Science Dinosaurs & Paleontologyusually ages 9–11

Dinosaur Hip Groups

Classify dinosaurs into the two major groups based on hip structure: Saurischia (lizard-hipped, including theropods and sauropods) and Ornithischia (bird-hipped, including Triceratops and Stegosaurus)

How to tell they’ve got it

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

Name the two major dinosaur groups: Saurischia and Ornithischia
Explain the difference is based on hip bone structure (lizard-hipped vs bird-hipped)
Correctly classify at least two dinosaurs into each group (e.g. T. rex = Saurischia, Triceratops = Ornithischia)

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Try this together

Can your child explain that scientists divide dinosaurs into two big groups based on their hip bones — and tell you which group includes T. rex?

Where this sits on the map

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

Builds on

Famous Dinosaur Speciesages 5–7Must know common species before classifying them into Saurischia and Ornithischia

Plant-Eaters vs Meat-Eatersages 5–7Must understand basic diet classification before advancing to anatomical classification

Dinosaur Hip Groupsthis skill · ages 9–11

Unlocks

Birds Evolved from Dinosaursages 9–11Must understand theropods as a group before learning birds evolved from them

Reading Cladogramsages 9–11Must understand dinosaur classification before creating cladograms showing relationships

solid = must come firstdashed = helps

Curriculum alignment

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

This skill sits outside the F–6 Australian Curriculum — no candidate code matched (v0.1). No NSW K–6 outcome code matched (v0.1). No Victorian Curriculum 2.0 code matched (v0.1).

Nearby on the map

Birds Evolved from Dinosaursages 9–11 Changing Scientific Knowledgeages 9–11 How Palaeontologists Workages 9–11 Palaeoart & Speculationages 9–11

All Dinosaurs & Paleontology skills →