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 (www.qcaa.qld.edu.au/6-7-teaching-learning.html), which contains
introductory information and activities
 Exploring G20 (www.qcaa.qld.edu.au/6-7-teaching-learning.html), which contains teaching
and learning linked to curriculum areas
 Literacy and Numeracy G20 (www.qcaa.qld.edu.au/6-7-teaching-learning.html), which
provides opportunities to embed literacy and numeracy learning related to G20.
Exploring G20
The Exploring G20 Teaching 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 (www.qcaa.qld.edu.au/6-7-teaching-learning.html)
 P–7 Exploring G20 Teaching and learning overview (www.qcaa.qld.edu.au/6-7-teachinglearning.html).
Overview
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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)
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)
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)
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 and cross-curriculum priorities in the classroom
are identified using the following icons related to each content description.
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander histories and cultures
ICT capability
Critical and creative thinking
Asia and Australia’s engagement with Asia
Sustainability
Intercultural understanding
Literacy
Numeracy
Ethical behaviour
Personal 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
Year 6 Exploring G20
Teaching and learning activities
Queensland Curriculum & Assessment Authority
July 2014
Page 2 of 5
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 sequences to 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) (http://g20.qcaa.qld.edu.au), 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 chosen country. Use
information on the Interactive G20 map (Intermediate) (http://g20.qcaa.qld.edu.au) 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.
Year 6 Exploring G20
Teaching and learning activities
Queensland Curriculum & Assessment Authority
July 2014
Page 3 of 5
Activity 3
Using a digital application such as Gapminder (www.gapminder.org), examine and compare
changes in economic, demographic and social characteristics of a G20 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 (www.gapminder.org), 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 capita and 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 (www.qcaa.qld.edu.au/virtual-field-trips.html), 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 the What is the G20? (Dr Matthew Burke) video
(www.qcaa.qld.edu.au/expert-videos.html) for information.)
 What significant issue/s or objectives will the leaders focus on when meeting in Brisbane
(visit the 2014 G20 website (www.g20.org) 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?
Year 6 Exploring G20
Teaching and learning activities
Queensland Curriculum & Assessment Authority
July 2014
Page 4 of 5
Resources
Below is a list of resources to support the Exploring G20 Teaching and learning activities.
G20 Resources and links
 Interactive G20 map (http://g20.qcaa.qld.edu.au)
An interactive world map providing information (including resources) for teachers and students
about the G20 countries.
 Primary G20 virtual field trip (www.qcaa.qld.edu.au/virtual-field-trips.html)
An interactive field trip of the Brisbane G20 precinct.
 What is the G20? (Dr Matthew Burke) video (www.qcaa.qld.edu.au/expert-videos.html)
A short video of G20 expert Dr Matthew Burke introducing the G20 summit.
 G20 website (www.g20.org)
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 (www.google.com/earth)
A spatial online tool, which provides up-to-date maps, imagery, and other spatial data.
 Queensland Globe (www.dnrm.qld.gov.au/mapping-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 (www.gapminder.org)
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 www.qcaa.qld.edu.au.
Year 6 Exploring G20
Teaching and learning activities
Queensland Curriculum & Assessment Authority
July 2014
Page 5 of 5