Dinosaurs & Paleontology

Dinosaurs, fossils and how we know about them — 29 skills across 9 years. Every skill below shows what it builds on and how to tell your child has it.

Science29 skillsages 5–14

Grouped by the age children typically start each skill. Ages are typical, not deadlines — follow your child’s pace.

Around age 5

Dinosaur Sizesages 5–7 Dinosaurs Were Realages 5–7 Famous Dinosaur Speciesages 5–7 Fossils & Palaeontologistsages 5–7AC ✓ Plant-Eaters vs Meat-Eatersages 5–7 Real Dinosaurs vs Fictionages 5–7

Around age 7

Dinosaurs Around the Worldages 7–9 Fossilised Dinosaur Dungages 7–9 Fossils Reveal Ancient Environmentsages 7–9 How Fossils Formages 7–9 Mary Anning, Fossil Hunterages 7–9 Reading Dinosaur Trackwaysages 7–9 The Mesozoic Eraages 7–9 Types of Fossilsages 7–9

Around age 8

Fossils as Evidenceages 8–11

Around age 9

Birds Evolved from Dinosaursages 9–11 Changing Scientific Knowledgeages 9–11AC ✓ Dinosaur Hip Groupsages 9–11 How Palaeontologists Workages 9–11AC ✓ Palaeoart & Speculationages 9–11 Reading Cladogramsages 9–11 Rock Layers & Relative Datingages 9–11 The K-Pg Extinction Eventages 9–11

Around age 10

Life Changed Over Timeages 10–11AC ✓

Around age 11

Dinosaur-to-Bird Transitionages 11–13 Radiometric Datingages 11–13

Around age 12

Mass Extinctions in Earth Historyages 12–14 Reconstructing Ancient Ecosystemsages 12–14

Around age 13

Megafauna Extinction & De-Extinctionages 13–14

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