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.
  • 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.”

 

Audience

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

Subject

Earth science
Life science
Social studies

Resource type

Collection
Multimedia
Video

Topic

Climate
Climate change
Climate change impacts
Cryosphere
Resiliency and mitigation
Marine life
Aquatic food webs
Coral reef ecosystems
Ecosystems
Fish
Fisheries and seafood
Invertebrates
Marine mammals
Sea turtles
Seabirds
Sharks, rays, and skates
Ocean and coasts
Harmful algal blooms
Maritime archaeology and history
Ocean acidification
Ocean currents
Ocean exploration
Ocean floor features
Ocean pollution and marine debris
Oil spills
Rip currents
Sea level rise
Tsunamis
Technology and engineering
Weather and atmosphere
El Niño and La Niña
Hazards and safety
Hurricanes
Weather observations
Weather systems and patterns

Special categories

Cultural heritage
Safety/preparedness

Collection name

Ocean Today

Watch. Explore. Discover. View the beauty and mystery of the ocean realm captured on video around the globe. Videos are organized into collections to help educators.

Audience

Grade 6-8
Grade 9-12
College+
Adults

Subject

Earth science
Life science
Social studies

Resource type

Background information
Career profile

Topic

Marine life
Fisheries and seafood

Special categories

Cultural heritage

Join NOAA Fisheries in celebrating National Native American Heritage Month, as we recognize Native Americans' respect for natural resources and the Earth and honor native cultures. We celebrate the sacrifices, contributions, and achievements of Native American people and their beautiful culture. Explore the profiles to learn more about what this month means to our colleagues and partners, and how they each help contribute to our mission.

Audience

Grade 6-8
Grade 9-12
College+
Adults

Subject

Earth science
Life science
Physical science
Social studies

Resource type

Career profile
Collection
Multimedia
Podcast

Topic

Climate
Marine life
Fisheries and seafood
Ocean and coasts

Special categories

Cultural heritage

The NOAA Voices Program has been collecting and sharing oral history interviews related to the changing environment, climate, oceans and coasts since 2003. Search the collection, listen, and learn from a diversity of experiences. Create your own collection to archive and share.

Audience

Grade 6-8
Grade 9-12
College+
Adults

Subject

Life science
Social studies

Resource type

Career profile

Topic

Marine life
Ecosystems
Fisheries and seafood

Special categories

Cultural heritage

Part of the Faces of the Southeast Fisheries Science Center series, meet Suzana Dumitrita Blake, Ph.D.

Audience

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

Subject

Earth science
Life science
Social studies

Resource type

Collection
Multimedia
Video

Topic

Freshwater
Great Lakes ecoregion
Marine life
Fish
Fisheries and seafood
Invertebrates
Marine mammals
Salmon
Sea turtles
Sharks, rays, and skates

Special categories

Cultural heritage
Region
Alaska region
Pacific Islands region

NOAA Fisheries video gallery has short videos organized by topic and region. Explore Fisheries videos from across the country!

Audience

Grade 9-12
College+
Adults

Subject

Earth science
Life science
Social studies

Resource type

Multimedia
Podcast

Topic

Marine life
Fisheries and seafood

Special categories

Cultural heritage

NOAA Fisheries conducts world-class science to support sustainable marine life and habitats. We manage millions of square miles of ocean (almost 100,000 miles of coastline), support a $244 billion fishing industry, and protect and rebuild endangered marine species and habitats. It’s a huge job. Our podcast, “Dive In with NOAA Fisheries,” is about the work we do and the people behind it.

Audience

Adults
College+
Grade 9-12

Subject

Social studies
Life science

Resource type

Background information

Topic

Marine life
Fisheries and seafood

Special categories

Region
Alaska region
Cultural heritage

This textbook level eBook presents events, places, people, research, ships and technology that have shaped federal marine fisheries research in Alaska.

Audience

Grade 3-5

Subject

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

Resource type

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

Topic

Freshwater
Marine life
Rivers
Watersheds, flooding, and pollution
Fisheries and seafood
Aquatic food webs
Salmon

NGSS DCI

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

Special categories

Informal
Printable
Cultural heritage
Outdoor education
Models
Hands-on
Other languages
Spanish

An Incredible Journey is filled with 10 hands-on lesson plans that explore the salmon life cycle; the cultural, environmental, and economic importance of salmon; the major issues facing salmon today; and how individuals can get involved to protect these iconic species.

Audience

Adults
College+
Grade 9-12

Subject

Social studies
Life science

Resource type

Citizen science project

Topic

Marine life
Fish
Fisheries and seafood

Special categories

Citizen science
Cultural heritage

The FISHtory Project has two ways to help collect information from historic dock photos. FISH & PEOPLE: Count is an easier project where you can mark the number of fish and people in a photo. FISH: Classify is a more challenging project where you can identify four common species using a draw tool. After the common fish are marked, you will be given a list of less common fish and asked to identify the remaining fish in the photo. If you're not a fish expert, don't worry! All skill levels are welcomed and encouraged to use a given field guide to help identify fish and provide your best guess.

Audience

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

Subject

Social studies
Life science

Resource type

Webinar
Multimedia

Topic

Marine life
Fisheries and seafood

Special categories

Region
Pacific Islands region
Cultural heritage

Gordon ‘Umialiloalahanauokalakaua Kai (“Umi”) started crafting Hawaiian implements in 1967 in high school and continues today. He fashions implements for fishing, kapa making, poi pounding, hula, farming, and he is best known for his traditional weaponry. Umi Kai shares his knowledge and experiences with people locally and internationally, and he makes presentations regularly at schools, hotels, and organizations.