demand for factors of production, define production and productivity and the difference between them. Primary, Secondary and tertiary sectors of business activity. The aims of production and how it is measured. The division of labour.(advantages and disadvantages)
Costs: Fixed and Variable costs 7 UNIT 4.3 The growth of firms. How the size of a firm is measured? Pg. 238 to 245. Economies of Scale. Pg.244/245. Activities 4.17 and 4.18 Pg.248/249 8 UNIT 4.4 Competition. Market Structure: pg. 260. Activity 4.20. Structured Questions: Pg. 273/274. 9 &10 REVISION & SECOND TERM EXAMINATION Production Possibility curves. Pg. 13. Capital and Labour Intensive businesses. Students learn about the varying size of firms and what factors are detrimental in deciding the size of firms. Describe the main reasons for the different sizes of firms (size of market, capital, organisation) and how firms grow in size. Describe and evaluate integration, economies and diseconomies of scale. Why some firms remain small? Students will be able to describe the features of Monopolies and perfect competition. Why do firms compete? Types of competition. Advantages and disadvantages of Monopolies. How Monopolies restrict competition? Pg. 264. Controlling Monopolies and regulating competition. Pg. 268/269. Term 2 in focus. Review of topics. All topics covered in term 2 and parts of the curriculum from term 1. Questions modeled on IGCSE. TERM ASSESSMENT CRITERIA: DESCRIPTION Homework and class work on a regular basis. Marks will be awarded for completion of work on time. Delays and failures will result in 0% being awarded. TERM MARK Project work. Students research a topic related to curriculum and submit a report. assignments. Case study Classroom participation, interaction, discussions and displaying positive interest in subject matter. 5% In term students of economics will undertake the work experience event, Company Programme. Participation is compulsory and will go towards internal assessment. Tests, Quizzes and Pop Quizzes. (Tests will be given after completion of every unit). Marks will be deducted if students miss a test. Test averages will be taken and percentages awarded based on the number of tests given in the term. End of term exam Questions covering entire 1 st and 2 nd term curriculum. Case study, short answers and essay type questions that assess students on their analytical skills, knowledge, understanding, evaluation, and interpretation. Questions will be modeled on IGCSE exams 15% 50%
TERM 3 Focus on refreshing key Economic terms and reviewing topics that have already been covered. Getting students ready for term curriculum. This may take the first 2 lessons of week 1 and based on that the course outline will be adjusted by a day or two here and there. Weekly schedules will be adjusted to accommodate any changes. Week Topic / Chapter Learning outcome: Students will be able to 1. UNIT 5.1 Role of Government in an economy. Government as a producer of goods and services. Government Economic Policy. Fiscal and Monetary policies. 2. UNIT 5.2: Supply -side Policies. Pages 291 to 293. Activity 5.3 Pg. 290 Students learn how the government engages in public and capital expenditure. What is a macro economy? Macroeconomic objectives: Price stability, low unemployment, economic growth, Redistribution of income and Balance of Payments. Students will learn what supply-side policies are and their relevance to the economy. How governments intervene in the economy through policies that aim to promote growth and encourage entrepreneurship. 3 UNIT 5.1 : Policy Conflicts. Pages 294 to 296. Activities: 5.4, 5.5 and 5.6. Team activity. 4 UNIT 5.2: Taxation Pages 298 to 321 Students will review the macroeconomic policies of the government and analyse the ways in which there can be conflict between government aims. In order to achieve one macroeconomic aim the government may have a conflict with another objective. Students will debate should taxes be higher for the rich? The need for taxation and as a main source of government expenditure. Students will learn the two types of taxes. Direct and Indirect. The methods of taxation: Progressive, regressive and proportional. 5 UNIT 6 Price Inflation What is Inflation and why is it a concern. Define Deflation, stagflation and hyperinflation. What are the consequences of inflation? How do governments control Inflation? 6 UNIT 6: Retail Price Index How is Inflation Measured? What is the RPI/CPI. Describe how the RPI is prepared. Students will learn the steps involved in constructing the RPI.
7 UNIT 6.2 Employment and Unemployment. 8 UNIT 6.2 Employment and Unemployment. By the end of this unit students will be able to Describe the changing patterns of employment.. Identify and discuss the trends in labour force participation rates in different countries. Distinguish between full-time and parttime employment. Students will learn the types of unemployment: frictional, casual, seasonal, structural, technological and cyclical unemployment. Discuss the causes and consequences of unemployment. Calculate the unemployment rate. How do governments intervene to reduce unemployment levels and what they hope to achieve. 9 Revision & End of year Exams Revision quizzes and tests covering the entire syllabus of year 10 from September Students will be tested on entire curriculum of year 10 (terms 1, 2 and 3) TERM ASSESSMENT CRITERIA DESCRIPTION Every week students will be given an assignment in the form of a case study which will be relevant to the topic discussed each week. (assignments should be original and marks will be deducted if students fail to present the assignment or delays it) TERM MARK Homework and class work on a regular basis Project work. Students research a topic related to curriculum and submit a report. Student presentations (1 project per term) Classroom participation, interaction, discussions and displaying positive interest in subject matter. Tests, Quizzes and Pop Quizzes. (Tests will be given after completion of every unit). Marks will be deducted if students miss a test. Test averages will be taken and percentages awarded based on the number of tests given in the term. End of term exam: IGCSE past papers. All topics covered during term one. Case study, short answers and essay type questions that assess students on their analytical skills, knowledge, understanding, evaluation, and interpretation. 5% 15% 50%