NOAA Sea to Sky: Education resource database

⚠️ This page recently underwent an update. If you had bookmarked direct links to search results from this page prior to March 18, 2024, those links may no longer work and you may need to make a new bookmark. If you have any questions or concerns, please reach out to us at education@noaa.gov.

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

Subject

Earth science

Resource type

Advanced data product
Data product

Topic

Freshwater
Marine life
Climate
Ocean and coasts
Ecosystems
Harmful algal blooms
Sea level rise
Great Lakes ecoregion
Sea turtles
Marine mammals
Fisheries and seafood
Coral reef ecosystems
Climate data monitoring
Climate change impacts
Tsunamis
Tides
Ocean pollution and marine debris
Ocean floor features
Ocean currents
Ocean acidification

Special categories

Region
Pacific Islands region

IOOS is a major data repository that provides data about marine environments, including analyses of historical data, alerts based on current conditions, and forecasts of future conditions based on model predictions. IOOS links to hundreds of data sources operated by regional ocean observing systems across the United States and its territories. There are many datasets available including interactive maps, numerical data, and graphs and figures.

Audience

Grade 6-8
Grade 3-5

Subject

ELA (English Language Arts)
Life science

Resource type

Simulation
Background information
Game/online activity
Multimedia

Topic

Freshwater
Watersheds, flooding, and pollution
Great Lakes ecoregion

Special categories

Models
Instructional strategies

Nab the Aquatic Invader! is a fun way to learn about aquatic invaders. By using this site you can check out lots of unusual species that create real problems in the Atlantic, Pacific, Gulf, and Great Lakes regions. There are many ways that this site can help you with your class projects. By doing the activities and playing the games on this site, you will learn about nature and be inspired to help the environment by "nabbing" these pesky critters and seeing that you can make a difference.

Audience

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

Subject

Math
Engineering and technology
Earth science

Resource type

Easy-to-use data product
Data product

Topic

Technology and engineering
Freshwater
Weather and atmosphere
Ocean and coasts
Buoys
Sea level rise
Watersheds, flooding, and pollution
Great Lakes ecoregion
Weather systems and patterns
Weather observations
Hurricanes
El Niño and La Niña
Tsunamis
Tides
Ocean currents
Ocean acidification

The National Data Buoy Center provides real-time environmental observations collected from buoys around the world. View both recent and historical information on ocean and weather conditions, as well as any current tsunami activity. Graphs and tables of data are available for water column height at each buoy location.

Audience

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

Subject

Earth science
Life science
Physical science

Resource type

Background information

Topic

Freshwater
Marine life
Fish
Ecosystems
Watersheds, flooding, and pollution
Water cycle
Great Lakes ecoregion
Life in an estuary

The National Estuarine Research Reserve System is a network of 29 coastal sites designated to protect and study estuarine systems. Established through the Coastal Zone Management Act, the reserves represent a partnership program between NOAA and the coastal states. NOAA provides funding and national guidance, and each site is managed on a daily basis by a lead state agency or university with input from local partners.

Audience

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

Subject

Social studies
Earth science
Life science

Resource type

Poster/brochure

Topic

Freshwater
Marine life
Ocean and coasts
Ocean exploration
Maritime archaeology and history
Sharks, rays, and skates
Fish
Invertebrates
Great Lakes ecoregion
Sea turtles
Marine mammals

Special categories

Printable
Cultural heritage

As a part of the 50th anniversary of the 1972 National Marine Sanctuary Act, the NOAA Office of National Marine Sanctuaries released posters capturing the beauty and diversity of your National Marine Sanctuary System.

Audience

Adults
College+
Grade 9-12
Grade 6-8

Subject

Earth science

Resource type

Related story
Video
Multimedia

Topic

Freshwater
Watersheds, flooding, and pollution
Great Lakes ecoregion

The video SMART BUOYS: Preventing a Great Lakes Drinking Water Crisis released by Ocean Conservancy describes how NOAA forecast models provide advance warnings to Lake Erie drinking water plant managers to avoid shutdowns due to poor water quality.

Audience

Grade 6-8
Grade 9-12
College+
Adults

Subject

Earth science

Resource type

Related story

Topic

Freshwater
Great Lakes ecoregion
Ocean and coasts
Ocean pollution and marine debris

Two underwater robots were deployed to autonomously monitor and measure the toxicity of harmful algal blooms in the Great Lakes.

Audience

Grade 6-8
Grade 9-12
College+
Adults

Subject

Earth science
Physical science

Resource type

Related story

Topic

Freshwater
Great Lakes ecoregion
Ocean and coasts
Ocean acidification

“Understanding how ocean acidification will affect marine life and the jobs and communities that depend on it is critical to a healthy ocean and blue economy,” said Kenric Osgood, Ph.D., chief of the Marine Ecosystems Division, Office of Science and Technology at NOAA Fisheries Service.

Audience

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

Subject

Arts
Humanities/liberal arts
Life science
Social studies

Resource type

Collection
Multimedia
Simulation
Video

Topic

Freshwater
Great Lakes ecoregion
Marine life
Aquatic food webs
Coral reef ecosystems
Ecosystems
Fish
Invertebrates
Marine mammals
Sea turtles
Ocean and coasts

Special categories

Virtual reality/VR

Collection name

Sanctuaries 360 virtual dives

Dive in without getting wet! Your National Marine Sanctuary System protects a network of underwater parks encompassing more than 600,000 square miles of marine and Great Lakes waters, and now you can visit these amazing places in the blink of an eye. From the thriving kelp forests of Channel Islands to the treasured coral reefs of the Florida Keys, few places on the planet can compete with the wonders of the National Marine Sanctuary System. Come along as we experience these underwater treasures through eight virtual reality videos. Check out the Next Generation Science Standard lesson plans that complement the VR videos to go deeper.

Audience

Adults
College+
Grade 9-12

Subject

Earth science

Resource type

Intermediate data product
Data product

Topic

Freshwater
Ocean and coasts
Great Lakes ecoregion
Tides
Ocean pollution and marine debris

This interactive map displays the locations of oil spills, hazardous waste sites, or ship groundings where we are currently pursuing protection and restoration of natural resources. The locations of restoration efforts associated with these projects are also available.