Exploring Division of Labour, Specialisation, and Exchange in Commerce Commerce SS 1 First Term Lesson Notes Week 6

Commerce SS1 First Term Lesson Note – Week 6


Subject: Commerce
Class: SS1
Term: First Term
Week: 6
Age: 14 – 16 years
Duration: 40 minutes
Topic: Production, Division of Labour, Specialisation, and Exchange


Behavioral Objectives

By the end of the lesson, students should be able to:

  1. Explain the concept of production, division of labour, specialisation, and exchange.
  2. Describe how division of labour and specialisation contribute to production.
  3. Identify the benefits and challenges of division of labour and specialisation.

Keywords

  • Production
  • Division of Labour
  • Specialisation
  • Exchange
  • Efficiency

Set Induction

Ask students if they have ever seen how products are made in a factory, leading into a discussion about how different people perform specific tasks to create a final product.


Entry Behavior

Students have some understanding of production from the previous lesson.


Learning Resources and Materials

  • Diagrams illustrating a production line
  • Examples of specialised tasks in various occupations

Building Background/Connection to Prior Knowledge

Students know that goods are produced by workers and can build on this to understand how dividing tasks increases efficiency.


Embedded Core Skills

  • Critical thinking
  • Teamwork
  • Communication

Reference Books

  1. Essential Commerce for Senior Secondary Schools (Nigerian Edition)
  2. Lagos State Scheme of Work for Commerce SS1

Instructional Materials

  • Whiteboard
  • Markers
  • Visual aids showing examples of specialised roles in production

Content

1. Production Recap

Production is the creation of goods and services to satisfy human wants.

2. Division of Labour

  • Definition: Division of labour is the process of dividing a production task into smaller, specialized tasks, where each worker is responsible for a specific role.
  • Examples: In a car assembly line, one person may assemble engines, another fits doors, and another paints the car.
  • Benefits: Division of labour leads to increased efficiency, faster production, and allows workers to develop specific skills.
  • Challenges: It can lead to boredom and a lack of flexibility if workers perform the same task repetitively.

3. Specialisation

  • Definition: Specialisation is the focus on a specific area of production where individuals or groups develop expertise.
  • Examples: A farmer who only grows rice or a doctor who specializes in heart surgery.
  • Benefits: Specialisation increases expertise, improves quality, and leads to better productivity.
  • Challenges: It may create dependency, as specialists rely on others for other goods and services.

4. Exchange

  • Definition: Exchange is the act of trading goods and services between individuals, businesses, or countries.
  • Types of Exchange:
    • Barter System: Direct trade of goods for other goods without using money.
    • Money Exchange: Using currency to facilitate trade.
  • Importance: Exchange allows individuals and societies to access goods and services they cannot produce on their own.

5. Relationship Between Division of Labour, Specialisation, and Exchange

  • Division of labour and specialisation contribute to higher productivity, which leads to more goods and services available for exchange.
  • Exchange enables specialists to trade their products for other goods and services, creating an interdependent economy.

Presentation Steps

Step 1: Recap of Production

Teacher’s Activities: Review the concept of production and its classifications from the previous lesson.

Learners’ Activities: Students briefly explain production types learned.

Step 2: Explain Division of Labour

Teacher’s Activities: Define division of labour, providing examples and explaining its benefits and drawbacks.

Learners’ Activities: Students list different tasks they think would be involved in making a product like a smartphone.

Step 3: Discuss Specialisation

Teacher’s Activities: Explain specialisation with examples and its advantages for improving skills and productivity.

Learners’ Activities: Students mention areas where they or people they know specialise (e.g., a baker only makes bread).

Step 4: Describe Exchange

Teacher’s Activities: Explain exchange, differentiating between barter and money exchange.

Learners’ Activities: Students discuss examples of items they could trade and situations where money simplifies exchange.

Step 5: Relationship Among Concepts

Teacher’s Activities: Describe how division of labour and specialisation enhance exchange opportunities.

Learners’ Activities: Students discuss how a doctor, farmer, and tailor would rely on exchange to meet their needs.


Assessment

  1. What is division of labour?
  2. Give an example of specialisation.
  3. Describe the difference between barter and money exchange.
  4. List two benefits of specialisation.
  5. How does exchange support specialists in an economy?

Conclusion

Summarize the relationship among production, division of labour, specialisation, and exchange, highlighting how they contribute to a functioning economy and improved standards of living.


Fill-in-the-Blank Questions

  1. Division of labour divides production tasks into __________ parts.
  2. Specialisation allows workers to become more __________ in their tasks.
  3. The barter system involves exchanging goods without using __________.
  4. __________ improves efficiency in the production process.
  5. Money simplifies __________ by providing a common medium of exchange.
  6. Specialisation can lead to higher __________ in production.
  7. Division of labour is common in __________, like car assembly.
  8. In a barter system, people trade __________ directly.
  9. A farmer focusing only on rice production is an example of __________.
  10. Exchange allows people to obtain goods they __________ produce themselves.
  11. Division of labour may lead to __________ if tasks are repetitive.
  12. Specialisation is crucial in __________ occupations like medicine.
  13. Exchange involves the __________ of goods and services.
  14. Dependency on others for products is a challenge of __________.
  15. Both division of labour and specialisation increase the __________ of goods.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

  1. What is division of labour?
    Division of labour means breaking down production tasks so that workers specialize in specific roles.
  2. What is an example of division of labour?
    An assembly line in a factory where each worker has a specific task.
  3. What does specialisation mean?
    Specialisation is focusing on a specific task or skill to gain expertise.
  4. Why is specialisation important?
    It leads to higher quality products and improves efficiency.
  5. What is exchange?
    Exchange is trading goods or services between people or organizations.
  6. What are the types of exchange?
    Barter (direct trade) and money exchange (using currency).
  7. How does division of labour benefit production?
    It makes production faster and allows workers to become skilled in their tasks.
  8. What are the disadvantages of specialisation?
    It can lead to dependency and reduce flexibility.
  9. What is the role of money in exchange?
    Money simplifies trade by providing a common value for goods and services.
  10. How does exchange benefit society?
    It enables people to access goods and services they cannot produce.
  11. What is the relationship between division of labour and exchange?
    Division of labour increases output, making more goods available for exchange.
  12. How does specialisation affect workers?
    It helps them become experts but may limit them to specific skills.
  13. What is a barter system?
    A system of trade where goods are exchanged directly without money.
  14. Why is division of labour common in factories?
    It speeds up production and improves efficiency.
  15. How does exchange support an economy?
    It allows for a diverse range of products and encourages interdependence.

Evaluation Questions

  1. Define division of labour.
  2. What are the benefits of specialisation?
  3. Explain the difference between barter and money exchange.
  4. How does division of labour affect productivity?
  5. Give an example of a specialised profession.
  6. What is the role of exchange in an economy?
  7. Describe how division of labour is applied in an industry.
  8. What are some challenges of specialisation?
  9. How does money simplify exchange?
  10. How do division of labour and specialisation work together?

SEO Components


This lesson helps students understand the concepts of division of labour, specialisation, and exchange, exploring how they improve efficiency in production and support economic interdependence.