Year 8 homeschool curriculum

In Year 8, learners strengthen their algebra by working with index notation, expanding and factorising expressions, and solving linear equations. They calculate the circumference and area of circles, reason about congruent shapes, and think carefully about how data is collected. Probability work extends to Venn diagrams and two-way tables.

• Index lawsFull lesson
• Percentages, rates and ratiosOutline
• Expanding and factorising expressionsOutline
• Solving linear equationsFull lesson
• Circles: circumference and areaFull lesson
• Congruence and quadrilateralsOutline
• Samples, populations and data collectionOutline
• Venn diagrams and two-way tablesOutline

In Year 8, learners deepen their understanding of how grammar and word choice shape meaning. They build more sophisticated sentences with clauses, analyse how authors construct characters, and examine how persuasive texts position audiences through tone and technique. Writing becomes more controlled and purposeful across narrative, analytical and persuasive forms.

• Clauses and complex sentencesFull lesson
• CharacterisationFull lesson
• Tone and audience in persuasive textsFull lesson
• Modality and word choiceOutline
• Poetry: rhythm, rhyme and structureOutline
• Crafting short narrativesOutline
• Visual texts and advertisingOutline

In Year 8, students learn that cells are the basic units of living things and that cells form tissues, organs and body systems. They use the particle model to explain states of matter, distinguish elements, compounds and mixtures, and tell physical changes from chemical changes. They explore the rock cycle and investigate how energy is transferred and transformed.

• Cells: the building blocks of lifeOutline
• Body systems working togetherOutline
• The particle model of matterFull lesson
• Elements, compounds and mixturesOutline
• Physical and chemical changeFull lesson
• The rock cycleOutline
• Energy transfers and transformationsOutline

In Year 8, learners study the period from roughly 650 to 1750 CE, as the ancient world gave way to the medieval and early modern worlds. They examine medieval European society, the Black Death, the Renaissance, and societies such as the Ottoman Empire, Japan under the shoguns and the Americas at the time of Spanish conquest, while developing skills in cause and effect and in using sources.

• Medieval European societyFull lesson
• The Black DeathFull lesson
• The RenaissanceOutline
• The Ottoman EmpireOutline
• Japan under the shogunsOutline
• The Spanish conquest of the AmericasOutline

In Year 8, learners study landforms and landscapes and changing nations. They investigate the processes that shape landforms, the cultural significance of landscapes, including to First Nations Australians, and geomorphic hazards. They also examine urbanisation and migration in Australia and another country, and develop skills with topographic maps and data.

• How landforms are madeFull lesson
• Urbanisation in Australia and the worldFull lesson
• Geomorphic hazardsOutline
• Landscapes of cultural significanceOutline
• Reading topographic mapsOutline