NCERT Ganita Prakash, Class 8, textbook pages 70–102 (Part 2)

How to teach Class 8 Maths Part 2 Chapter 4, Exploring Some Geometric Themes, at home

Fractals and views of solids, taught with things you already have at home: a 30-minute activity, a game for the week, a 5-day plan and the mistakes to watch for.

NCERT Class 8 Maths Part 2 Chapter 4 Exploring Some Geometric Themes: what it teaches

Your child explores fractals such as the Sierpinski triangle, where a pattern repeats inside itself, and visualises 3D solids: nets, views from different sides and counting faces, edges and vertices (Euler’s formula).

Why it matters later. Visualising solids helps with surface area and volume in Classes 9–10.

See it: this chapter in pictures

stage 0: 1stage 1: 3 stage 2: 9stage 3: 27
Each stage triples.
buildfront view
Look straight on to draw a view.
cube: F 6, V 8, E 126 + 8 − 12 = 2Euler: F + V − E = 2
Works for many solids.

You need

  • paper and scissors
  • small cubes
  • squared and dot paper

Tonight’s 30 minutes

  1. Draw a Sierpinski triangle: remove the middle triangle, repeat three times.
  2. Count shaded triangles at each stage: 1, 3, 9, 27.
  3. Build a solid from cubes and draw its top, front and side views.
  4. Count faces, edges and vertices of a cube and check F + V − E = 2.

Words to use

  • fractal
  • self-similar
  • net
  • view
  • faces
  • edges
  • vertices

Watch for

  • Missing hidden cubes when drawing views. Build it and look along one side at eye level.
  • Counting edges twice. Count around one face at a time and tick them.

What it sounds like at home

A short example of the conversation. Your words will differ; the questions are what matter.

YouCube: faces, vertices, edges?

Your child6, 8, 12. 6 + 8 − 12 = 2.

A game for this week: Build from views

  1. One player draws three views of a cube building.
  2. The other builds it.
  3. Compare.
  4. Swap roles.

A 5-day plan, 30 minutes a day

  1. Day 1Sierpinski triangle.
  2. Day 2Counting pattern.
  3. Day 3Views of cube buildings.
  4. Day 4Euler’s formula.
  5. Day 5Build from views.

Everyday moments to practise

  • Fern leaves and cauliflower (fractals).
  • Building plans.
  • Dice.
  • Packaging nets.

Quick check

Ask these at the end of the week. Tap to see the answer.

Shaded triangles at stage 3 of Sierpinski?

27.

F + V − E for a cube?

6 + 8 − 12 = 2.

How many faces does a triangular prism have?

5.

Ready for the next chapter when your child…

  • Draws simple fractals.
  • Draws views of solids.
  • Uses Euler’s formula.

Activities, wording and illustrations are Mathify Kids’ own, following the topics of NCERT’s Ganita Prakash (Class 8). See the full Class 8 parent guide for every chapter.

Questions parents ask

What is a fractal?

A shape made of smaller copies of itself.

What is Euler’s formula?

For many solids, faces + vertices − edges = 2.

Why study views of solids?

They are used in engineering and design drawings.