Science Animals of the Worldusually ages 9–11

Endangered & Extinct Species

Understand why some animal species become endangered or go extinct — habitat destruction, hunting/poaching, pollution, climate change, and invasive species — and know examples like the giant panda, mountain gorilla, Amur leopard, and the now-extinct dodo and thylacine, using the IUCN Red List as the system scientists use to track threatened species

How to tell they’ve got it

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

Defines endangered as a species at risk of extinction
Names at least 3 causes of species becoming endangered
Gives at least 3 examples of endangered or extinct animals
Knows the IUCN Red List exists as a tracking system

🖨 Print this page to keep the checklist — it prints beautifully.

Try this together

If your child sees a news story about an endangered animal, can they explain what 'endangered' means and describe at least three reasons why some animals are at risk of disappearing forever?

Where this sits on the map

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

Builds on

Animals Everywhereages 5–7Endangered species requires understanding that animals live in diverse environments

Structural Adaptationsages 9–11Understanding adaptation helps explain why environmental change threatens species

Rainforest Animalsages 7–9Rainforest destruction is a major cause of endangerment

Changing Environmentsages 8–9Endangered species concept builds on curriculum idea that environments can change

Climate Change Basicsages 9–11Climate change is a major cause of species endangerment

Endangered & Extinct Speciesthis skill · ages 9–11

Unlocks

Protecting Endangered Animalsages 9–11Conservation requires understanding why species become endangered

The Biodiversity Crisisages 12–14Quantifying biodiversity crisis and extinction rates depends on endangered species and IUCN Red List

Biodiversityages 9–11Biodiversity loss connects to species endangerment

Invasive Speciesages 9–11Invasive species are one cause of endangerment

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

Animal Intelligenceages 9–11 Biodiversityages 9–11 Invasive Speciesages 9–11 Protecting Endangered Animalsages 9–11

All Animals of the World skills →