NOAA Sea to Sky: Education resource database

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Welcome to our searchable database of education resources created by NOAA and our partners. If you have issues or feedback, please let us know by filling out our feedback form offsite link or sending us an email at education@noaa.gov.

Tips for using the database

Searching for terms that contain more than one word.

Use quotation marks around multiple-word phrases you want to search. For example, searching “climate change” will return resources about “climate change.” If you don’t include quotation marks, it will return resources that include either the word “climate” or “change.” 

Opening resources in a new tab.

 Follow the instructions below for the device you are using.

  • PC: Hold down the control (ctrl) key while clicking the link. Or, right-click the link and select “open in new tab.”
  • Mac: Hold down the command key while clicking the link.
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Expanding categories.

Each category has a plus sign (+) to expand the available filters within the category. Some categories have subcategories. Look for the plus sign (+) to see more filterable items.

Making the most of the filterable categories.

There are several categories you can use to filter through the resources. 

  • “Audience” filters by grade level, including postsecondary education, and also has a filter option for adult learners.
  • “Subject” filters by the general subject area, such as Arts, Earth science, Math, and more.
  • “Resource Type” filters allow you to look for resources ranging from activities, lessons, and units to videos or background information.
  • “Topic” filters are more specific than subject. They include filters such as climate, freshwater, and weather and atmosphere.
  • “NGSS DCI” filters by Next Generation Science Standards Disciplinary Core Ideas. Only activities, lessons, and units (and no other resource types) have NGSS DCI associated with them. Not all activities, lessons, and units have this alignment.
  • “Special categories” offers additional filters for specific types of resources and topics, such as printables, resources available in other languages, and safety/preparedness.

Exploring activities, lessons, and units.

Activities, lessons, and units are bundled together under resource type. You can expand to filter for only one type. Activity/demonstration refers to straightforward activities with little or no classroom strategy or pedagogy. Lesson refers to structured activities that are intended for a classroom audience. Module/unit refers to a collection of lessons that can build upon each other over multiple class periods or times of instruction; some people might call this a curriculum. 

Understanding instructional strategies.

Within special categories, there is an expandable filter called “instructional strategies.” This includes special filters that are applicable for some lessons, activities, and units, including things like “outdoor education” and “uses data.”

 

Audience

Grade 6-8
Grade 9-12
College+

Subject

Earth science
ELA (English Language Arts)
Life science
Social studies

Resource type

Career profile
Collection

Topic

Climate
Marine life
Coral reef ecosystems
Conservation
Ecosystems
Endangered species
Ocean and coasts
Ocean chemistry

What does it mean to be a woman in an ocean science career? What different career paths are available, and how does one get there? Perhaps you’ve thought about becoming a marine biologist, or you have an interest in marine policy, but aren’t sure which steps to take towards such a career. Maybe you’re passionate about ocean science and conservation, and want to use your communication skills to influence others. Hear from some of the inspiring women working throughout the National Marine Sanctuary System.

Audience

Grade K-2
Grade 3-5
Grade 6-8
Grade 9-12

Subject

Earth science
ELA (English Language Arts)
Engineering and technology
Life science
Physical science
Social studies

Resource type

Activities, lessons, and units
Activity/demonstration
Collection
Multimedia
Video

Topic

Freshwater
Watersheds, flooding, and pollution
Marine life
Aquatic food webs
Conservation
Ecosystems

Special categories

Grantee resource
Instructional strategies
Education at home
Hands-on
Informal
Models
Other languages
Spanish

Collection name

At Home with Galveston Bay
B-WET grantee

“At Home With The Bay” is a virtual series of engaging environmental education lessons taught by Galveston Bay Foundation staff. Lessons include a lab, conservation craft, talk with a Bay biologist and an activity of the week. Each lesson comes with an accompanying activity guide available for download on the website.

Audience

Grade 3-5
Grade K-2

Subject

ELA (English Language Arts)
Life science

Resource type

Coloring/activity book

Topic

Marine life
Ecosystems
Life in an estuary

Special categories

Printable

This activity book includes puzzles and coloring pages and information about the Chesapeake Bay watershed.

Audience

Adults
College+
Grade 9-12
Grade 6-8
Grade 3-5
Grade K-2

Subject

Arts
Social studies
ELA (English Language Arts)
Math
Engineering and technology
Earth science
Life science
Physical science

Resource type

Coloring/activity book
Collection
Activity/demonstration
Activities, lessons, and units

Topic

Marine life
Weather and atmosphere
Ocean and coasts
Clouds
Earth processes
Fish
Ecosystems
Fisheries and seafood
Coral reef ecosystems
Weather systems and patterns
Weather observations
Tornadoes
Hurricanes
El Niño and La Niña
Tsunamis
Tides
Oil spills
Ocean pollution and marine debris
Ocean floor features
Ocean currents

Special categories

Informal
Inquiry
Project-based
Safety/preparedness
Outdoor education
Education at home
Models
Hands-on
Instructional strategies

An activity book for educators and students

Audience

Grade 9-12
Grade 6-8
Grade 3-5
Grade K-2

Subject

Arts
Social studies
ELA (English Language Arts)
Math
Engineering and technology
Earth science
Life science
Physical science

Resource type

Animation
Background information
Collection
Activity/demonstration
Lesson plan
Activities, lessons, and units
Multimedia

Topic

Marine life
Climate
Ocean and coasts
Ecosystems
Freshwater
Life in an estuary
Aquatic food webs
Climate data monitoring
Climate change impacts
Ocean pollution and marine debris
Ocean acidification

Special categories

Informal
Project-based
Outdoor education
Education at home
Models
Hands-on
Uses data
Instructional strategies

Collection name

Estuary Education website

Why teach about estuaries? This suite of estuary education resources help educators bring estuarine science into the classroom through hands-on learning, experiments, fieldwork, and data explorations. These specially designed lessons, activities, data explorations, animations and videos can be used independently or as a supplement to existing curricula and can be adapted to meet any grade level.

Audience

Grade 6-8

Subject

ELA (English Language Arts)
Life science
Social studies

Resource type

Activities, lessons, and units
Lesson plan

Topic

Marine life
Aquatic food webs
Conservation
Ecosystems
Marine mammals

NGSS DCI

LS2: Ecosystems: Interactions, Energy, and Dynamics

Collection name

Sanctuaries 360 virtual dives

Students will explore the ecology of one of three different species in Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary (HIHWNMS). They will also explore conservation measures in place for their species protection. Students will produce a trifold brochure meant to teach visitors of the sanctuary about the ecology of their assigned species and its important to Native Hawaiian culture.

Audience

Adults
College+
Grade 9-12
Grade 6-8
Grade 3-5

Subject

ELA (English Language Arts)
Humanities/liberal arts
Engineering and technology
Earth science
Life science
Physical science

Resource type

Related story
Career profile
Images
Multimedia

Topic

Technology and engineering
Freshwater
Marine life
Climate
Salmon
Fish
Ecosystems
Rivers
Watersheds, flooding, and pollution
Life in an estuary
Climate data monitoring
Climate change impacts
Carbon cycle

Special categories

Outdoor education
Hands-on
Instructional strategies

To celebrate National Estuaries Week, September 15-22, 2018, we featured the stories of NOAA Hollings Undergraduate Scholars who got their feet wet interning at five different National Estuarine Research Reserves around the United States in summer 2018.

Audience

Grade 9-12
Grade 6-8

Subject

Arts
Social studies
ELA (English Language Arts)
Math
Engineering and technology
Earth science
Life science
Physical science

Resource type

Module/unit
Collection
Activity/demonstration
Lesson plan
Activities, lessons, and units

Topic

Technology and engineering
Marine life
Climate
Ocean and coasts
Buoys
Satellites
ROVs, AUVs, and drones
Ecosystems
Sea level rise
Climate data monitoring
Climate change impacts
Ocean pollution and marine debris
Ocean floor features
Ocean currents
Ocean acidification

Special categories

Informal
Models
Hands-on
Instructional strategies

Collection name

NOAA Ship Okeanos Explorer: Education materials collection

The Okeanos Explorer education materials collection was developed to encourage educators and students to become personally involved with the voyages and discoveries of the Okeanos Explorer – the only federal vessel dedicated to exploring our largely unknown ocean for the purpose of discovery and the advancement of knowledge about the deep ocean.

Audience

Grade 6-8

Subject

Arts
Earth science
ELA (English Language Arts)
Engineering and technology
Life science
Math
Physical science
Social studies

Resource type

Activities, lessons, and units
Lesson plan
Module/unit
Collection

Topic

Marine life
Coral reef ecosystems
Ecosystems
Marine mammals

NGSS DCI

ESS3: Earth and Human Activity
LS2: Ecosystems: Interactions, Energy, and Dynamics
PS3: Energy

Special categories

Instructional strategies
Education at home
Hands-on
Informal
Models
Project-based
Virtual reality/VR

Collection name

Sanctuaries 360 virtual dives

NOAA’s Office of National Marine Sanctuaries has launched Sanctuaries 360°—a collection of immersive underwater experiences to bring these exceptional underwater treasures to viewers all over the world. These underwater parks are destinations for many who want to visit the ocean and experience immense beauty, biodiversity and have the chance to encounter marine life. For many, reaching and experiencing these special ocean areas—like a diver—can be a challenge. This collection includes seven lessons and accompanying 360° videos which can be implemented in classrooms.

Audience

Grade 3-5

Subject

ELA (English Language Arts)
Life science

Resource type

Activities, lessons, and units
Lesson plan

Topic

Marine life
Ecosystems

NGSS DCI

LS2: Ecosystems: Interactions, Energy, and Dynamics

Special categories

Instructional strategies
Hands-on

Collection name

Teacher at Sea

Students will learn the important role sargassum plays in supporting marine life. Through hands-on exploration, students will participate in a simulated research survey of surface dwelling marine organisms that rely on sargassum as a habitat. Using the Super Lotus model, students will research one marine species that relies on sargassum as a habitat and write a 1-2 page informational article.