Grade 12 Business Studies Term 2 Week 6: Investment and Securities on the JSE

Your Week Ahead

This week you move into one of the more content-rich sections of the Grade 12 Business Studies curriculum: Investment, with a focus on securities. Your learners will be exploring the Johannesburg Stock Exchange, the different types of investment opportunities available, and the critical differences between ordinary and preference shares. It is a topic that sits right at the intersection of financial literacy and business knowledge, and it is one that examiners return to regularly in the NSC paper.

Before diving in, it helps to know where your learners are coming from. They should already have a solid grounding in general financial concepts from earlier in the year, and some will have encountered basic investment terminology in Grade 10 and 11. That said, the level of detail required at Grade 12 is significantly deeper. The JSE functions, the four forms of investment, the nuances between cumulative and non-cumulative preference shares, these are the kinds of specifics that separate a well-prepared learner from one who has only a surface understanding.

What makes this topic particularly rewarding to teach is how grounded it is in the real world. The JSE is something learners can look up, follow in the news, and relate to current events. Use that. When learners can connect curriculum content to something tangible, the retention improves dramatically. By the end of the week, your learners should be able to discuss investment decisions with confidence, distinguish between share types, and explain why different investments carry different levels of risk.

This Week’s Lesson Plan

Day 1: Introduction to the JSE, its functions and role in the South African economy, and the key factors that influence investment decisions.

Day 2: Types of investment opportunities available to investors, including shares, bonds, unit trusts, and property, alongside the risk factors associated with each.

Day 3: The impact of the four forms of investment, with learners analysing how each form affects individuals, businesses, and the broader economy.

Day 4: Types of preference shares, and a detailed comparison between ordinary shares and preference shares, including rights, risks, and returns.

Download Your Lesson Plan

Download the full 4-day lesson plan as a Word document. Includes detailed activities, differentiation notes, and assessment guidance.

Download Lesson Plan (Word)