TESEP Professional Development Workshops - Katherine HS

Katherine HS is hosting TESEP Professional Development Workshops on Monday 15 September 2025 from 1.15pm to 4.40pm on the TESEP rock and critical minerals kits with integrated resources, Seismology & Earthquakes of Your Region and Life, Fossils and the 5 Big Extinctions.

Rock and Critical Minerals Kits

Introduction to the Rock and Critical Minerals Kits and the plate tectonics poster and integrated teaching (rock, mineral and big picture plate tectonics stories). This PD will include hands-on exercises and focus on Year 8.

Seismology & Earthquakes of Your Region

The Australian Seismometers in Schools Program started in ~2011 and now has installed over 50 research-grade seismometers across Australia. Seismometers measure seismic activity across the planet and help geoscientists determine the location, magnitude and depth of earthquakes, predict where earthquakes may occur, and map the internal structure of the Earth from tectonic plate boundaries to the core. This PD workshop uses actual Australian plate seismometer recordings from the Australian Seismometers in Schools Program, and the faults and geology of earthquake-prevalent regions are used as the basis for a refresher on earthquakes and the use of these regionally-located seismometers. Hands-on exercises demonstrate how to observe, interpret and measure data from seismometers in schools across the country, using actual earthquake recordings from the interaction of the Indo-Australian Plate with neighbouring plates in Asia, as well as with the Pacific Plate in places like New Zealand and Tonga. Local and regional geology including faults, mountain-ranges, old subduction zones and volcanic chains are used to illustrate why different parts of Australia and the planet are susceptible to earthquakes – with local examples to the host school. Relevant to Years 7 to 12, particularly Year 8 Geography and Earth and Space Sciences.

Life, Fossils and the 5 Big Extinctions

This PD will look at the 5 big mass extinctions through geological time and what might have caused them-using fossils. We will look at the evolutionary niches that were created by some of these extinctions, including the rise of hominids. Episodes include: Introduction to Fossils, Evolution and Extinctions; Fossils and Astrobiology; Fossils and Plate Tectonics; Hominid Evolution; Economic Fossils; and Micro-fossils. Biology crossover. Years 5-6 and Years 7-12.

Cost:

• attendee from Host School – $35 plus GST and booking fees.

• attendee from another School / Institution – $50 plus GST and booking fees.

There are two payment methods:

• Preferred payment by credit card on registration.

• Other payment options via invoice by direct deposit (bank transfer), or via invoice by credit card (please contact us at eo@tesep.org.au if you would prefer the latter – note it carries a handling fee).

To register for this event:

• click on the 'Register' button and follow the prompts

• or scan the QR code below and follow the prompts

• or go to https://collections.humanitix.com/tesep-pd-event, find this event and follow the prompts.

The school contact for this event is Lauren Chapman. Please go to the admin office to sign in and for directions to the meeting room.

By registering you accept TESEP's cancellation and refund policy (cancellations and refunds are available up to 2 days prior to the event, or a ticket may be transferred to a substitute teacher / colleague for this event, no refunds within 2 days prior to the event) and our Privacy Policy.

See our website for more details about TESEP www.tesep.org.au