NOAA Sea to Sky: Education resource database

The Deep Ocean Education Project is a collaboration among NOAA Ocean Exploration, Ocean Exploration Trust, and Schmidt Ocean Institute featuring high-quality ocean exploration and science education materials from the three organizations. The Deep Ocean Education Project website – launched in 2021 – is built around themes that are easily searchable, address key ocean-related phenomena, and encourage and support three-dimensional approaches to teaching and learning for K-12 education. The objective is to provide a one-stop resource hub for public, educators, and students looking for deep-sea educational materials. The website also includes information on how to connect with research vessels, including a list of upcoming events and opportunities, and live feeds of expeditions.

The jellyfish often encountered in the Chesapeake Bay in the summer is the sea nettle (Chrysaora chesapeakei). Knowing where and when to expect this biotic nuisance may help to alleviate an unpleasant encounter. These maps are experimental and depict the probability of encountering sea nettles (not their abundance or density) in the Chesapeake Bay area. The density of sea nettles that you may encounter is not reflected here because it can vary greatly from year to year at a given location and would be a much less reliable prediction.

Marine organisms adapt to their habitats in a variety of ways. Octopi, for example, have developed their own unique strategy of camouflage. They can change almost instantly to match the color and texture of their surroundings — even sporting stripes or a stippled texture in an attempt to blend in with their environment. And, since octopi have no rigid skeleton, they can squeeze through the tiniest openings and holes in the ocean floor to hide. As a last resort, they can use jet propulsion and a black cloud of ink as a diversion for an escape. In this lesson, students will observe and demonstrate how camouflage works in an environment.

Created by teams of educators and marine scientists, ORSEA lessons are centered around marine-focused anchoring phenomena. Each multi-day learning unit supports data science education and ocean literacy, while also exposing students to a variety of marine-related careers. This project is funded by Oregon Sea Grant and the National Science Foundation through OSU's Regional Class Research Vessel Project.

The elementary portion of the Oysters on the Chesapeake Bay learning sequence consists of six lessons; one for each grade in Kindergarten through 5th. Each lesson targets an important area in the study of oysters: individually, as part of an ecosystem, and in oyster restoration. While not directly building on each other, the lessons incorporate age-appropriate skills used in previous lessons and build new skills. Kindergarteners begin by learning about pollution in water, and in subsequent years build knowledge about oyster shells, oyster reefs, and oyster internal anatomy. By fifth grade, students consolidate their learning, examine other perspectives, and demonstrate their mastery of ecological principles. They investigate and communicate conflicting interests in oyster harvest and restoration and learn how science can be helpful in navigating the complexity of biological and sociological interactions.

Students will observe, explore, dissect and compare members of the animal phylum Echinodermata to understand what particular traits make them successful in their environment. Second grade students work with peer (high school student) teachers.

Estuaries and their surrounding wetlands are bodies of water usually found where rivers meet the sea. Use this estuaries tutorial to learn more.