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

Resource type

Video

Topic

Ocean and coasts
Weather and atmosphere
Climate
Coral reef ecosystems
Climate change impacts
Fires

Collection name

Ocean Today
Ocean Today: Research

NOAA climatologist Tom Di Liberto recaps the record-hot weather of 2019.

Audience

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

Subject

Physical science

Resource type

Lesson plan
Activities, lessons, and units

Topic

Ocean and coasts
Climate
Marine life
Ocean acidification
Climate change impacts
Coral reef ecosystems

Students learn how climate change impacts the ocean through activities that help them understand ocean acidification, melting ice caps, and thermal expansion of water.

Audience

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

Resource type

Video

Topic

Ocean and coasts
Marine life
Climate
Coral reef ecosystems

Collection name

Ocean Today

Ocean Today host Symone Johnson introduces the Coral Comeback video collection, which looks at the benefits of coral, the threats they face due to climate change, and the researchers trying to help them.

Audience

Grade 6-8
Grade 9-12

Subject

ELA (English Language Arts)
Life science
Math

Resource type

Activities, lessons, and units
Lesson plan

Topic

Marine life
Coral reef ecosystems

NGSS DCI

LS2: Ecosystems: Interactions, Energy, and Dynamics

Most people are familiar with the growth rings seen in tree cross-sections, but few are aware that similar growth patterns are visible in skeletons of reef-building corals. This activity will introduce students to these growth patterns and what they can tell us about the environment in which the corals live.

Audience

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

Resource type

Video

Topic

Ocean and coasts
Marine life
Climate
Technology and engineering
Coral reef ecosystems
Ocean exploration
ROVs, AUVs, and drones
Ocean acidification

Special categories

Other languages
Spanish

Collection name

Ocean Today
Ocean Today: Marine life

Most corals were once thought to live in tropical water, close enough to the surface to receive sunlight. But with the help of submersibles and remotely operated vehicles, scientists have discovered vast forests of corals living 200 to 10,000 feet deep in dark, cold waters.

Audience

Grade K-2

Subject

Arts

Resource type

Coloring/activity book

Topic

Marine life
Coral reef ecosystems

Special categories

Printable

An activity book filled with facts, coloring pages and activities about coral reefs.

Audience

Grade 6-8

Subject

ELA (English Language Arts)
Life science

Resource type

Activities, lessons, and units
Lesson plan

Topic

Marine life
Coral reef ecosystems

NGSS DCI

LS2: Ecosystems: Interactions, Energy, and Dynamics

Special categories

Instructional strategies
Education at home
Hands-on

Collection name

Sanctuaries 360 virtual dives

Students will research the ecology of coral reefs, natural and anthropogenic threats to corals, and the science of coral restoration. In pairs, students will design and make an argument for a proposed new coral nursery to be placed within Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary (FKNMS).

Audience

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

Resource type

Video

Topic

Ocean and coasts
Marine life
Climate
Coral reef ecosystems
Climate change impacts
Ocean acidification

Special categories

Other languages
Spanish

Collection name

Ocean Today
Ocean Today: Marine life

Corals are a beautiful—and important—part of our ocean. But they can't move around the ocean floor. So, how, exactly, do they find mates?

Audience

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

Resource type

Video

Topic

Ocean and coasts
Marine life
Climate
Coral reef ecosystems
Climate change impacts
Ocean acidification
Endangered species
El Niño and La Niña

Collection name

Ocean Today

The growth of our civilization is changing the ocean in ways that are deadly for corals. If we don't act soon, it may be too late.

Audience

Grade 9-12

Subject

Earth science
Life science

Resource type

Module/unit
Activities, lessons, and units

Topic

Marine life
Coral reef ecosystems

NGSS DCI

ESS3: Earth and Human Activity
LS2: Ecosystems: Interactions, Energy, and Dynamics

Special categories

Hands-on
Instructional strategies

The lessons presented in this unit on corals expose students to some of the most current scientific research, data, and visualizations in a way that allows them to become active participants in both learning about and conserving coral reefs.