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 9-12
Grade 6-8

Subject

ELA (English Language Arts)
Math
Engineering and technology
Earth science
Life science

Resource type

Module/unit
Activities, lessons, and units

Topic

Marine life
Climate
Life in an estuary
Climate data monitoring
Climate change impacts

NGSS DCI

LS2: Ecosystems: Interactions, Energy, and Dynamics

Special categories

Inquiry
Models
Hands-on
Uses data
Instructional strategies

Collection name

Data in the Classroom

Estuaries are critically important ecosystems, yet they are also some of the most impacted by human activities. In this module, students will use real data to investigate the water quality characteristics of an estuary (water temperature, salinity and oxygen), the relationship between these parameters, and the effect that water quality has on estuarine organisms.

Audience

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

Subject

Earth science

Resource type

Video

Topic

Ocean and coasts
Marine life
Climate
Technology and engineering
ROVs, AUVs, and drones
Ocean exploration
Ecosystems
Invertebrates
Climate change impacts

Special categories

Other languages
Spanish

Collection name

Ocean Today

NOAA scientists are exploring deepest parts of the ocean. Learn about their groundbreaking discoveries, and how to watch an expedition live.

Audience

Grade 6-8
Grade 9-12
College+
Adults

Subject

Earth science
Social studies

Resource type

Related story

Topic

Climate
Climate change impacts
Climate data monitoring

Levels of the two most important anthropogenic greenhouse gases, carbon dioxide and methane, continued their unrelenting rise in 2020 despite the economic slowdown caused by the coronavirus pandemic response.

Audience

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

Subject

Earth science

Resource type

Career profile

Topic

Climate
Climate change impacts
Climate data monitoring

Dian Seidel is a senior climate scientist in the Climate Variability and Change Analysis group of the NOAA Air Resources Lab in Silver Spring, Md. Internationally recognized for her research on observations of climate change in the upper-air, she feels that communicating science to broader audiences is an integral part of her job. In this Q&A interview with Dr. Seidel, she offers insights on her career and life as a scientist.

Audience

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

Subject

Earth science

Resource type

Easy-to-use data product
Data product

Topic

Ocean and coasts
Climate
Sea level rise
Climate change impacts
Tides

Collection name

NOAA Digital Coast

Display potential future sea levels and view sea level rise simulations of up to 6 feet at a local landmarks on this interactive map. Overlay social and economic data to see the potential impact that sea level rise may have on vulnerable people and businesses. Explore modeled data.

Audience

Grade 6-8
Grade 3-5

Subject

Engineering and technology
Earth science
Life science
Physical science

Resource type

Collection
Activity/demonstration
Activities, lessons, and units

Topic

Climate
Climate change impacts

NGSS DCI

PS3: Energy
ESS3: Earth and Human Activity
ESS2: Earth’s Systems
ESS1: Earth’s Place in the Universe
LS4: Biological Evolution: Unity and Diversity
LS2: Ecosystems: Interactions, Energy, and Dynamics
LS1: From Molecules to Organisms: Structures and Processes

Special categories

Informal
Education at home
Hands-on
Instructional strategies

Are you ready to discover your changing world? This free activity book will introduce you to The Essential Principles of Climate Science, help you learn about Earth's climate system, the factors that drive and change it, the impacts of those changes, and what you can do to explore, understand, and protect our Earth. Download the full activity book or individual activities. Have Fun!

Audience

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

Subject

Earth science
Engineering and technology
Physical science

Resource type

Background information
Collection
Multimedia
Video

Topic

Climate
Climate change impacts
Cryosphere
Freshwater
Watersheds, flooding, and pollution
Ocean and coasts
Tsunamis
Space
Space weather
Technology and engineering
Mapping and charting
ROVs, AUVs, and drones
Ships and planes
Weather and atmosphere
Drought
Fires
Weather systems and patterns

Collection name

Do you NOAA?

Have you ever wondered what it’s like to take a trip on a science plane, or what an incident meteorologist does? Come take a trip through our science and see what you already do, and do not, NOAA!

Audience

Adults
College+
Grade 9-12
Grade 6-8

Subject

Earth science

Resource type

Related story

Topic

Climate
Climate change impacts

No, “global warming” means Earth's average annual air temperature is rising, but not necessarily in every single location during all seasons across the globe. It’s like your grades. If one semester you get all Bs and Cs, and the next you get all As and Cs, your grade point average rises, even though you didn't improve in every class.

Audience

Adults
College+
Grade 9-12
Grade 6-8

Subject

Earth science

Resource type

Easy-to-use data product
Data product

Topic

Climate
Weather and atmosphere
Drought
Climate data monitoring
Climate change impacts

See maps of drought data for the United States (2010–2018) and the world (2013–2018) as well as maps of U.S. drought risk projections until 2095. Use this resource to observe seasonal patterns and identify the drought risk for different areas.

Audience

Grade 9-12
Grade 6-8

Subject

Math
Earth science
Physical science

Resource type

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

Topic

Climate
Climate data monitoring
Climate change impacts
Carbon cycle

NGSS DCI

PS1: Matter and Its Interactions
ESS3: Earth and Human Activity
ESS2: Earth’s Systems

Special categories

Informal
Models
Hands-on
Instructional strategies

Collection name

ESRL Global Monitoring Laboratory

On this page are links to five different earth science subject groups that relate to the Global Monitoring Division's research and mission. Within each subject group educators can easily access background information about the topics, student handouts, and classroom activities that can be incorporated into lesson plans. Information and activities are geared toward grades 7-12. Teachers should feel free to modify the activities to meet the needs of their students.