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

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

Subject

Engineering and technology
Earth science
Life science

Resource type

Easy-to-use data product
Images
Data product
Multimedia

Topic

Technology and engineering
Marine life
Weather and atmosphere
Ocean and coasts
Ships and planes
Seabirds
Sea turtles
Marine mammals
Hurricanes
Oil spills
Ocean pollution and marine debris

Image gallery of marine emergency response photographs. Some images may be graphic in nature.

Audience

Adults
College+
Grade 9-12
Grade 6-8

Subject

Social studies
Earth science
Life science
Physical science

Resource type

Background information
Collection

Topic

Technology and engineering
Marine life
Climate
Weather and atmosphere
Ocean and coasts
Resiliency and mitigation
Ocean exploration
Maritime archaeology and history
Rip currents
Sharks, rays, and skates
Seabirds
Fish
ROVs, AUVs, and drones
Ecosystems
Harmful algal blooms
Invertebrates
Sea turtles
Marine mammals
Life in an estuary
Fisheries and seafood
Coral reef ecosystems
Aquatic food webs
Climate data monitoring
Climate change impacts
Hurricanes
El Niño and La Niña
Tsunamis
Tides
Oil spills
Ocean pollution and marine debris
Ocean floor features
Ocean currents
Ocean acidification

Collection name

Ocean facts

Get answers to hundreds of questions about the ocean and coasts on topics like ocean life and ecosystems, maritime transportation, technology, ocean observations and much more.

Audience

Grade 9-12
Grade 6-8

Subject

Math
Earth science
Life science
Physical science

Resource type

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

Topic

Marine life
Climate
Ocean and coasts
Ocean chemistry
Plankton
Invasive marine species
Climate change
Seaweed, algae, and aquatic plants
Salmon
Sharks, rays, and skates
Seabirds
Fish
Ecosystems
Invertebrates
Marine mammals
Life in an estuary
Ocean pollution and marine debris
Ocean acidification

NGSS DCI

ETS1: Engineering Design
PS3: Energy
ESS3: Earth and Human Activity
LS2: Ecosystems: Interactions, Energy, and Dynamics

Special categories

Scientists in action
Project-based
Uses data
Instructional strategies

Collection name

Oregon Marine Scientist and Educator Alliance (ORSEA)

Created by teams of educators and marine scientists, ORSEA lessons are centered around marine-focused anchoring phenomena. Each multi-day learning unit supports data science education and ocean literacy, while also exposing students to a variety of marine-related careers. This project is funded by Oregon Sea Grant and the National Science Foundation through OSU's Regional Class Research Vessel Project.

Audience

Adults
College+
Grade 9-12
Grade 6-8

Subject

Earth science
Life science

Resource type

Webinar
Multimedia

Topic

Marine life
Ocean and coasts
Aquatic food webs
Ocean pollution and marine debris
Seabirds

Although plastics are vital in a slew of consumer applications, plastic pollution in the ocean has turned out to be a not-so-fantastic outcome of modern day plastic dependence. This presentation provides an overview of the ocean plastic pollution problem, explaining the difference between marine debris and microplastics. It also will outline the current state of knowledge about microplastic impacts in the ocean and marine food webs, and provide insight into an ongoing research project using seabirds as indicators of plastic pollution in the Northwest Atlantic.

Audience

Grade K-2
Grade 3-5

Subject

Earth science
Life science

Resource type

Coloring/activity book

Topic

Marine life
Coral reef ecosystems
Ecosystems
Fish
Invertebrates
Marine mammals
Sea turtles
Seabirds

Special categories

Printable
Region
Pacific Islands region

These books feature coloring pages and activities about coastal ecosystems. Regions include Guam, Chesapeake Bay, Coastal North Carolina, Salish Sea, Mobile Bay, Hawaiʻi, Louisiana, and Arctic/Antarctic.

Audience

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

Subject

Social studies
Earth science
Life science

Resource type

Podcast
Collection
Multimedia

Topic

Technology and engineering
Freshwater
Marine life
Ocean and coasts
Salmon
Seabirds
Fish
Ecosystems
Harmful algal blooms
Invertebrates
Watersheds, flooding, and pollution
Great Lakes ecoregion
Marine mammals
Fisheries and seafood
Coral reef ecosystems
Tides
Oil spills
Ocean pollution and marine debris

Collection name

Sea Grant podcasts

Many Sea Grant programs host or support podcasts that highlight ocean, coastal and Great Lakes topics. Some of the podcasts offer a quick overview of relevant science and others feature conversations with coastal residents, researchers or other experts. Find the perfect podcast, whether for a lesson plan or entertainment on your morning commute!

Audience

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

Subject

Earth science

Resource type

Mobile app
Images
Multimedia

Topic

Marine life
Plankton
Invasive marine species
Seaweed, algae, and aquatic plants
Salmon
Sharks, rays, and skates
Seabirds
Fish
Ecosystems
Invertebrates
Sea turtles
Marine mammals

Use this mobile app to explore hundreds of photos of California marine life, many with detailed ecological information.

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
Math
Physical science
Social studies

Resource type

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

Topic

Freshwater
Watersheds, flooding, and pollution
Marine life
Entanglement
Marine mammals
Seabirds
Ocean and coasts
Ocean currents
Ocean pollution and marine debris

NGSS DCI

ESS2: Earth’s Systems
ESS3: Earth and Human Activity
ETS1: Engineering Design
LS2: Ecosystems: Interactions, Energy, and Dynamics
LS4: Biological Evolution: Unity and Diversity
PS1: Matter and Its Interactions
PS2: Motion and Stability: Forces and Interactions

Special categories

Citizen science
Instructional strategies
Education at home
Hands-on
Informal
Inquiry
Models
Outdoor education

Turning the Tide on Trash is a learning guide on marine debris. This set of lesson plans and background information introduces educators, students and researchers to the topic of marine debris. The interdisciplinary education guide is designed to provide maximum flexibility in the classroom: it can be used as a stand-alone teaching tool or to supplement work in other subject areas. Appropriate for grades K-12.

Audience

Grade K-2
Grade 3-5

Subject

Earth science
Life science

Resource type

Coloring/activity book

Topic

Marine life
Entanglement
Marine mammals
Sea turtles
Seabirds
Ocean and coasts
Ocean pollution and marine debris

Special categories

Other languages
Printable

This popular assortment of puzzles, brain-teasers and coloring activities helps children understand the problem of marine debris while having fun at the same time. Suitable for all ages.

Audience

Grade 6-8
Grade 9-12

Subject

Earth science
Life science

Resource type

Activities, lessons, and units
Lesson plan

Topic

Marine life
Seabirds
Ocean and coasts
Ocean pollution and marine debris

NGSS DCI

ESS3: Earth and Human Activity
LS1: From Molecules to Organisms: Structures and Processes

Special categories

Instructional strategies
Hands-on
Inquiry
Models

In this lesson, students will use professional photographs of boluses, donated by David Liittschwager, to perform a “virtual dissection” and analysis. They will compare the amounts of prey and non-prey items found in several boluses. They will consider the sources of these non-prey materials and create a model of a bolus, with which they can educate others.