Science Animals of the Worldusually ages 9–11

Invasive Species

Understand that invasive species are animals (or plants) that have been introduced to a place where they don't naturally belong — like grey squirrels outcompeting red squirrels in the UK, cane toads poisoning native predators in Australia, or rabbits devastating ecosystems in Australia — and that they can cause serious harm to native wildlife by competing for food, spreading disease, or having no natural predators

How to tell they’ve got it

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

Defines invasive species as non-native animals introduced to a new environment
Names at least 2 examples of invasive species and their impacts
Explains at least 2 reasons invasive species are harmful (no predators, outcompete natives, spread disease)
Understands the difference between a species naturally expanding its range and being introduced by humans

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Try this together

If your child learns that grey squirrels were brought to the UK from America, can they explain why introduced animals can be a problem for the animals that were already living there?

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 5–7Invasive species concept requires knowing animals have specific environments

Structural Adaptationsages 9–11Understanding adaptation explains why invasives succeed and natives fail

Endangered & Extinct Speciesages 9–11Invasive species are one cause of endangerment

Invasive Speciesthis skill · ages 9–11

Unlocks

Grouping Species Using DNAages 13–14Cladistics and phylogenetics depends on invasive species disrupting native ecosystems

Protecting Endangered Animalsages 9–11Managing invasive species is a conservation strategy

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 Endangered & Extinct Speciesages 9–11 Protecting Endangered Animalsages 9–11

All Animals of the World skills →