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.”

 

Filters:

Audience

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

Subject

Earth science
Life science
Social studies

Resource type

Activities, lessons, and units
Activity/demonstration
Lesson plan
Module/unit
Background information
Collection
Multimedia
Images
Video
Webinar
Poster/brochure
Related story

Topic

Climate
Marine life
Adaptations
Aquatic food webs
Conservation
Ecosystems
Endangered species
Fish
Fisheries and seafood
Invasive marine species
Invertebrates
Seaweed, algae, and aquatic plants
Ocean and coasts

Special categories

Virtual reality/VR

Kelp forests are an important ecosystem that support a variety of species and grow predominantly along the Eastern Pacific Coast, from Alaska and Canada to the waters of Baja, California. Kelp forests can be found in four of our national marine sanctuaries along the West Coast of the United States. This collection has compiled wide-ranging resources from lesson plans, webinars, web stories, virtual reality videos, and more. You are invited to learn more about the importance of Kelp Forest Ecosystems, NOAA’s efforts to manage and conserve them, the species that call these forests home, and the threats kelp face.

Audience

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

Resource type

Video

Topic

Ocean and coasts
Marine life
Technology and engineering
ROVs, AUVs, and drones
Invertebrates
Coral reef ecosystems
Marine mammals
Sharks, rays, and skates
Fish

Collection name

Ocean Today
Ocean Today: Exploration

Join NOAA Explorer Debi Blaney as she shares NOAA scientists' groundbreaking discoveries, and how to watch one of their expeditions live.

Audience

Grade 6-8
Grade 3-5

Subject

Life science

Resource type

Lesson plan
Activities, lessons, and units

Topic

Marine life
Fish

Special categories

Hands-on
Instructional strategies

Collection name

Teacher at Sea

Taxonomic keys are tools that scientists use in the field to identify organisms based on physical characteristics. By designing one, students will understand how to properly use a taxonomic key. This activity also requires students to make observations and apply knowledge of external fish anatomy. Students will observe pictures of ten different Alaskan fish species and design a taxonomic (dichotomous) key that can be used to identify them.

Audience

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

Resource type

Video

Topic

Ocean and coasts
Marine life
Fish
Fisheries and seafood
Invasive species

Special categories

Other languages
Spanish

Collection name

Ocean Today
Ocean Today: Fix the ocean

To combat the population explosion of the invasive Lionfish, NOAA and other organizations have set up Lionfish derbies with the aim of collecting as many of the fish as possible.

Audience

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

Subject

Earth science
Life science

Resource type

Coloring/activity book

Topic

Marine life
Fish
Invertebrates
Ocean and coasts
Ocean exploration
Technology and engineering
Ships and planes

Special categories

Printable

This coloring book from NOAA Ocean Exploration and several partners inspires everyone to learn about and appreciate the ocean. Download individual coloring sheets or the whole book and visit the links to learn more about each featured animal.

Audience

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

Resource type

Video

Topic

Ocean and coasts
Marine life
Climate
Plankton
Marine mammals
Fish
Cryosphere

Special categories

Other languages
Spanish

Collection name

Ocean Today
Ocean Today: Marine life

Learn more about Antarctic krill, which are small crustaceans.

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
Cryosphere
Satellites
Climate data monitoring
Climate change impacts
Marine mammals
Seabirds
Fish
Invertebrates

Collection name

Ocean Today

Ocean Today host Symone Johnson introduces the Animals of the Ice video collection, which explores animals like polar bears and penguins and how climate change impacts them.

Audience

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

Subject

Social studies
Earth science
Life science

Resource type

Webinar
Collection
Multimedia

Topic

Technology and engineering
Marine life
Ocean and coasts
Satellites
Ocean sounds
Plankton
Sharks, rays, and skates
Fish
Harmful algal blooms
Invertebrates
Sea turtles
Marine mammals
Fisheries and seafood
Coral reef ecosystems
Oil spills
Ocean pollution and marine debris

Special categories

Other languages
Spanish

Collection name

Bite-sized Science webinar series

These 30-minute webinars are presented by Florida Sea Grant extension agents and specialists. They focus on marine and coastal science topics, specifically related to Florida. Some webinars were presented in Spanish.

Audience

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

Subject

Engineering and technology
Life science

Resource type

Citizen science project

Topic

Marine life
Fish
Life in an estuary

Special categories

Citizen science

Help track changes in river herring populations over time by counting the number of fish passing through the fish ladder at Jenney Grist Mill dam located on Town Brook in Plymouth, Massachusetts. Video recordings from the dam allow people anywhere, at any time, to participate in this project. With these video counts, are used to estimate in real-time the total number of herring that have migrated so far this year. Every video count matters, and helps to get one step closer to an accurate estimate of the total herring run. Let's start counting!

Audience

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

Resource type

Video

Topic

Ocean and coasts
Marine life
Fish
Aquatic food webs
Ocean exploration

Special categories

Other languages
Spanish

Collection name

Ocean Today
Ocean Today: Marine life

Meet the bizarre deep sea creature known as the Anglerfish!