Taxing fat
Access denied
Introduction
In this activity, students learn about measures governments can use to discourage the consumption of sugar-sweetened beverages (SSBs) because of their effect on health. They predict the views of others in relation to taxing SSBs and conduct a survey to test their predictions. Students use data and collate results to decide whether taxes should be imposed on SSBs.
Achievement standard
By the end of Year 8, students explain how markets influence the allocation of resources to the production of goods and services. They explain ways that businesses adapt to opportunities in markets and respond to the work environment. They describe the importance of Australia’s taxation system and its effect on decision-making by individuals and businesses. Students explain why individuals and/or businesses budget and plan.
Students develop a range of questions to investigate an economic and business issue. They locate, select and organise relevant information and data. They interpret information and data to identify economic and business issues and trends, and describe economic cause-and-effect relationships. They develop a response to an economic and business issue. They identify and evaluate potential costs and benefits. Students use economic and business knowledge, concepts, terms and research findings to create descriptions and explanations.
Content descriptions
Economics and Business Knowledge and Understanding
How markets influence decisions about the allocation of resources to the production of goods and services, and the effect of prices on these decisions. (AC9HE8K01)
The importance of Australia’s system of taxation and how this system affects decision-making by individuals and businesses. (AC9HE8K04)
Economics and Business Skills
Develop questions to investigate a contemporary economic and business issue. (AC9HE8S01)
Locate, select and organise information and data from a range of sources. (AC9HE8S02)
Interpret information and data to identify economic and business issues, trends and economic cause-and-effect relationships. (AC9HE8S03)
Create descriptions and explanations, using economic and business knowledge, concepts and terms, and referencing information and data from sources. (AC9HE8S05)
Teacher resources
In order to see the resources you must Register or Login if you already have an account.
Government influences on decisions
Impact of tax on production and consumption
Student learning resources
In order to see the resources you must Register or Login if you already have an account.
Taxing fat
Other resources you might like
Suggested activity sequence
This sequence is intended as a framework to be modified and adapted by teachers to suit the needs of a class group.
Part A: Does taxing fat work?
- Display page 2 of the visualiser: Government influences on decisions to explain how and why the uses taxes to encourage or discourage the consumption of some goods and services.
- Play: Why Australia needs a sugary drinks tax to give students an example of how and why governments might consider imposing a tax on goods that are harmful.
- Display and discuss information on the visualiser: Impact of tax on production and consumption.
- As a class discuss:
o why governments impose higher taxes on goods that are harmful
o what should happen to revenue collected from this tax
o whether there is evidence that imposing a tax will result in decreased consumption
o how businesses respond to these types of taxes.
Part B: Make predictions and calculate
- Students complete questions 1 and 2 of part 1 of the investigation.
- Use a grouping strategy to organise students into groups of 4.
- Groups answer question 3.
- Groups share their decision with the class.
- Record these results on board.
- Students individually answer question 4 using the data on the board.
If necessary, explicitly teach how to calculate the median. Refer to Calculating mean, median and mode – How-to-sheet.
Part C: What do others think?
- As a class, collaboratively develop a simple yes/no style question about taxing sugar-sweetened beverages in Australia.
- Survey the class on their position and record the results on the board under 2 columns – yes and no.
- Students survey 10 members of their family and community (part 2 – question 1).
- Students collate the results of the survey into tables and graphs.
- Students analyse their data, writing short descriptions of what they see.
- Students complete the remaining questions in part 2 of the investigation.
Useful prior learning
Related Activities
Similar activities
The following activity includes similar or the same learning experiences. It focuses on how tax can both encourage and discourage consumer and business decisions and includes a response to stimulus assessment.