Year 6 Exploring 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 learning in Geography and Studies of Society and Environment (SOSE) to the concepts, issues and contexts associated 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.

Exploring G20

The Exploring G20Teaching and learning activities are available for a single year level or multiple year levels. When planning for more than one year level, refer to:

  • 6–7 Teaching and learning activities(
  • P–7 Exploring G20 Teaching and learning overview(

Overview

In this set of teaching and learning activities students explore the countries of the Asia region participating in the G20 Leaders Summit.Students investigate differences in the economic, demographic and social characteristics between G20 member and guest countries. They develop their understanding of the significance of the G20 Leaders Summit as an event that connects people and places around the world.

Curriculum links

The Year 6 Exploring G20 Teaching and learning package provides opportunities for students to demonstrate the following curriculum content.

Australian Curriculum: Geography

Year 6 key inquiry questions:
  • How do places, people and cultures differ across the world?
  • What are Australia’s global connections between people and places?

Year 6
Geographical Knowledge and Understanding / Geographical Inquiry and Skills
The location of the major countries of the Asia region in relation to Australia and the geographical diversity within the region (ACHGK031)

Differences in the economic, demographic and social characteristics between countries across the world (ACHGK032)

Significant events that connect people and places throughout the world (ACHGK034)
/ Collect and record relevant geographical data and information, using ethical protocols, from primary and secondary sources, for example, people, maps, plans, photographs, satellite images, statistical sources and reports (ACHGS041)

Interpret geographical data and other information using digital and spatial technologies as appropriate, and identify spatial distributions, patterns and trends, and infer relationships to draw conclusions (ACHGS044)

Present findings and ideas in a range of communication forms, for example, written, oral, graphic, tabular, visual and maps, using geographical terminology and digital technologies as appropriate (ACHGS045)

Opportunities to embed the general capabilities andcross-curriculum priorities in the classroom are identified using the following icons related to each content description.

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander histories and culturesSustainabilityLiteracyNumeracy

ICT capabilityCritical and creative thinkingIntercultural understandingEthical behaviour

Asia and Australia’s engagement with AsiaPersonal and social capability

Queensland curriculum: Studies of Society and Environment Essential Learnings
By the end of Year 7
Political and Economic Systems
Australia is connected to other nations through international agreements, the responsibilities of global citizenship, and share commitments to security and environmental issues

Assessment

The following assessment ideas could be included in a folio of student work. Teachers will make decisions about the specific assessment techniques, formats and categories to be used.

Task

Explain the characteristics (economic, demographic and social) of Australia and a G20 country in the Asia region. Represent characteristics data in a table or on a map using cartographic conventions.

Describe the interconnections between people and places in Australia and a country in the Asia region, considering economic, demographic and social characteristics. Identify how these interconnections change places and affect people.

Identify and describe how the G20 summit may influence the interconnections between people and places. Present findings and ideas using geographical terminology and graphic representations in a communication form, e.g. written, spoken/signed and/or multimodal.

Students will:

  • explain the characteristics of diverse places in different locations
  • describe the interconnections between people and places
  • identify factors that influence these interconnections
  • describe how these interconnections change places and affect people
  • represent data in a table or on a map using cartographic conventions of border, source, scale, legend, title and north point
  • present findings and ideas using geographical terminology in a communication form.

Teaching and learning

The following teaching and learning activities are described in a sequence that aims to develop student learning. However, teachers may select activities and plan alternative sequencesto suit their local setting.

Teaching and learning activities
Focus question: How are the characteristics (economic, demographic and social) of a G20 country in the Asia region different from Australia?
Activity 1 / Using the Interactive G20 map (Intermediate)( locate:
  • the equator,Tropics of Cancer and Capricorn, and the continents in relation to Australia
  • countries attending the G20 summit
  • countries from the European Union attending the G20 summit
  • G20 countries in the Asia region. Compare each location to Australia
  • the leader representing each Asia region G20 country at the G20 Leaders Summit.

Activity 2 / Choose a member country from the Asia region that is attending the G20 summit. Research and record (in a table or on a map) information about Australia and the chosencountry. Use information on the Interactive G20 map (Intermediate)( to compare the:
  • economic characteristics, e.g. gross domestic product (GDP) per capita, major Australian imports and exports
  • demographic and social characteristics, e.g. population, life expectancy at birth: men, life expectancy at birth: women.
Teacher note: If needed, identify and explain terms used to describe the characteristics of places such as population and life expectancy.
Activity 3 / Using a digital application such as Gapminder( examine and compare changes in economic, demographic and social characteristics of aG20 country in the Asia region and Australia over time.
Interpret each set of data (indicator graphs) about:
  • GDP per capita
  • life expectancy (years)
  • total energy use (per person).
Discuss the data and identify patterns and trends:
  • How do GDP per capita, life expectancy and total energy use differ between Australia the G20 country?What are possible reasons for this?

Activity 4 / Using a digital application such as Gapminder ( explore the interconnections between people and places in Australia and a G20 country. Consider economic, demographic and social characteristics.
Interpret each set of data (indicator graphs) about:
  • GDP per capita and life expectancy (years)
  • GDP per capita and energy use (per person).
Discuss the data and identify patterns and trends:
  • What is the interconnection between each country’s GDP per capita and life expectancy (years)?
  • What is the interconnection between each country’s GDP per capitaand energy use (per person)?
  • What can you infer from the data about how the interconnections change the places and lives of people in Australia and people in the G20 country?

Focus question: What are Australia’s global connections as a participant of the G20 Leaders Summit?
Activity 5 / Using the Primary virtual field trip ( explore the 2014 G20 host city, Brisbane.
Activity 6 / Identify and describe the significance of the G20 Leaders Summit as an event that connects people and places around the world. Discuss:
  • Why is the G20 Leaders Summit a significant event for people in Brisbane/Queensland/Australia? (View theWhat is the G20? (Dr Matthew Burke) video ( information.)
  • What significant issue/s or objectives will the leaders focus on when meeting in Brisbane (visit the 2014 G20 website ( for information)?
  • What effects will the G20 Leaders Summit have on Brisbane/Queensland/Australia?
  • How will the G20 Leaders Summit connect Brisbane/Queensland/Australia to other countries around the world?

Resources

Below is a list of resources to support the Exploring G20 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 G20 presidency in 2014.

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.
  • Gapminder (
    A digital application (including a tutorial about how to use it) showing global trends in data.

More information

For more information, please visit the QCAA website at

Year 6 Exploring G20
Teaching and learning activities / Queensland Curriculum & Assessment Authority
July 2014
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