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.”

 

Audience

Adults
College+
Grade 9-12
Grade 6-8

Subject

Earth science

Resource type

Related story

Topic

Ocean and coasts
Ocean floor features

Three seamounts in the Pacific Ocean now bear names honoring the contributions to science made by NOAA and its partners in ocean exploration during a campaign led by the NOAA Ocean Exploration.

Audience

Adults
College+
Grade 9-12
Grade 6-8

Subject

Social studies
Life science
Physical science

Resource type

Webinar
Multimedia

Topic

Marine life
Ocean and coasts
Ecosystems
Marine mammals
Aquatic food webs
Ocean floor features

Special categories

Education at home
Instructional strategies

Collection name

National Marine Sanctuaries Webinar Series: Archived webinars

Long-term small-boat based studies in the main Hawaiian Islands have revealed amazing information on 11 resident species of whales and dolphins, as well as migratory and open-ocean species that visit the islands. Studies in the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands have been more limited due to logistics of vessel surveys. Comparisons of sightings and tagging data from the two areas suggest that there are resident populations of many species of dolphins and whales in Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument that have yet to be recognized. Join research biologist Robin Baird of Cascadia Research Collective who will compare what is, and isn't, known about whales and dolphins throughout the Hawaiian archipelago.

Audience

Grade 6-8

Subject

Earth science

Resource type

Activity/demonstration
Activities, lessons, and units

Topic

Ocean and coasts
Ocean floor features
Tsunamis

In this lesson, students will learn about tectonic plate movement, types, and boundaries, and the relationship between tectonic plate movements and earthquakes, volcanoes, and tsunamis.

Audience

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

Subject

Earth science

Resource type

Video

Topic

Ocean and coasts
Ocean floor features
Ocean exploration
Ecosystems
Ocean currents

Special categories

Other languages
Spanish

Collection name

Ocean Today
Ocean Today: Exploration

Did you know that in certain places on the seafloor, like in the Gulf of Mexico, there are underwater lakes and rivers?

Audience

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

Subject

Earth science

Resource type

Video

Topic

Ocean and coasts
Marine life
Ocean floor features
Ocean exploration
Ecosystems
Invertebrates

Special categories

Other languages
Spanish

Collection name

Ocean Today
Ocean Today: Exploration

Explore hydrothermal vents and the creatures that live on them.

Audience

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

Subject

Earth science

Resource type

Video

Topic

Ocean and coasts
Marine life
Ocean floor features
Ocean exploration
Ecosystems

Special categories

Other languages
Spanish

Collection name

Ocean Today
Ocean Today: Exploration

The Ring of Fire is home to hundreds of volcanoes. But most remain hidden far below the water’s surface.

Audience

Adults
College+
Grade 9-12
Grade 6-8

Subject

Social studies
Earth science

Resource type

Story map
Images
Video
Background information
Multimedia

Topic

Technology and engineering
Ocean and coasts
Ocean floor features

Special categories

Cultural heritage

On March 25, 1921, USS Conestoga left Mare Island Naval Yard, California for Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, and was expected to arrive safely at port on April 5. The vessel vanished with 56 sailors on board, and was officially declared lost with all crew on June 30, 1921. In September 2014, during an expedition with NOAA's Maritime Heritage Program in Greater Farallones National Marine Sanctuary, an unknown wreck was discovered, and in 2015 it was confirmed to be the final resting place of USS Conestoga. Considered an important relic representing America's past as a seafaring nation, the wreck is federally protected under the National Marine Sanctuaries Act and the Sunken Military Craft Act.

Audience

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

Subject

Earth science

Resource type

Video

Topic

Ocean and coasts
Marine life
Ecosystems
Ocean floor features
Ocean exploration

Special categories

Other languages
Spanish

Collection name

Ocean Today
Ocean Today: Exploration

Down in the deep and dark ocean waters, hot springs on the ocean floor release warm and mineral-rich fluids – these are called hydrothermal vents. Despite the seemingly harsh volcanic environment, these vents are actually home to a variety of life.

Audience

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

Subject

Earth science

Resource type

Video
Multimedia

Topic

Ocean and coasts
Ocean floor features

A collection of several short underwater volcano videos.

Audience

Grade 9-12
Grade 6-8

Subject

Earth science
Physical science

Resource type

Activity/demonstration
Lesson plan
Activities, lessons, and units

Topic

Ocean and coasts
Rip currents
Ocean floor features

NGSS DCI

PS4: Waves and Their Applications in Technologies for Information Transfer

Special categories

Models
Hands-on
Instructional strategies

Collection name

Ocean Exploration educational materials

Students analyze and interpret data to explain how multibeam sonar is used to identify patterns of ocean floor structures, construct three-dimensional maps, and understand how multibeam sonar technology extends the measurement and exploration capacity of modern ocean exploration.