Year 8 Mathematics – Term 2 (WA Curriculum): Measurement and Geometry - Quadrilaterals, Circles, Triangles and 3D Shapes

What this unit covers

In Term 2, Year 8 Mathematics in the WA Curriculum centres on the unit “Measurement and Geometry - Quadrilaterals, Circles, Triangles and 3D Shapes”.

Students explore properties and formulas for quadrilaterals, circles, right-angled triangles, transformations, 3D shapes, volume, capacity and time zones through hands-on investigation and problem-solving.

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. Investigating Properties of Parallelograms and Their Perimeters
2. Developing Area Formulas for Parallelograms Using Base and Height
3. Exploring Trapezium Properties and Perimeter Calculations
4. Deriving the Area Formula for Trapeziums
5. Investigating Rhombus Properties and the Formula P = 4l
6. Calculating Areas of Rhombuses Using Diagonal Measurements
7. Exploring Kite Properties and Perimeter Relationships
8. Finding Areas of Kites Using Diagonal Methods
9. Measuring Circles to Discover the Relationship Between Diameter and Circumference
10. Using String and Rulers to Investigate Pi as the Ratio of Circumference to Diameter
11. Creating Graphs to Show the Linear Relationship Between Diameter and Circumference
12. Applying Circle Formulas to Calculate Circumference and Area
13. Exploring Right-Angled Triangles Using Grid Paper
14. Investigating the Relationship Between Squares on Triangle Sides
15. Discovering Pythagoras' Theorem Through Area Exploration
16. Applying Pythagoras' Theorem to Find Unknown Side Lengths
17. Classifying Quadrilaterals Based on Sides, Angles and Diagonals
18. Using Properties to Find Unknown Angles in Quadrilaterals
19. Solving for Unknown Sides in Quadrilaterals Using Geometric Reasoning
20. Exploring Congruent Figures Through Transformations
21. Identifying Corresponding Sides and Angles in Congruent Shapes
22. Using Transformation Notation to Describe Congruent Triangles
23. Cutting Cross-Sections of 3D Objects to Visualise Internal Shapes
24. Identifying Prisms Through Their Cross-Sectional Properties
25. Calculating Volume Using Base Area and Height for Right Prisms
26. Applying Volume Formulas to Solve Real-World Capacity Problems
27. Converting Between Units of Volume and Capacity
28. Exploring Connections Between Cubic Units and Their Scale Relationships
29. Calculating Time Differences Across International Time Zones
30. Solving Design Problems by Modifying 3D Shape Dimensions

Curriculum codes in this unit

Content 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.