Science Dinosaurs & Paleontologyusually ages 9–11

Reading Cladograms

Read and create simple cladograms (branching diagrams) that show how groups of dinosaurs are related based on shared features, understanding that species sharing more features are more closely related

How to tell they’ve got it

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

Explain that a cladogram shows evolutionary relationships based on shared features
Read a simple cladogram to identify which two dinosaurs share the most recent common ancestor
Add a new species to a partially completed cladogram based on its listed features

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Try this together

If your child saw a branching tree diagram showing dinosaur relationships, could they explain which dinosaurs are most closely related by looking at where the branches split?

Where this sits on the map

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

Builds on

Dinosaur Hip Groupsages 9–11Must understand dinosaur classification before creating cladograms showing relationships

Using evidence to answer questionsages 7–9Identifying differences/similarities (curriculum inquiry skill) supports reading cladograms based on shared features

Reading Cladogramsthis skill · ages 9–11

Unlocks

Reconstructing Ancient Ecosystemsages 12–14Phylogenetic and cladistic analysis depends on understanding geological time and stratigraphy

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 Dinosaur Hip Groupsages 9–11 How Palaeontologists Workages 9–11

All Dinosaurs & Paleontology skills →