NOAA Sea to Sky: Education resource database

⚠️ This page recently underwent an update. If you had bookmarked direct links to search results from this page prior to March 18, 2024, those links may no longer work and you may need to make a new bookmark. If you have any questions or concerns, please reach out to us at education@noaa.gov.

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.
  • iPhone or iPad: Press and hold the link. Select “open in new tab” from the pop-up menu.
  • Android device: Press and hold the link. Select “open in new tab” from the pop-up menu

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.”

 

No results match your search.

Audience

Adults
College+
Grade 9-12

Subject

Social studies
Earth science
Life science

Resource type

Intermediate data product
Data product
Collection

Topic

Marine life
Climate
Ocean and coasts
Resiliency and mitigation
Seaweed, algae, and aquatic plants
Seabirds
Fish
Ecosystems
Cryosphere
Sea level rise
Marine mammals
Fisheries and seafood
Coral reef ecosystems
Climate data monitoring
Climate change impacts
Plankton

Special categories

Region
Alaska region
Pacific Islands region

Collection name

National Marine Ecosystem Status

The National Marine Ecosystem Status website is a tool that provides easy access to NOAA’s wide range of important coastal and marine ecosystem data. The website pulls together the ecosystem work that NOAA conducts in the marine environment, and presents this information in a flexible user-friendly format. Visitors to the site can explore specific thematic areas at the national or regional level. Users can also access general information or take deeper dives, connecting to specific NOAA websites throughout the organization. The website provides a starting point for educators, outreach specialists, and the interested public to explore the status of seven major U.S. marine ecosystems and the nation.

Audience

Adults
College+
Grade 9-12

Subject

Earth science

Resource type

Intermediate data product
Data product

Topic

Climate
Cryosphere
Climate data monitoring
Climate change impacts
Changing seasons

Explore images from five different Arctic sea ice products from the National Snow and Ice Data Center in a spreadsheet-like format. The tool allows you to quickly compare different time periods and regions in a tabular view by allowing you to manipulate the parameters controlling each axis of the table with a spreadsheet-like interface. This allows you to control the particular data set on display in each column and row of the image spreadsheet.

Audience

Adults
College+
Grade 9-12
Grade 6-8

Subject

Earth science

Resource type

Intermediate data product
Images
Data product
Multimedia

Topic

Climate
Cryosphere
Climate data monitoring
Climate change impacts
Changing seasons

The National Snow and Ice Data Center (NSIDC) offers some data in the form of images that were created Google Earth™ files that enable you to view them on a virtual globe. These images help people better understand the cryosphere — where the world is frozen — by making data more visible and interactive. Featured Data highlights some of the most requested data, as well as the newest Google Earth files.