Understanding the characteristics and classification of rocks and minerals is vital to teaching Earth and Environmental Sciences. In this webinar we ask: What makes a good mineral and rock for use in classroom teaching? What doesn't? What minerals and rocks shouldn't be in the classroom at all?

Webinar covers the new Version 9.0 Australian Curriculum (Earth and Space Sciences), namely, AC9S8U04, AC9S8H01 (Year 8).

Plate tectonics explains the landforms we are familiar with on Earth today – as well as those from the past. The Plate Tectonics webinar series will examine the development of the plate tectonic theory, the mechanism for plate movement, and the effect of plate tectonics including where and how different rocks and natural resources form, and hazards like volcanoes and earthquakes. This workshop is highly relevant to the Year 8 science curriculum and includes suggested activities for the classroom.

The content covers the new Version 9.0 Australian Curriculum (Earth and Space Sciences), namely, AC9S8U03, AC9S8H01, AC9S8I01 (Year 8).

What are critical minerals? This webinar series will explore critical minerals, how they are defined and mined, where there are used in industry and in our high tech lives. We will unpick some of the jargon, examine how many more minerals are used today in the past, and discuss the future of traditional minerals. We will also look at the number and volume of critical minerals required to enable the current energy transition, as well as how these minerals are sourced, recycled and processed. Critical minerals in Australia, the geopolitical risks to our supply chain, advances and challenges in recycling minerals, and current projects will also be discussed.

Webinar covers the new Version 9.0 Australian Curriculum (Earth and Space Sciences), namely, AC9S8U04, AC9S8H03, AC9S9H04 and AC9S10H02.

Energy has a transformational impact on the quality of human life. It impacts every facet of what we do and how we live making energy one of the most important issues of our time. We require nothing short of a complete transformation of how we produce, transport and consume energy. However, energy, the environment and the economy are intimately linked and the four pillars of energy security (i.e., affordability, availability, reliability and sustainability) must be maintained.

Covers the new Version 9.0 Australian Curriculum (Earth and Space Sciences), namely, AC9S9U03, AC9S9H03, AC9S9H04 (Year 9), AC9S10U04, AC9S10H02, AC9S10I08 (Year 10).

What is climate and how has it changed through time? What role do the atmosphere, the oceans and greenhouse gases play? What tectonic processes change the Earth's climate? Can life radically change the Earth's atmosphere and freeze the globe? Could the Earth's orbit around the sun and solar rays play havoc with our climate, or could there be galactic processes that may change our atmosphere?

Covers the new Version 9.0 Australian Curriculum (Earth and Space Sciences), namely, AC9S7U03, AC9S7101 (Year 7); AC9S8U03, AC9S8U05, AC98U106 (Year 8); AC9S9U03, AC9S9U06 (Year 9); AC9S10U04, AC9S10I01, AC9S10I08 (Year 10).

Our Place in Space discusses the evolution of Earth, Solar System and Milky Way. This webinar will investigate the Solar System's journey through our galaxy, meteorites, the formation of the moon, the impacts of the Earth’s rotation and tilted axis. Our Place in Space is also ideal for teaching physics (i.e., Earth gravity as an attractive force, Newton's laws of motion).

Covers the 2002 Version 9.0 Australian Curriculum (Earth and Space Sciences), namely, AC9S6U02 (Year 6); AC9S7U03 (Year 7); AC9S10U03 (Year 10); and (Physical Sciences), AC9S7U04 (Year 7), AC9S10U05 (Year 10).