Years 3–5 Introducing G20
Teaching and learning activities

Using G20 as a context for teaching and learning

The Group of Twenty (G20) Leaders Summit will be held in Brisbane, Queensland on 15 and 16 November 2014. At the summit, leaders of the world’s most economically developed countries discuss and make decisions about important economic and financial issues. The 2014 G20 summit is based on the themes of stronger economic growth and employment outcomes, and protecting the global economy from future shocks.

The G20 summit provides an opportunity to connect student learning with this event.

The suite of resources that teachers may access includes:

  • Introducing G20( which contains introductory information and activities
  • Exploring G20( which contains teaching and learning linked to curriculum areas
  • Literacy and Numeracy G20( which provides opportunities to embed literacy and numeracy learning related to G20.

Introducing G20

TheIntroducingG20Teaching and learning package provides introductory activities that can be implemented as a stand-alone program or as part of theExploring G20 package.

This package provides suggested teaching and learning activitiesfor children based on four questions:

  • What is the G20 summit?
  • Why is the G20 summit important?
  • How can we showcase Queensland to G20 countries?
  • What can we learn about the countries participating in the G20 summit?

This package provides opportunities to work towards the Australian Curriculum, general capabilities and cross-curriculumpriorities, and Queensland Essential Learnings.

Teacher information about G20

The Group of Twenty (G20) is a group of 20 representatives from the major advanced and emerging economies.

The group was formed in 1999 as a meeting of Finance Ministers and Central Bank Governors in the aftermath of the Asian financial crisis.

The first G20 Leaders Summit was held in 2008 to address the Global Financial Crisis (GFC). There is now a G20 Leaders Summit held each year.

In 2014, Australia is the president of the G20. Australia’s G20 presidency runs from 1 December 2013 to 30 November 2014. Hosting the G20 in 2014 gives Australia a valuable opportunity to influence the global economic agenda and to strengthen engagement with the world’s major economies.

The G20 member countries represent:

  • approximately 85% of global gross domestic product (GDP)
  • more than 75% of global trade
  • two thirds of the world’s population.

The G20 members include representatives from:

  • Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Canada, China, France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Italy, Japan, Republic of Korea, Mexico, Russia, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, Turkey, United Kingdom and United States
  • the European Union[1], which includesAustria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungry, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden and United Kingdom.

The 2014 G20 guest countries include:

  • Spain (as an agreed permanent guest)
  • Myanmar (as the Chair of the Association of South-East Asian Nations (ASEAN))
  • Mauritania (as the Chair of the African Union)
  • Senegal (as a representative of the New Partnership for Africa’s Development (NEPAD))
  • New Zealand and Singapore (countries invited by the 2014 G20 President, Australia, reflecting its regional relationships).

The role of the G20 is to:

  • discuss international economic cooperation, focusing on ways to strengthen the global economy, reform international financial institutions and improve financial regulation.

The G20 2014 Leaders Summit will be held:

  • on 15 and 16 November
  • in Brisbane, Queensland
  • at the Brisbane Convention and Exhibition Centre
  • with as many as 4000 delegates and 3000 media representatives expected to attend.

The 2014 G20 events include:

  • Finance Ministers and Central Bank Governors meeting on 20 and 21 September in Cairns, Queensland
  • G20 Leaders Summit on 15 and 16 November in Brisbane, Queensland.

Hosting the G20 in 2014 represents an opportunity for Australia to:

  • influence the global economic agenda and strengthen its international engagement with the major economies of the world
  • showcase Australia, and in particular Queensland, as world-class destinations for tourism, education and business
  • build international networks.

Teaching and learning experiences

The following activities are based on the four previously listed questions. Teachers may use the Years 3–5 Introducing G20 activities before, during and after the summit.

The activities can be adjusted to suit a specific school or classroom context. Teachers are encouraged to peruse the Introducing G20 resource ( which identifies all P–12 activities.

Note: It is recommended that these activities be implemented prior to the G20 summit to help students to understand its role and purpose.

What is the G20 summit?

This question orients students to the purpose of the G20 summit and G20 membership. It also encourages children to investigate the notion of leadership and to view Australia as an important contributor to world affairs.

Teaching and learning activities
Activity 1 / The G20
View the What is the G20? (Dr Matthew Burke) video (
Discuss the purpose of the G20 summit by considering the following questions:
  • What is the G20 summit?
  • Where is the G20 summit being held in Australia?
  • Which countries’ leaders are attending the 2014 G20 summit?
  • How often is the G20 summit held?
  • Why is the G20 summit important?
  • What significant issues will world leaders focus on when meeting at the 2014 G20 Leaders Summit?
Locate information in Appendix 1:About the G20,to answer questions about the G20 in Appendix 2:G20 Q&A.
View the Primary G20 virtual field trip( to explore the characteristics of the Brisbane G20 precinct.
View the Story of the G20 Australia 2014 logo video ( Discuss the logo, which was designed by Torres Strait Islander artist Riki Salam.
Activity 2 / G20 members and their locations
View the InteractiveG20 map (Basic)( to locate the:
  • Tropic of Cancer
  • Tropic of Capricorn
  • equator
  • continents
  • G20 member countries
  • G20 2014 guest countries
  • European Union.
Discuss the location of the G20 member and guest countries in relation to Australia.
Activity 3 / Leaders and leadership
Identify the different types of leaders who are attending the G20 summit, e.g. prime minister, president. Discuss the notion ofleaders and leadership such as:
  • the role of a leader in their country, e.g. to lead others, to act as a decision maker
  • leadership qualities, e.g. being a good communicator, being confident, being able to motivate others
  • becoming a leader, e.g. being elected, appointed, or emerging as a leaderthrough their actions
  • leadership positions, e.g. in the community, business, organisation or government.

Why is the G20 summit important?

This question orients students to the importance of the G20 summit from three perspectives, namely the:

  • importance of leaders from many countries meeting to share ideas and listen to others’ views
  • important role media play in reporting, commenting and prompting discussion in Australia and other G20 countries about the G20 summit
  • importance of hosting the G20 summit to Australia and Queensland.

Teaching and learning activities
Activity 4 / The importance of leaders
List the advantages and disadvantages of people meeting to listen to each others’ ideas and to share their own.
Discuss the range of meetings teachers, parents and students participate in at school and the advantages and disadvantages of such meetings. Compare the conventions of these meeting structures to the G20 summit.
Activity 5 / The role of media
Consider the different forms of media and the role of media in society today. View an online media report, e.g. Kiwi Kids News article‘New Zealand invited to G20 Summit’ (
Discuss the structure, e.g. headline, lead, body, tail, and purpose, e.g. to inform or entertain.
Draft a news report informing readers about Australia inviting a guest country (e.g.Singapore) to the 2014 G20 summit.
Activity 6 / The importance to Australia and Queensland
View the Why the G20 is importantfactsheet (available via the Quick Links on and the Brisbane City Council’s G20 Leaders Summit information (
Record responses to the following questions:
  • Why is it important for Australia to be a G20 member?
  • What is the significance of Australia being the host of the 2014 G20?
  • How will Queenslandbenefit from hosting the G20 summit?

How can we showcase Queensland to G20 countries?

This question has two parts.

Part 1 focuses on showcasing Queensland to the G20 countries. It encourages children to investigate and consider the potential and importance of showcasing Queensland’s people, places, skills and knowledge to G20 countries.

Part 2 focuses on the responsibility of hosting an event. A host has a responsibility to make visitors feel welcome. They will explain the features and significance of local places and sites. Through their actions, a good host encourages visitors to spread messages of goodwill when they return to their home country.

The teaching and learning activities in this section explore the richness and diversity of Queensland’s culture that G20 visitors may have the opportunity to experience.

Part 1: Showcasing Queensland to G20 countries

Teaching and learning activities
Activity 7 / Queensland’s diversity
Identify the country of origin (if known) of you, yourparents, grandparents or great grandparents. Locate these countries (including Australia) on an atlas or the Interactive G20 map (Basic) ( Identify which of these countries are attending the 2014 G20 summit.
Discuss the concept of diversity, and how we all contribute to it. Refer to the Indigenous Language Map( and considerthe diversity of Aboriginal language groups and Torres Strait Islander language groups within Queensland. Other Aboriginal language and Torres Strait Islander language maps are listed in the Resources.
How would you explain the diversity of Aboriginal peoples and Torres Strait Islander peoples to a G20 visitor?
Activity 8 / Queensland’s artforms
View a range of Queensland art, including art by Aboriginal peoples and Torres Strait Islander peoples. If needed, refer to the website of the Gallery of Modern Art (GOMA) and Queensland Art Gallery (QAG) (
Discuss the features (e.g. colour, texture and pattern) of the selected artforms, e.g.sculpture, painting. Choose an artwork that you would like to give as a gift to a visitor from a G20 country. Explain how the significant features of the artwork showcase Queensland.
Activity 9 / Queensland’s economy
View the Trade matters ( and Queensland Globe ( websites.
Record responses to the following questions:
  • What Queensland exports are traded overseas?
  • Where in Queensland are these exports produced?
  • What goods does Queensland import?
  • From which countries does Queensland import goods? Which of these countries are G20 members or guests?

Activity 10 / Queensland’s science
View the Ecosciences projects website ( Discuss the importance of scientists studying the natural environment in Queensland, e.g. conservation.
Research a Queensland scientific project and explain the purpose of the work.
Explain how this work would be important to share with visitors from G20 countries.

Part 2: Hosting an event

Teaching and learning activities
Activity 11 / Welcome to and Acknowledgement of Country
Delegates attending the G20 summit will be welcomed to Country by traditional owner groups at the different meetings and events.
Discuss Welcome to Country and Acknowledgement of Country. Invite a member of the local traditional owner group or representative to talk about the meaning behind and importance of Welcome to and Acknowledgement of Country. Identify why, when and by whom each should be done.
If needed, refer to the Queensland Curriculum and Assessment Authority’s (QCAA)Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander perspectives support materials(
Activity 12 / Plan a morning or afternoon tea
Plan and/or prepare a morning or afternoon tea for guests, e.g. parents. Choose recipes that showcase Queensland produce. Compare the Queensland produce with the produce from another G20 country. Discuss the similarities and differences.
Prepare a ‘big book’ to display the Queensland recipes.
Activity 13 / My state
View Queensland tourism images and advertisements, e.g. from the Tourism and Events Queensland ( Queensland Holidays( website/s.
Discuss how these imagesand advertisements encourage tourists to visit Queensland.
Create a poster or slideshow promoting Queensland to a visitor from a G20 country.

What can we learn about the countries participating in the 2014 G20 summit?

These teaching and learning activitiespromotes an understanding of G20 member and guest countries. While most students will recognise that we interact with G20 countries in various ways (e.g. through business, industry, science, sport), it is important for students to learn about other countries.

Teaching and learning activities
Activity 14 / Environmental characteristics
Usethe Environment information on theInteractive G20 map (Basic) ( comparethe following environmental characteristics of Australia and a G20 member or guest country of your choice:
  • natural vegetation
  • animals.

Activity 15 / Sports
Research a sport from a chosen G20 member or guest country or guest (e.g.cricket from England in the United Kingdom), and explain the rules of the game.
Play a sport from a G20 member or guest country or guest.
Activity 16 / Language
Using an online translator,create a list of words/terms or a phrase from a G20 member or guest country or guest where English is not the official language (e.g. my name is … hello, goodbye).
Years 3–5 Introducing G20
Teaching and learning activities / Queensland Curriculum & Assessment Authority
July 2014
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Appendix 1:About the G20

G20 member countries

The G20 member countries are:
Argentina / France / Japan / South Africa
Australia / Germany / Republic of Korea / Turkey
Brazil / India / Mexico / United Kingdom
Canada / Indonesia / Russia / United States
China / Italy / Saudi Arabia / [2]European Union

G20 facts

The first G20 Leaders Summit was held in 2008. / The G20 started in 1999. / The Leaders Summit will be held in Brisbane on 15 and 16 November 2014.
Australia is the 2014 G20 host country. Brisbane will host the Leaders Summit on 15 and 16 November. / Australia invited the following countries to attend the summit as guests: Mauritania, Myanmar, New Zealand, Senegal, Singapore and Spain (a permanent invitee). / As many as 4000 delegates and 3000 media representatives are expected to attend the Leaders Summit in Brisbane.
Both Brisbane and Cairns will host G20 meetings. Brisbane will host the G20 Leaders Summit and Cairns will host the G20 Finance Ministers and Central Bank Governors meeting.
  • create jobs for people in their communities
/
  • buy and sell goods with other G20 member countries
/
  • ensure money is being used properly by G20 member countries’ governments and organisations.

The G20 leaders meet annually to discuss ways to improve peoples’ lives, including how to:

Appendix2:G20 Q&A

Refer to Appendix 1:About the G20, theWhat is the G20? (Dr Matthew Burke) video ( the Interactive G20 map (Basic)( to answer the following questions.

Question / Response
  1. What does ‘G20’ stand for?

  1. List five G20 member countries.

  1. What does the G20 do?

  1. What do the leaders discussat the G20 Leaders Summit?

  1. How is Queensland involved in the 2014 G20?

Years 3–5 Introducing G20
Teaching and learning activities / Queensland Curriculum & Assessment Authority
July 2014
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Appendix 3: Mapping the G20

  1. Using a globe or the Interactive G20 map (Basic) ( identify (name and/or colour) the G20 member and guest countries on the world map.

Resources

Below is a list of resources to support the IntroducingG20 Teaching and learning activities.

G20 Resources and links

  • Interactive G20 map(
    An interactive world map providing information (including resources) for teachers and students about the G20 countries.
  • Primary G20 virtual field trip(
    An interactive field trip of the Brisbane G20 precinct.
  • What is the G20? (Dr Matthew Burke) video (
    A short video of G20 expert Dr Matthew Burkeintroducing the G20 summit.
  • G20 website (
    A website about the G20, its members, priorities, past summits, event schedule as well as the Queensland 20 (Q20) and the benefits it presents Queensland’s business, community and government sectors from Australia’s presidency in 2014.
  • G20 For Schools website (
    A website that provides information for schools and students about the 2014 G20.
  • Queensland Government G20 website (
    The Queensland Government’s information on the G20 via the events page. This website provides background information, events that are planned to coincide with the G20 and links to further educational resources for schools.
  • Why the G20 is important factsheet (
    A factsheet outlining why the G20 is important, available under Quick Links.

Spatial online tools

  • Google Earth(
    A spatial online tool, which provides up-to-date maps, imagery, and other spatial data.
  • Queensland Globe(
    A spatial online tool, developed by the Department of Natural Resources and Mines, which provides up-to-date Queensland maps, imagery and other spatial data.

Additional online information and resources

  • QCAA’s Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander perspectives support materials (
    A range of materials to support the inclusion of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander perspectives into the school curriculum.
  • State Library of Queensland’s Indigenous languages map of Queensland (
    A map outlining the Aboriginal languages and Torres Strait Islander languages in Queensland where you can select a marker on the map for more information about a particular language.
  • Australian Broadcasting Corporation’sIndigenous Language Map(
    Amap of the Aboriginal languages and Torres Strait Islander languages of Australia where you can hover over the map to reveal detail.
  • Queensland Art Gallery/Gallery of Modern Art(QAGOMA) website (
    The website for the Queensland Art Gallery/Gallery of Modern Art.
  • Ecosciences projects (
    A website, produced by the Department of Science, Information Technology, Innovation and the Arts, which provides information about various environmental projects in Queensland.
  • Tourism and Events Queensland website(
    A website that provides images for industry, media and anyone seeking images to promote Queensland.
  • KiwiKids News: New Zealand invited to G20 Summit article(
    Media report about Australia inviting New Zealand to the 2014 G20 summit.
  • Brisbane City Council’s G20 Leaders Summit website (
    Information about the 2014 G20 summit economic benefits to Brisbane.
  • Trade Matters 2012: Queensland — trade with the world website(
    A website that provides information about Queensland’s trade with the world.
  • Queensland Holidays ‘Queensland, Where Australia Shines’ advertisement (
    Advertisement promoting Queensland to visitors.

More information

For more information, please visit the QCAA website at

Years 3–5 Introducing G20
Teaching and learning activities / Queensland Curriculum & Assessment Authority
July 2014
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[1]The European Union is represented by the President of the European Council and President of the European Commission.

[2]European Union: Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungry, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden and United Kingdom.