Year 8 HASS – Term 2 (WA Curriculum): Landscapes, Hazards and Human Movement

What this unit covers

In Term 2, Year 8 HASS in the WA Curriculum centres on the unit “Landscapes, Hazards and Human Movement”.

Students explore the cultural significance of landscapes, investigate geomorphic hazards and their impacts, and examine patterns of human migration and urbanisation in Australia and Asia.

Lesson sequence (30 lessons)

The unit breaks down into the following lesson-by-lesson sequence — each title below is a teachable lesson, in order:

1. Exploring the spiritual significance of Purnululu for Aboriginal peoples
2. Investigating Whadjuk Noongar connections to Derbarl Yerrigan
3. Analysing the aesthetic value of Cape le Grand National Park
4. Comparing cultural landscape values across different groups
5. Understanding what geomorphic hazards are and where they occur
6. Mapping global patterns of volcanic eruptions
7. Investigating earthquake distribution around the Pacific Ring of Fire
8. Examining tsunami formation and coastal impacts
9. Analysing how location affects vulnerability to geomorphic hazards
10. Investigating how wealth influences hazard preparedness
11. Examining cultural factors in hazard response strategies
12. Comparing hazard impacts between developed and developing countries
13. Understanding urbanisation trends in Australia
14. Investigating causes of urban growth in Asian cities
15. Analysing economic opportunities in Australian cities
16. Examining environmental challenges of rapid urbanisation
17. Investigating housing affordability and urban sprawl issues
18. Comparing urbanisation consequences between Australia and Asia
19. Understanding patterns of internal migration in Australia
20. Investigating seasonal migration in agricultural regions
21. Analysing rural-to-urban migration trends and causes
22. Examining the mining boom's impact on population movement
23. Understanding push and pull factors in international migration
24. Investigating refugee movements to Australia
25. Analysing skilled migration patterns and policies
26. Examining cultural exchange through international migration
27. Collecting and recording geographical data using appropriate methods
28. Distinguishing between primary and secondary geographical sources
29. Interpreting population and migration data from graphs and maps
30. Presenting geographical findings using digital tools and formats

Curriculum codes in this unit

Content codes:

Skills codes:

Reading the codes: WA codes (the ones starting with WA) pack the year level, learning area, strand and content number into one string, while the national Australian Curriculum v9 uses a different anatomy that starts with AC9 — same content family, different labels. Our complete WA Curriculum guide decodes both, character by character.

Planning notes for Term 2

WA terms run roughly 9–11 weeks, and in 2026 Term 2 runs from Monday 20 April to Friday 3 July — 11 weeks for WA public schools. With 30 lessons in this unit, that leaves breathing room for assessment, moderation and the weeks that disappear to carnivals, camps and public holidays — plan the assessable work to land two to three weeks before the end of term rather than in the final week.