Year 8 English – Term 2 (WA Curriculum): Voices and Perspectives in Literature

What this unit covers

In Term 2, Year 8 English in the WA Curriculum centres on the unit “Voices and Perspectives in Literature”.

Students explore diverse literary texts from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander, Australian and world authors to understand how language features, cultural contexts and intertextual connections shape meaning and reader response.

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. Introducing Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Literature: Voices of Country
2. Exploring Cultural Context in Indigenous Short Stories
3. Analysing Language Features in Traditional Dreamtime Stories
4. Understanding Social Contexts in Contemporary Indigenous Writing
5. Examining Historical Perspectives in Aboriginal Poetry
6. Investigating Migrant Australian Authors and Their Cultural Values
7. Comparing Cultural Representations Across Different Australian Writers
8. Analysing Sentence Patterns and Tone in Multicultural Literature
9. Exploring Language Choices in Stories About Identity and Belonging
10. Understanding How Authors Position Readers Through Cultural Perspectives
11. Examining Visual and Audio Features in Indigenous Films
12. Analysing How Film Techniques Create Meaning and Response
13. Investigating Music and Lighting in Australian Cinema
14. Understanding Camera Work and Sound in Cultural Storytelling
15. Exploring How Documentary Features Position Viewers
16. Identifying Allusions in Contemporary Poetry
17. Tracing Mythological References in Modern Literature
18. Exploring Biblical and Historical Allusions in Short Stories
19. Understanding How Intertextual References Enhance Meaning
20. Analysing Cross-Cultural References in World Literature
21. Examining Imagery and Sensory Language in Nature Poetry
22. Analysing Metaphor and Symbolism in Cultural Narratives
23. Understanding How Literary Devices Create Emotional Response
24. Exploring Rhythm and Sound Devices in Spoken Word Poetry
25. Investigating Character Development Through Language Choices
26. Creating Original Short Stories with Cultural Themes
27. Writing Poetry Using Traditional and Contemporary Forms
28. Developing Scripts That Explore Cultural Identity
29. Editing and Refining Literary Texts for Specific Effects
30. Reflecting on Personal Growth as Literature Creators and Critics

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.