Government Economy Roles

Unit and Lesson Context

Unit: Economics in Action (Lesson 4 of 5)
Year Level: 6
Duration: 60 minutes
Class Size: 25 students
Subject: Business / Economics and Business
Australian Curriculum Version: 9
Focus: Exploring how government policies influence the economy, specifically taxation and public services

Learning Objectives

Students will be able to:

Describe the role of government in the economy, particularly through taxation and provision of public services (ACHASSK141).
Understand why governments collect taxation and how these funds support community wellbeing and public services (AC9HE8K04).
Investigate the impact of government decisions on individuals and businesses.
Participate in a town meeting role-play debating a new tax proposal, understanding arguments for and against taxation.
Extension: Analyse a real-world case study of government intervention and evaluate its economic impact.

Australian Curriculum Alignment:

Humanities and Social Sciences > Economics and Business > Year 6
Content Description:
"The role of government in the economy, including taxation and public services" (AC9HE8K04, elaborations E1, E4, and E5)
General Capabilities: Critical and Creative Thinking, Personal and Social Capability, Ethical Understanding.

Lesson Overview and Timing

Time	Activity	Description
0-10	Introduction to Government Role	Class discussion: What does government do? Focus on economy, taxation, and services.
10-25	Short Video / Interactive Presentation	Teacher-led presentation on government roles in economy, taxes, and public services using visuals.
25-40	Role-Play Town Meeting Setup	Students allocated roles (lower-level, at-level, extension). Lower-level = guided roles; at-level = debate; extension = case study analysis. Instructions explained.
40-55	Town Meeting Simulation	Students conduct a simulated town meeting debating a proposed new tax. Pros and cons explored through role-play.
55-60	Plenary and Reflection	Whole-class debrief: What did we learn about government’s role? How does taxation affect us? Reflection journaling or exit ticket.

Detailed Lesson Plan

0-10 minutes: Introduction to the Role of Government

Ask students: "What does government do in our community? How might it influence our everyday lives?"
Record ideas on whiteboard focusing on economic aspects: taxes, roads, schools, hospitals.
Explain how governments collect money (taxation) to pay for services that benefit everyone.
Link to Australian Curriculum content code AC9HE8K04_E1 and E5, clarifying purpose of taxes and public services.

10-25 minutes: Interactive Presentation

Use diagrams or slides to explain:
- What is taxation? Examples like income tax, GST.
- What public services are funded? (e.g., healthcare, education, public transport)
- How taxes influence individual and business decisions (AC9HE8K04_E4).
Q&A to check understanding.

25-40 minutes: Preparation for Role-Play Town Meeting

Divide students into three groups:
- Lower-level students: Provided with simple role cards with statements to read (e.g., taxpayer, shop owner, school principal).
- At-level students: Prepare arguments for and against the new tax based on prompts (e.g., economic benefits, impact on families).
- Extension students: Given a short real-world government intervention case study (e.g., the introduction of the sugar tax or a public transport tax) to analyse and present.
Provide scaffolding sheets for lower-level students.
Model expectations for respectful debate.

40-55 minutes: Role-Play Town Meeting Simulation

Conduct the role-play in a ‘town hall’ style arrangement.
At-level students lead debates for/against the new tax proposal, supported by lower-level peers.
Extension students report findings from their case study, compare and contrast real-world government roles.
Teacher facilitates to ensure balanced participation and clarifies points linking to curriculum content.

55-60 minutes: Plenary and Reflection

Whole-class discussion on lessons learned about government’s role in economy.
Ask: "How do taxes affect us? Why do governments need to provide public services?"
Exit ticket/journal prompt: Write one thing you learned about government and one question you still have.
Collect reflections for formative assessment.

Assessment

Formative: Observation during role-play for understanding of government roles and ability to articulate arguments.
Exit ticket/journal: Check comprehension based on reflection prompt.
Extension: Evaluate depth of analysis in case study presentations (extension students).

Resources Needed

Role cards and scaffolding sheets tailored for differentiated student abilities.
Short video or animated presentation (teacher-prepared or sourced internally without hyperlinks).
Whiteboard or smartboard for brainstorming.
Case study handouts for extension students.
Reflection journals or paper for exit ticket.

Teacher Notes

Ensure balanced participation in role-play, encourage listening and respect.
Use accessible language for lower-level students while challenging at-level and extension groups appropriately.
Connect taxation to students' everyday experiences (e.g., GST on shops, council rates).
Highlight the link between government policy decisions and community wellbeing.
This lesson prepares students for the final lesson in the unit, which could explore decision-making or economic consequences.

Curriculum References

AC9HE8K04: Understand the importance of Australia's system of taxation and how this affects decision-making by individuals and businesses, and government provision of services including health and education.
ACHASSK141: The economic role of government in Australia.
Elaborations include discussing reasons governments collect revenue, types of taxes, how taxation influences decisions, and services provided to the community.

This lesson plan combines interactive learning, collaboration, and critical thinking tailored for Year 6 students under the Australian Curriculum version 9, focusing on the role of government in the economy through taxation and public services.

Teaching Instructions