P–7 Introducing G20
Teaching and learning overview

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 package 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

The Introducing G20 Teaching and learning activities can be implemented as a stand-alone program or as part of the Exploring G20 Teaching and learning activities.

This package provides educational experiences for students 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-curriculum priorities, and Queensland Essential Learnings.

P–7 Introducing G20
Teaching and learning overview / Queensland Curriculum & Assessment Authority
July 2014
Page1of 13

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.

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 includes 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.

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 2014 G20 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 2014G20 represents an opportunity for Australia to:

  • influence the global economic agenda and strengthen our 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.

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.

Teaching and learning experiences

The following activities are based on the four previously listed questions. Teachers may use the Introducing G20 activities before, during and following the summit. The activities can be adjusted to suit a specific school or classroom context.

What is the G20 summit?

This question orients students to the purpose of the G20 Leaders 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
P–2 / Years 3–5 / Years 6–7
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?
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. / 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. / 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:
  • G20 member countries
  • 2014 G20 guest countries
  • European Union.
Discuss the location of the G20 members and guest countries in relation to Australia. / 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. / 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.
Label the G20 member and guest countries on an individual world map.
Activity 3 / Leaders and leadership
Discuss that a leader from each country will be attending the summit. Explore ideas aroundleadership, such as:
  • all people can be leaders
  • all children can demonstrate leadership at school
  • some people want to lead
  • some leaders are elected, some are given a job to lead and some choose to lead.
Read and view a range of stories about leadership and discuss:
  • Which character is the leader? How do you know?
  • How could this character lead others?
Play games where a leader is chosen, e.g. Follow the leader. / 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 leader through their actions
  • leadership positions, e.g. in the community, business, organisation or government.
/ Types of leaders and their roles
The Queensland 20 (Q20) is a group composed of high-level representatives from Queensland's business, community and government sectors. The group was established to ensure Queensland gains the maximum benefit from Australia’s G20 presidency in 2014.
View information about the Q20 on the G20 website ( to identify the Queensland leaders and the groups they represent, e.g. business, community or government.
What characteristics and behaviours would you expect these Queensland leaders to display while at the summit?
P–7 Introducing G20
Teaching and learning overview / Queensland Curriculum & Assessment Authority
July 2014
Page1of 13

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
P–2 / Years 3–5 / Years 6–7
Activity 4 / The importance of leaders
Display an image of a meeting, e.g. an image of a previous G20 Leaders Summit.
Discuss:
  • What are these people doing?
  • Is there a leader in the meeting? How do you know?
  • What might the leader be talking about?
  • Why do people have meetings?
  • What might the G20 leaders discuss at their meeting?
/ 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. / The importance of leaders
List the advantages and disadvantages of people meeting to listen to each others’ ideas and to share their own.
Investigate the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade’s(DFAT) G20 website ( to discuss the roles of Australian leaders at the 2014 G20 summit.
Activity 5 / The role of media
View examples of G20 summit-related news on television, in newspapers, on radio and/or online.Discuss:
  • Why is the news important?
  • Why do people view or listen to the news?
  • What does the news tell us about the G20 summit?
/ 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. / The role of media
Compare media outlets’ coverage (print and online) of the G20 summit. Consider:
  • reporter interpretation
  • prioritisation of G20 topic
  • cultural and political perspectives.

Activity 6 / The importance of hosting the G20 to Queensland and Australia
Identify children’s connections with G20 countries, e.g. through relatives, friends, things people buy or obtain, holidays, sport, family origin, food or language.
Discuss how a visitor from a G20 country will connect with Australia and Queensland through travel, things people buy or obtain, e.g. souvenirs, foods and languages. Draw images of these connections. / The importance to Australia and Queensland
View the Why the G20 is important factsheet (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 Queensland benefit from hosting the G20 summit?
/ The importance to Australia and Queensland
View the Why the G20 is important factsheet (available via the Quick Links section 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 summit?
  • How will Queensland benefit from hosting the 2014 G20 summit?

P–7 Introducing G20
Teaching and learning overview / Queensland Curriculum & Assessment Authority
July 2014
Page1of 13

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
P–2 / Years 3–5 / Years 6–7
Activity 7 / Queensland’s diversity
Ask children to identify the country of origin (if known) of themselves, their parents, grandparents or great grandparents.
Locate these countries (including Australia) on a world map. Identify which of these countries are participating in the G20 summit.
Discuss the concept of diversity, and how we all contribute to it. Refer to the Indigenous languages map of Queensland ( and highlight the 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? / Queensland’s diversity
Identify the country of origin (if known) of you, your parents, 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 consider the 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? / Queensland’s diversity
Identify the country of origin (if known) of you, your parents, grandparents or great grandparents. Locate these countries (including Australia) on a world map such as the Interactive G20 map (Intermediate) (
Compare the countries of origin to others and list the G20 countries that you, your family or friends are connected to.
Discuss the concept of diversity, and how we all contribute to it. Refer to the Indigenous Language Map( and consider the 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. / 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. / 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. Discuss the popularity of Queensland artists’ work overseas.
Activity 9 / Queensland’s economy
Explore a range of goods that Queensland sells to other countries, e.g. minerals, wheat, cotton, wool and food products. / 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?
/ Queensland’s economy
Discuss the workings of a local economy, e.g. in a local community, goods and services are bought and sold, and money exchanged for those goods and services.
Using information from the Queensland Globe ( record responses to the following questions:
  • What Queensland exports are traded overseas?
  • Where in Queensland are these exports produced?
  • From which countries does Queensland import?

Activity 10 / Welcome to and Acknowledgement of Country