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.” 

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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.”

 

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Audience

Grade K-2
Grade 3-5

Subject

Life science

Resource type

Coloring/activity book

Topic

Marine life
Ecosystems
Fish
Invertebrates
Life in an estuary

Special categories

Printable

Enjoy this short coloring book from the North Carolina National Estuarine Research Reserve. 

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

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

Subject

Social studies
Math
Engineering and technology
Earth science
Life science
Physical science

Resource type

Background information

Topic

Technology and engineering
Freshwater
Marine life
Weather and atmosphere
Buoys
Seabirds
Fish
ROVs, AUVs, and drones
Ecosystems
Rivers
Invertebrates
Watersheds, flooding, and pollution
Water cycle
Great Lakes ecoregion
Life in an estuary
Aquatic food webs
Weather systems and patterns
Weather observations

Special categories

Printable

Principles and concepts for estuaries 101: The big ideas and essential details students should learn about estuaries.

Audience

Grade 6-8
Grade 9-12
College+
Adults

Subject

Earth science
Life science
Math
Physical science

Resource type

Data product
Easy-to-use data product

Topic

Freshwater
Rivers
Water cycle
Watersheds, flooding, and pollution
Marine life
Ecosystems
Fish
Invertebrates
Life in an estuary

Special categories

Printable

The System-wide Monitoring Program, or SWMP (pronounced “swamp”), Graphing and Export System provides educators and students with access to SWMP data. These data mysteries will help students explore real events using the SWMP Graphing and Export System. Have them graph and then analyze each parameter to find out what happened, whether there was a significant change or spike in a parameter, why something occurred, who or what was impacted, and why. These mysteries are actual events tracked by reserve system researchers.

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
Marine mammals
Sea turtles
Ocean and coasts

Special categories

Cultural heritage
Other languages
Hawaiian
Printable
Region
Pacific Islands region

The Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary has several different activity books, coloring pages, and puzzles to enjoy. Some resources are available in Hawaiian.

Audience

Adults
College+
Grade 9-12
Grade 6-8
Grade 3-5
Grade K-2

Subject

Social studies
Earth science
Life science

Resource type

Poster/brochure

Topic

Freshwater
Marine life
Ocean and coasts
Ocean exploration
Maritime archaeology and history
Sharks, rays, and skates
Fish
Invertebrates
Great Lakes ecoregion
Sea turtles
Marine mammals

Special categories

Printable
Cultural heritage

As a part of the 50th anniversary of the 1972 National Marine Sanctuary Act, the NOAA Office of National Marine Sanctuaries released posters capturing the beauty and diversity of your National Marine Sanctuary System.

Audience

Adults
College+
Grade 9-12
Grade 6-8

Subject

Earth science

Resource type

Arts and crafts

Topic

Technology and engineering
Marine life
Weather and atmosphere
Satellites
Ships and planes
Fish
Invertebrates
Tornadoes

Special categories

Printable

“Carve” out some time for some Halloween (or anytime!) fun! These pumpkin carving templates take you on an adventure from satellites far above our heads to sea creatures in the depths of the ocean.

Audience

Grade K-2
Grade 3-5

Subject

Earth science
Life science

Resource type

Coloring/activity book

Topic

Marine life
Coral reef ecosystems
Ecosystems
Fish
Invertebrates
Marine mammals
Sea turtles
Seabirds

Special categories

Printable
Region
Pacific Islands region

These books feature coloring pages and activities about coastal ecosystems. Regions include Guam, Chesapeake Bay, Coastal North Carolina, Salish Sea, Mobile Bay, Hawaiʻi, Louisiana, and Arctic/Antarctic.

Audience

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

Subject

Math
Earth science
Life science
Physical science

Resource type

Background information

Topic

Marine life
Fish
Ecosystems
Invertebrates
Freshwater
Life in an estuary

Special categories

Printable
Education at home
Instructional strategies

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