Australia's trade links with Asia

This lesson plan is adapted from Studies of Asia Curriculum Support Document. It derives from curriculum suggestions in that document.

Learning areas
In relation to Studies of Society and Environment - a Curriculum Profile for Australian Schools, this lesson can contribute to the following strands: 'Time, continuity and change', 'Resources', 'Natural and social systems'.

Level
Years 7-8

Outline
Students investigate the goods traded between Australia and the countries of the Asian region. They come to an understanding of the increasing closeness of Australia to its neighbours.

Studies of Asia emphases
Major emphasis: Considering the likely implications of closer Asia-Australia relationships
Other emphases: Developing concepts of Asia, Understanding contributions made by the peoples of Asia to the world.

Curriculum context
This extract would complement other studies of Australia's trading patterns over time.

Duration
Several class sessions plus out of class work.

Materials required

• A range of recent newspaper and magazine articles about events in Asia.
• Blank maps of Asia.
• Statistics for Australia's import and export relationships since the year 1900.

Procedure

What do we know and how do we know it?

1. Arrange for students to work in small groups and brainstorm what they already know about Australia's trade with countries of the Asian region. Ask groups to report to the whole class, record responses on a whiteboard and discuss.
2. Ask students to identify the sources of their information. Discuss the likely reliability of sources suggested.

What comes from Asia?

1. Ask students to draw plans of their houses and identify the goods made in Asia that are found in each room. Provide blank maps of Asia and ask students to devise a way to represent the places of origin of various household goods on their maps.
2. Ask students to make a chart which categorises these household goods (using categories such as: electrical; sporting; food; clothing; footwear; transport) and shows their country of origin. Here is an example of student work.
3. Set students the task of writing a report which deals with the following issues: Any unexpected patterns in the chart, and reasons for same; the level of dependence of the household on Asian goods, as a rating out of ten; conclusions about most common countries of origin of goods, and suggestions about reasons for same.

Australia's trading partners

1. Provide students with information about Australia's import and export relationships since the year 1900.
2. Arrange for students to work in small groups of three or four to discuss changes to trading patterns over time, and to identify trends. Ask groups to report and comment about likely future trading patterns.

Related resources

1. Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade Website:
   http://www.dfat.gov.au/.
2. Australian Bureau of Statistics Website:
   http://www.abs.gov.au/.

(Adapted from Studies of Asia Curriculum Support Document.)