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 6-8
Grade 9-12
College+
Adults

Subject

Life science
Math
Social studies

Resource type

Data product
Advanced data product

Topic

Marine life
Aquatic food webs
Conservation
Ecosystems
Fisheries and seafood
Marine mammals

Assessing marine mammal stocks gives us valuable information on population trends, productivity rates, estimates of human-caused mortality and other sources of serious injury, and more. These assessments allow us to evaluate the effectiveness of conservation and recovery measures, and to adjust management approaches as needed.

Audience

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

Subject

Earth science
Life science

Resource type

Multimedia
Video

Topic

Marine life
Conservation
Life in an estuary
Ocean and coasts
Ocean pollution and marine debris

Collection name

Ocean Today
Ocean Today: Fix the ocean

With fishermen, seabirds, and marshland, Lavaca Bay looks like any other peaceful coastal area… but things weren't always this serene. This site was home to the largest cleanup of hazardous waste in Texas history. 64 square miles of marine habitat and fishing waters had been contaminated.

Audience

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

Subject

Life science
Social studies

Resource type

Multimedia
Video

Topic

Marine life
Conservation
Entanglement
Sea turtles

Collection name

Ocean Today
Ocean Today: Fix the ocean

When fishers put out their trawl nets in the Gulf of Mexico and South Atlantic, sea turtles often end up trapped in the nets unintentionally. If the turtles cannot escape, they will drown. This is a major threat to marine turtles and it is known as bycatch.

Audience

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

Subject

Life science

Resource type

Multimedia
Video

Topic

Marine life
Conservation
Ecosystems
Marine mammals

In 2002, an orphaned killer whale was discovered in Puget Sound. Follow Springer's amazing rescue in this film and celebrate the 10 year anniversary of her successful reunion and recovery.

Audience

Grade 6-8
Grade 9-12
College+
Adults

Subject

Life science

Resource type

Background information
Collection
Multimedia
Video

Topic

Marine life
Conservation
Sea turtles

Learn how NOAA uses science to improve the conservation and recovery of threatened and endangered sea turtles.

Audience

Grade 6-8

Subject

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

Resource type

Activities, lessons, and units
Lesson plan
Module/unit

Topic

Marine life
Conservation
Marine mammals

NGSS DCI

ESS3: Earth and Human Activity
ETS1: Engineering Design
LS2: Ecosystems: Interactions, Energy, and Dynamics
LS4: Biological Evolution: Unity and Diversity

Special categories

Instructional strategies
Hands-on
Informal
Models
Outdoor education
Project-based
Uses data

News headlines about the Southern Resident killer whales are often bleak. When students are flooded with media coverage of environmental destruction, they can experience chronic anxiety. So, how can we inspire young people to become environmental stewards when they are inheriting seemingly insurmountable problems — like saving a critically-endangered marine mammal from extinction? The unit contains nine fully planned activities that can be used as stand-alone activities or as a complete series. The activities can be scaled to different timelines and students’ interests. The unit provides many opportunities for students to create public products and share their learning beyond the classroom. The final activity provides scaffolding for a student-led stewardship project that embraces students’ talents and interests.

Audience

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

Subject

Life science
Social studies

Resource type

Background information

Topic

Freshwater
Watersheds, flooding, and pollution
Marine life
Conservation
Fisheries and seafood
Marine mammals
Ocean and coasts
Earth processes
Ocean acidification
Ocean pollution and marine debris
Oil spills
Sea level rise

The ocean is in trouble, but you can help save it! Every day the news is filled with stories about issues affecting our ocean, such as marine debris, ocean acidification, and sea level rise. But most stories will not explain how individuals can help. The Sea Stewards Handbook is here to teach you what you need to know to help save the world, or at least the 70% of it that is covered in saltwater.

Audience

Grade 6-8
Grade 9-12
College+
Adults

Subject

Life science

Resource type

Related story

Topic

Marine life
Conservation
Sea turtles

The bones of sea turtles have annual rings like those found in trees, and chemical markers within them give scientists a detailed view of the animal's life history.

Audience

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

Subject

Life science

Resource type

Multimedia
Story map
Related story

Topic

Marine life
Conservation
Sea turtles

Explore this story map to learn more about cold stunned sea turtles and the partners who help save them!

Audience

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

Resource type

Video

Topic

Marine life
Conservation
Marine mammals
Ocean and coasts

Special categories

Other languages
Spanish

Collection name

Ocean Today
Ocean Today: Marine life

Whale watching may not seem intrusive, but it can actually disrupt whale feeding, nursing, mating and migrating behaviors, and can cause unintended injuries to both whale and whale watcher. NOAA and Whale and Dolphin Conservation developed Whale SENSE; an educational awareness program dedicated to responsible whale watching.