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

Adults
College+
Grade 9-12
Grade 6-8

Subject

Engineering and technology
Earth science
Life science

Resource type

Images
Podcast
Video
Background information
Multimedia

Topic

Technology and engineering
Marine life
Ocean and coasts
Buoys
Ships and planes
Ocean exploration
ROVs, AUVs, and drones
Ecosystems
Coral reef ecosystems
Ocean floor features

Collection name

Finding fish hotspots and mapping coral reefs

In 2015, NOAA scientists went on a research expedition in the U.S. Virgin Islands aboard the NOAA Ship Nancy Foster to continue to map the Caribbean's sprawling coral reef ecosystem, home to an amazing variety of ocean life. The science team used multibeam sonar, scientific echosounder, underwater gliders, a remotely operated vehicle, and other high-tech tools to locate previously-unknown seafloor habitats; to map out coral reefs in fine detail; and to find 'hotspots' where many species of fish gather to spawn in rhythm with the lunar cycle. Explore their findings through videos, photos, podcasts, and other information.

Audience

Grade 9-12
Grade 6-8
Grade 3-5
Grade K-2

Subject

Arts
ELA (English Language Arts)
Math
Earth science
Life science
Physical science

Resource type

Module/unit
Poster/brochure
Collection
Activity/demonstration
Lesson plan
Activities, lessons, and units

Topic

Marine life
Coral reef ecosystems

Special categories

Education at home
Instructional strategies

Collection name

Flower Garden Banks National Marine Sanctuary

Bring ocean learning to life in your classroom through curriculum, lessons, activities, posters and more, all focused on Flower Garden Banks National Marine Sanctuary. From science and math to geography and art, we've got something for every age level.

Audience

Adults
College+
Grade 9-12
Grade 6-8

Subject

Earth science
Life science

Resource type

Easy-to-use data product
Data product

Topic

Marine life
Climate
Weather and atmosphere
Ocean and coasts
Coral reef ecosystems
Climate data monitoring
Climate change impacts
El Niño and La Niña
Ocean currents

View recent and real-time sea surface temperature data.

Audience

Adults
College+
Grade 9-12

Subject

Social studies
Earth science
Life science

Resource type

Intermediate data product
Data product

Topic

Marine life
Weather and atmosphere
Ocean and coasts
Fish
Harmful algal blooms
Invertebrates
Sea turtles
Marine mammals
Coral reef ecosystems
Weather observations
Hurricanes
Ocean pollution and marine debris
Ocean floor features
Sharks, rays, and skates

Explore data on physical, biotic, living marine resources, socioeconomic conditions, environmental quality, and jurisdictions in the Gulf of Mexico.

Audience

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

Resource type

Video

Topic

Ocean and coasts
Marine life
Technology and engineering
Marine mammals
Sharks, rays, and skates
Coral reef ecosystems
Endangered species

Special categories

Region
Pacific Islands region
Other languages
Spanish

Collection name

Ocean Today
Ocean Today: Marine life

The Hawaiian monk seal is one of the rarest marine mammals in the world. Learn more about them and what NOAA scientists are doing to help.

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

Resource type

Video

Topic

Ocean and coasts
Marine life
Ocean pollution and marine debris
Coral reef ecosystems

Collection name

Ocean Today
Ocean Today: Fix the ocean

Even the most remote locations on Earth are fouled by man-made garbage and cast-outs. Marine debris is everywhere. And no matter what location it resides, it causes problems. There are no easy solutions to the worldwide problem of marine debris, but there are things you can do to help.

Audience

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

Resource type

Video

Topic

Ocean and coasts
Marine life
Technology and engineering
Coral reef ecosystems
Ocean exploration

Special categories

Other languages
Spanish

Collection name

Ocean Today
Ocean Today: Research

Most drugs come from flowers and plants on land, but the ocean, with its amazing biodiversity, offers many more organisms for scientist to discover and develop new medicines.

Audience

Grade 9-12
College+
Adults

Subject

Earth science
Engineering and technology
Life science
Physical science

Resource type

Collection
Data product
Advanced data product

Topic

Climate
Carbon cycle
Changing seasons
Climate change impacts
Climate data monitoring
Cryosphere
Marine life
Coral reef ecosystems
Ecosystems
Ocean and coasts
Space
Space weather
Technology and engineering
Buoys
Satellites
Weather and atmosphere
Drought
El Niño and La Niña
Fires
Hurricanes
Tornadoes
Weather observations
Weather systems and patterns

Collection name

National Centers for Environmental Information (NCEI)

NCEI is a major NOAA data repository that hosts and provides public access to one of the most significant archives for environmental data on Earth. Over 25 petabytes (25 million gigabytes) of atmospheric, coastal, oceanic, and geophysical data are available, including interactive maps, numerical data, satellite imagery, graphs and figures, modeled and predicted data, and more.

Audience

Adults
College+
Grade 9-12

Subject

Social studies
Earth science
Life science

Resource type

Intermediate data product
Data product
Collection

Topic

Marine life
Climate
Ocean and coasts
Resiliency and mitigation
Seaweed, algae, and aquatic plants
Seabirds
Fish
Ecosystems
Cryosphere
Sea level rise
Marine mammals
Fisheries and seafood
Coral reef ecosystems
Climate data monitoring
Climate change impacts
Plankton

Special categories

Region
Alaska region
Pacific Islands region

Collection name

National Marine Ecosystem Status

The National Marine Ecosystem Status website is a tool that provides easy access to NOAA’s wide range of important coastal and marine ecosystem data. The website pulls together the ecosystem work that NOAA conducts in the marine environment, and presents this information in a flexible user-friendly format. Visitors to the site can explore specific thematic areas at the national or regional level. Users can also access general information or take deeper dives, connecting to specific NOAA websites throughout the organization. The website provides a starting point for educators, outreach specialists, and the interested public to explore the status of seven major U.S. marine ecosystems and the nation.