Science Animals of the Worldusually ages 9–11

Biodiversity

Understand that biodiversity — the variety of different species in an ecosystem — is essential for healthy ecosystems, and that keystone species (like wolves in Yellowstone, sea otters in kelp forests, or bees as pollinators) have an outsized impact on their ecosystem, so that losing one key species can cause a cascade of changes affecting many others

How to tell they’ve got it

Tick these off as you see them — no test required.

Defines biodiversity as the variety of species in an ecosystem
Explains why biodiversity matters (stability, resilience, ecosystem services)
Defines keystone species and gives at least 2 examples
Describes a trophic cascade or chain reaction from removing/adding a species

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Try this together

If your child learns about how wolves were brought back to Yellowstone and the whole ecosystem changed, can they explain what a 'keystone species' is and why having many different species in an area matters?

Where this sits on the map

Stuck here? Check the skills it builds on first. Confident? Here’s what it unlocks.

Builds on

The World of Minibeastsages 7–9Insects as pollinators/decomposers are key to understanding ecosystem services

Structural Adaptationsages 9–11Biodiversity requires understanding adaptation as basis for species diversity

Predator Hunting Strategiesages 7–9Predator-prey relationships are key component of ecosystem balance

Endangered & Extinct Speciesages 9–11Biodiversity loss connects to species endangerment

Symbiosisages 9–11Symbiosis is an important aspect of biodiversity and ecosystem health

Biodiversitythis skill · ages 9–11

Unlocks

The Biodiversity Crisisages 12–14Extinction cascades depends on biodiversity and keystone species

Protecting Endangered Animalsages 9–11Conservation aims to protect biodiversity

Matter Cycling in Ecosystemsages 10–11Biodiversity/ecosystems enriched by curriculum matter movement in ecosystems

solid = must come firstdashed = helps

Curriculum alignment

Candidate matches to official curriculum codes — machine-suggested, unreviewed (v0.1).

Show candidate curriculum codes · 2 ACARA · 2 VIC

Australian Curriculum v9 candidate

AC9S5U01low confidenceYear 5 · Science understanding

examine how particular structural features and behaviours of living things enable their survival in specific habitats

AC9S6U01low confidenceYear 6 · Science understanding

investigate the physical conditions of a habitat and analyse how the growth and survival of living things is affected by changing physical conditions

Victorian Curriculum 2.0 codes & levels only

VC2S6U01low confidenceScience · Levels 5 and 6 · Science Understanding strand

VC2S4U03low confidenceScience · Levels 3 and 4 · Science Understanding strand

These are candidate alignments generated by semantic matching — machine-suggested and unreviewed (v0.1), not official or verified mappings. For official curriculum content see australiancurriculum.edu.au, curriculum.nsw.edu.au and f10.vcaa.vic.edu.au. Don’t rely on them for registration or compliance purposes.

Nearby on the map

Animal Intelligenceages 9–11 Endangered & Extinct Speciesages 9–11 Invasive Speciesages 9–11 Protecting Endangered Animalsages 9–11

All Animals of the World skills →