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
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Teaching Table
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“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?”
Full guide and materials
- Activity. 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
What to notice. 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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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?
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
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Check understanding
- 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
“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?”
Curriculum record
- Type
- Conceptual
- Subject
- Science
- Domain
- Animals of the World
- Age range
- Ages 9–11