Class: Senior Secondary School 1 (SS1, SS 1, SSS1, SSS 1)
Term: 2nd Term
Week: 3
Age: 15 years
Duration: 45 minutes
Subject: Store Management
Curriculum Theme: Store Management
Previous Lesson: Types of Stock.
Topic: Methods of Stock Control
Subject Matter: Manual stock control methods including perpetual and periodic methods, benefits and problems of manual methods, continuous stock tally, computerized stock control methods, stock accounting and verification procedures, reasons for stock discrepancies

Specific Objectives

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

Cognitive Domain:

Explain manual stock control methods, including perpetual and periodic methods.
State benefits of manual stock control methods.
State problems of manual stock control methods.
Explain continuous stock tally.
Describe computerized stock control methods.
Outline stock accounting and verification procedures.
List reasons for stock discrepancies.

Affective Domain:

Show interest in accurate record keeping and honesty in stock handling.
Appreciate the importance of verification to prevent losses and errors.

Psychomotor Domain:

Use a sample verification sheet to check physical stock against record balance.
Complete a simple stock discrepancy report showing expected balance, physical count, and difference.

Participate actively in group discussion on stock control methods and discrepancies.
Work cooperatively to present steps for stock verification and correction of records.

Reference Materials

The following resources were used in planning this lesson:

9 Years Basic Education Curriculum
State Unified Scheme of Work
Store Management for Senior Secondary Schools (recommended textbook)
Perpetual Inventory System (Investopedia)
Periodic Inventory System (Investopedia)
Inventory Control (Encyclopaedia Britannica)

Instructional Materials

The teacher will teach this lesson with the aid of:

Charts showing stock accounting procedure
Sample verification sheets
Sample stock card and bin card
Simple stock discrepancy template
Basic computer setup (laptop/desktop) with sample inventory spreadsheet
Whiteboard and marker

Rationale for the Lesson

This lesson helps pupils understand how stores control stock to prevent shortage, overstocking, and losses. It also helps pupils learn how to verify stock and identify reasons why records may not match physical quantities.

Prerequisite/Previous Knowledge

Pupils have learnt the meaning of stock, stock control, stock records, and basic purchasing and issuing procedures.

Lesson Content/Board Summary

Methods of Stock Control

Manual Stock Control Methods

Manual stock control methods are ways of controlling stock using paper records such as stock cards, bin cards, and stock lists.

The following are manual stock control methods:

Perpetual method: Stock records are updated immediately whenever goods are received or issued, showing current balance at all times.
Periodic method: Stock records are updated after a period (weekly, monthly, termly) and stock taking is used to determine actual balance.

Benefits of Manual Methods

The following are benefits of manual stock control methods:

Easy to start and use in small stores.
Low cost because it needs simple stationery.
Does not require electricity or special software.
Useful for training beginners on basic record keeping.

Problems of Manual Methods

The following are problems of manual stock control methods:

Time-consuming to update records frequently.
Prone to human errors such as wrong entries and poor calculations.
Records can be lost, damaged, or altered.
Difficult to analyze large volumes of stock quickly.
Slow to detect shortages and pilferage in large stores.

Continuous Stock Tally

Continuous stock tally is a system where selected items are counted regularly (daily or weekly) while normal store operations continue, and results are compared with stock records.

The following are steps in continuous stock tally:

Select items to be counted for the period.
Count the physical stock of each selected item.
Compare physical count with the balance on stock records.
Record differences and investigate causes.
Correct records where appropriate after approval.

Computerized Stock Control Methods

Computerized stock control methods use computers and software/spreadsheets to record receipts, issues, balances, and reports automatically.

The following are features of computerized stock control:

Fast updating of stock records after receipts and issues.
Automatic calculation of balances and reorder levels.
Generation of reports such as stock status, fast-moving and slow-moving items.
Better storage of records and easier retrieval of information.
Improved tracking of transactions when users have separate access rights.

Stock Accounting and Verification Procedures

Stock accounting is the recording of stock transactions in a systematic way, while verification is checking physical stock to confirm the accuracy of records.

The following are stock accounting and verification procedures:

Ensure all goods received notes and issue vouchers are available and properly filed.
Update stock records for all receipts and issues before verification.
Conduct physical stock count using a verification sheet or stock list.
Compare physical count with record balance for each item.
Identify discrepancies and investigate causes.
Prepare a discrepancy report for approval and correction.
Adjust records only after authorization, and keep evidence of adjustment.

Reasons for Stock Discrepancies

The following are reasons for stock discrepancies:

Wrong entries in stock records or calculation errors.
Failure to record all receipts or all issues.
Pilferage, theft, or unauthorized removal of goods.
Damage, breakage, leakage, or deterioration of goods.
Incorrect counting during stock taking.
Wrong pricing, wrong coding, or mixing similar items.
Supplier short delivery or excess delivery not noticed during inspection.

Teaching Methods/Instructional Techniques

Discussion, Lecture, Demonstration, Question and Answer, Visual Aids

Instructional Procedures

Step 1: Introduction

Time: 5 minutes
Teaching Skill: Set Induction
Teacher’s Activity: The teacher asks pupils to mention documents used to request and issue items and guides them to state why stores must always know the quantity available, then introduces methods of stock control.
Pupils’ Activity: Pupils respond by mentioning stock cards, bin cards, and requisition forms and state reasons such as avoiding shortage and loss.
Learning Point: Stock control methods help stores maintain correct stock levels and records.

Step 2: Manual Stock Control Methods

Time: 6 minutes
Teaching Skill: Explanation
Teacher’s Activity: The teacher explains manual stock control methods and distinguishes between perpetual and periodic methods with simple examples.
Pupils’ Activity: Pupils take notes and give examples of situations where each method can be used.
Learning Point: Manual stock control can be perpetual or periodic depending on how records are updated.

Step 3: Benefits and Problems of Manual Methods

Time: 7 minutes
Teaching Skill: Discussion
Teacher’s Activity: The teacher guides pupils to list benefits and problems of manual stock control and summarizes key points on the board.
Pupils’ Activity: Pupils contribute points and copy the listed benefits and problems.
Learning Point: Manual methods are simple and cheap but can be slow and prone to errors.

Step 4: Continuous Stock Tally

Time: 6 minutes
Teaching Skill: Demonstration
Teacher’s Activity: The teacher explains continuous stock tally and demonstrates how to compare physical count with record balance using a sample verification sheet.
Pupils’ Activity: Pupils observe and practice comparing sample figures on a verification sheet.
Learning Point: Continuous stock tally helps detect discrepancies early.

Step 5: Computerized Stock Control Methods

Time: 6 minutes
Teaching Skill: Demonstration
Teacher’s Activity: The teacher introduces computerized stock control and shows a simple inventory spreadsheet with columns for receipts, issues, and balance.
Pupils’ Activity: Pupils observe the spreadsheet and identify how balances change after entries.
Learning Point: Computerized methods make stock updating and reporting faster and easier.

Step 6: Stock Accounting, Verification, and Discrepancies

Time: 4 minutes
Teaching Skill: Explanation
Teacher’s Activity: The teacher outlines stock accounting and verification procedures and leads pupils to list common reasons why records may not match physical stock.
Pupils’ Activity: Pupils list steps and mention possible causes such as wrong entries, theft, and damage.
Learning Point: Verification confirms record accuracy and helps identify reasons for discrepancies.

Step 7: Evaluation/Review

Time: 5 minutes

Teaching Skill: Questioning/Assessment

Teacher’s Activity: The teacher evaluates the learning by asking the following questions:

Explain perpetual and periodic methods of manual stock control.
State two benefits and two problems of manual stock control methods.
Define continuous stock tally and list three steps involved.
List four reasons for stock discrepancies.

Pupils’ Activity: Pupils answer orally and in writing.

Learning Point: Pupils demonstrate understanding of the lesson.

Step 8: Conclusion

Time: 6 minutes
Teaching Skill: Summary
Teacher’s Activity: The teacher summarizes the lesson and gives an assignment for pupils to draw a verification sheet format and write short notes on computerized stock control, including two advantages.
Pupils’ Activity: Pupils copy the summary and note the assignment.
Learning Point: Proper stock control methods and verification reduce losses and improve store efficiency.

Lesson Keywords

Manual stock control – Control of stock using paper records and manual entries.
Perpetual method – Method where records are updated after every receipt and issue.
Periodic method – Method where records are updated after a period using stock taking.
Continuous stock tally – Regular counting of items while store operations continue.
Computerized stock control – Stock control using computers and software/spreadsheets.
Verification – Checking physical stock to confirm record accuracy.
Stock discrepancy – Difference between record balance and physical stock count.

Differentiation

Fast learners prepare a short report explaining how a store can combine continuous stock tally with computerized records, while learners who need support use guided templates to list benefits, problems, and discrepancy causes and complete a simple comparison on a verification sheet.

Note for teachers using this lesson plan

Use clear examples and simple figures when demonstrating verification and discrepancies. Ensure pupils can distinguish perpetual from periodic methods, list benefits and problems, explain continuous stock tally steps, and state common causes of stock discrepancies in an exam-oriented manner.