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

Adults
College+
Grade 9-12
Grade 6-8

Subject

Social studies
Earth science

Resource type

Background information

Topic

Weather and atmosphere
Ocean and coasts
Hurricanes
Tides

Special categories

Safety/preparedness

From Connecticut Sea Grant, this page explains coastal storm, hurricane, and storm surge risks and resources for coastal Connecticut.

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

Adults
College+
Grade 9-12
Grade 6-8

Subject

Earth science

Resource type

Background information

Topic

Weather and atmosphere
Hurricanes

Special categories

Safety/preparedness

This page from the NOAA Atlantic Oceanographic Meteorological Laboratory answers various questions regarding hurricanes, typhoons, and tropical cyclones including information on history, hurricane formation, hurricane forecasting and preparedness, Hurricane hunters, climatology, records, and more. While it is not intended to be a technical guide, references are given throughout the FAQ for those that would like additional, detailed information. Hopefully, this FAQ can help answer some of your questions about the characteristics of these catastrophic storms, how they are monitored and forecast, and what research is being carried out on them today. There is also an extensive history of hurricanes that provides information on hurricane records as far back as we have been able to record.

Audience

Grade 9-12

Subject

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

Resource type

Activities, lessons, and units
Lesson plan
Module/unit

Topic

Weather and atmosphere
Hurricanes

NGSS DCI

ESS3: Earth and Human Activity
ETS1: Engineering Design

Special categories

Grantee resource
Instructional strategies
Hands-on
Inquiry
Models
Uses data
Safety/preparedness

Collection name

ELP grantee

Hurricane Resilience is a high school environmental science curriculum for use in coastal locations where hurricanes are common. The curriculum unit aims to empower high school students to have a voice in resilience planning and help them understand the relationship between the science of hurricanes and the local impacts of these storms on people and places.

Audience

College+
Grade 9-12
Grade 6-8

Subject

Social studies
Earth science

Resource type

Infographic
Background information
Poster/brochure
Multimedia

Topic

Weather and atmosphere
Hurricanes

Special categories

Safety/preparedness

The National Weather Service hurricane safety page includes information on general safety, watches and warnings, how to plan for a hurricane, and what to do during and after a hurricane.

Audience

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

Subject

Earth science
Social studies

Resource type

Background information

Topic

Weather and atmosphere
Hurricanes

Special categories

Safety/preparedness

Hurricanes are powerful storms that bring life-threatening hazards to people living in both coastal and inland communities. Though you may first think of wind when envisioning a hurricane, water hazards are historically the most deadly. This explainer reviews the three major hazards of hurricanes — storm surge, heavy rainfall, and strong wind — and give you actions you can take before, during, and after tropical weather to protect your life and property.

Audience

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

Resource type

Video

Topic

Weather and atmosphere
Hurricanes

Special categories

Other languages
Spanish
Safety/preparedness

Collection name

Ocean Today
Ocean Today: Danger zone

Follow these steps NOW so you'll be ready for the next hurricane and keep yourself and your family safe. Know the difference between a Hurricane Watch and Warning and how to prepare in case of an evacuation order.

Audience

Grade 6-8
Grade 3-5

Subject

Earth science

Resource type

Webinar
Multimedia

Topic

Weather and atmosphere
Hurricanes

Special categories

Safety/preparedness

The 2018 Hurricane Webinar for 4th through 6th grade classes are presented by the Hurricanes: Science and Society (HSS) team at the University of Rhode Island's Graduate School of Oceanography (URIO/GSO) in partnership with the NOAA National Hurricane Center (NHC) and the NOAA Aircraft Operations Center (AOC). The purpose of the Hurricane Webinars is to raise awareness about hurricanes in advance of the North Atlantic hurricane season. Students will hear from NHC scientists as well as NOAA AOC personnel who fly into hurricanes. The webinar will cover hurricane hazards, forecasting, observing hurricanes with airplanes, and hurricane preparedness. Questions from the audience were answered during the webinar.

Audience

Grade 6-8
Grade 9-12
College+
Adults

Subject

Earth science
Engineering and technology

Resource type

Activities, lessons, and units
Activity/demonstration
Background information
Collection

Topic

Climate
Climate data monitoring
Ocean and coasts
Ocean currents
Tides
Technology and engineering
Weather and atmosphere
Clouds
El Niño and La Niña
Hurricanes
Tornadoes
Weather observations
Weather systems and patterns

Special categories

Instructional strategies
Informal
Printable
Safety/preparedness

Collection name

JetStream: An online school for weather

This site is designed to help educators, emergency managers, or anyone interested in learning about weather and weather safety. The information contained in JetStream is arranged by subject; beginning with global and large-scale weather patterns followed by lessons on air masses, wind patterns, cloud formations, thunderstorms, lightning, hail, damaging winds, tornados, tropical storms, cyclones and flooding. Interspersed in JetStream are "Learning Lessons" which can be used to enhance the educational experience.