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 6-8
Grade 9-12
College+
Adults

Subject

Earth science
Social studies

Resource type

Background information
Collection
Data product
Easy-to-use data product
Intermediate data product

Topic

Climate
Changing seasons
Climate change
Climate change impacts
Climate data monitoring
Resiliency and mitigation
Weather and atmosphere
Drought
Fires
Hazards and safety
Weather observations
Weather systems and patterns

Special categories

Safety/preparedness

Heat related illnesses and death are largely preventable with proper planning, education, and action. Heat.gov serves as the premier source of heat and health information for the nation to reduce the health, economic, and infrastructural impacts of extreme heat. Heat.gov is the web portal for the National Integrated Heat Health Information System (NIHHIS). This website includes data, forecasts, safety information, and much more.

Audience

Grade 6-8
Grade 9-12
College+
Adults

Subject

Earth science
Life science
Physical science

Resource type

Background information

Topic

Climate
Changing seasons
Cryosphere
Marine life
Marine mammals
Plankton
Ocean and coasts
Earth processes
Ocean currents

When you think of springtime on land, you might think of birds migrating, flowers blooming, and leaves emerging. While these changes are happening on land, changes are happening in the ocean, too! But how can you tell if spring has sprung in the sea? This graphic explains some of the seasonal effects that take place as ocean waters warm and days grow longer.

Audience

Grade K-2
Grade 3-5

Subject

Earth science
Life science
Social studies

Resource type

Background information
Career profile

Topic

Marine life
Ecosystems
Fish
Plankton
Ocean and coasts
Technology and engineering
ROVs, AUVs, and drones

Special categories

Other languages
Spanish

University of Southern California (USC) Sea Grant's Education Specialist, Maria Madrigal's book, STEAM Powered Series: Marine Biology offsite link, focuses on her specialty in marine science education and highlights her Hispanic heritage. The book follows Cora and her friend, Bonnie the butterfly, as they discover the different ways scientists study what is underwater. This book focuses on topics that are accessible and local to Los Angeles students and highlighted themes common to USC Sea Grant's work: Cora and Bonnie explore kelp forests, plankton and harmful algal blooms, grunion fish, and tidepool monitoring, while venturing out to free and accessible areas that children can enjoy, such as docks, the beach, and aquariums. The book is also available in Spanish offsite link.

Audience

Grade 6-8
Grade 9-12

Subject

Earth science
Social studies

Resource type

Activities, lessons, and units
Lesson plan
Module/unit
Collection
Multimedia
Game/online activity

Topic

Climate
Climate change
Climate change impacts
Resiliency and mitigation
Freshwater
Watersheds, flooding, and pollution
Weather and atmosphere
Drought
Fires
Hazards and safety

NGSS DCI

ESS2: Earth’s Systems
ESS3: Earth and Human Activity

Special categories

Grantee resource
Instructional strategies
Inquiry
Project-based

Collection name

ELP grantee

Environmental hazards — such as wildfire, flood, and drought — are increasingly affecting communities in Colorado. With this rise in hazardous events, there is a pressing need for communities to become more resilient through education, preparation, and planning. The Hazard Education, Awareness, and Resilience Task Force (HEART Force) lessons and education resources engage rural Colorado middle and high school students, teachers, and communities to take proactive steps in preparing for and responding to natural hazards.

Audience

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

Subject

Earth science
Life science
Social studies

Resource type

Background information

Topic

Climate
Changing seasons
Climate data monitoring
Marine life
Marine mammals
Plankton
Ocean and coasts
Earth processes
Ocean chemistry
Rip currents
Weather and atmosphere
Hazards and safety
Weather observations
Weather systems and patterns

Special categories

Other languages
Spanish

Celebrate the season of spring with NOAA! From new graphics to educational resources, spring into science with us and check out our content.

Audience

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

Resource type

Video

Topic

Ocean and coasts
Marine life
Climate
Plankton
Marine mammals
Fish
Cryosphere

Special categories

Other languages
Spanish

Collection name

Ocean Today
Ocean Today: Marine life

Learn more about Antarctic krill, which are small crustaceans.

Audience

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

Resource type

Video

Topic

Ocean and coasts
Marine life
Seabirds
Marine mammals
Plankton
Invertebrates
Cryosphere
Ocean sounds
Aquatic food webs
Seaweed, algae, and aquatic plants

Special categories

Other languages
Spanish

Collection name

Ocean Today

Learn about animals that live on ice: penguins, polar bears, beluga, Antarctic krill, and walrus. How have they adapted to such a cold environment?

Audience

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

Subject

Social studies
Earth science
Life science

Resource type

Webinar
Collection
Multimedia

Topic

Technology and engineering
Marine life
Ocean and coasts
Satellites
Ocean sounds
Plankton
Sharks, rays, and skates
Fish
Harmful algal blooms
Invertebrates
Sea turtles
Marine mammals
Fisheries and seafood
Coral reef ecosystems
Oil spills
Ocean pollution and marine debris

Special categories

Other languages
Spanish

Collection name

Bite-sized Science webinar series

These 30-minute webinars are presented by Florida Sea Grant extension agents and specialists. They focus on marine and coastal science topics, specifically related to Florida. Some webinars were presented in Spanish.

Audience

Grade 9-12
Grade 6-8

Subject

Engineering and technology
Earth science

Resource type

Webinar
Collection
Multimedia

Topic

Technology and engineering
Climate
Weather and atmosphere
Ocean and coasts
Satellites
Drought
Cryosphere
Fires
Carbon cycle
Weather systems and patterns
Hurricanes

Collection name

CIRES/NOAA Science@Home webinar

The CIRES/NOAA Science-at-Home webinars connected middle and high school classrooms in the virtual/remote learning landscape with Earth scientists. Topics include sea ice, glaciers, hurricanes, wildfires, remote sensing, climate change, and more.

Audience

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

Subject

Earth science
Engineering and technology
Life science
Math
Physical science

Resource type

Activities, lessons, and units
Activity/demonstration
Lesson plan
Collection
Multimedia
Game/online activity
Simulation

Topic

Climate
Carbon cycle
Changing seasons
Climate change impacts
Climate data monitoring
Cryosphere
Freshwater
Rivers
Water cycle
Ocean and coasts
Earth processes
Ocean acidification
Ocean currents
Ocean floor features
Ocean pollution and marine debris
Oil spills
Sea level rise
Tides
Space
Space weather
Weather and atmosphere
Clouds
Drought
El Niño and La Niña
Fires
Hurricanes
Tornadoes
Weather observations
Weather systems and patterns

Special categories

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

Collection name

CLEAN climate and energy education resource collection

Accurate education about climate and energy topics has never been more important, and it can be challenging to locate reliable, vetted educational materials to use in your classroom. CLEAN is here to help you find the resources that you need, without wondering about their scientific credibility or educational value. Search for resources by NGSS Performance Expectations (PE) and Disciplinary Core Ideas (DCI), grade level, keyword or resource type, or use CLEAN to design your own unit.