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.”

 

No results match your search.

Audience

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

Subject

Earth science

Resource type

Video

Topic

Ocean and coasts
Climate
Technology and engineering
Sea level rise
Climate change impacts
Buoys
Resiliency and mitigation

Special categories

Other languages
Spanish

Collection name

Ocean Today
Ocean Today: Research

Why does seal level change and how might rising sea levels affect people living on the coasts?

Audience

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

Subject

Earth science

Resource type

Video

Topic

Ocean and coasts
Climate
Cryosphere
Climate change impacts
Sea level rise

Special categories

Other languages
Spanish

Collection name

Ocean Today
Ocean Today: Research

After 2013's slight rebound from 2012's record-setting low, 2014 saw another dip in extent at 5.02 million square kilometers, or 1.94 million square miles, 2014 comes in 6th place for the smallest summer sea ice minimum extent in recorded history.

Audience

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

Subject

Earth science

Resource type

Video

Topic

Ocean and coasts
Climate
Cryosphere
Climate change impacts
Sea level rise

Collection name

Ocean Today
Ocean Today: Research

At 4.41 million square kilometers or 1.79 million square miles, 2015 was the fourth-smallest summer sea ice minimum extent in recorded history. This is 1.87 million square kilometers below the 1981 to 2010 average extent.

Audience

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

Subject

Earth science

Resource type

Video

Topic

Climate
Technology and engineering
Climate change impacts
Cryosphere
Sea level rise
Resiliency and mitigation

Special categories

Other languages
Spanish

Collection name

Ocean Today
Ocean Today: Research

The numbers are in. The American Meteorological Society’s State of the Climate in 2013 shows that the vast majority of worldwide climate indicators continued to reflect trends of a warmer planet.

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
Sea level rise

Special categories

Other languages
Spanish

Collection name

Ocean Today
Ocean Today: Research

How well do you know the ocean? Check out these amazing ocean facts!

Audience

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

Subject

Engineering and technology
Earth science
Life science
Physical science

Resource type

Video
Collection
Multimedia

Topic

Technology and engineering
Freshwater
Marine life
Climate
Weather and atmosphere
Ocean and coasts
Buoys
Satellites
ROVs, AUVs, and drones
Harmful algal blooms
Cryosphere
Sea level rise
Water cycle
Sea turtles
Marine mammals
Coral reef ecosystems
Climate data monitoring
Climate change impacts
Carbon cycle
El Niño and La Niña
Ocean pollution and marine debris
Ocean floor features
Ocean acidification

Collection name

Ocean Today
Ocean Today: Research

Questions and answers about how we study the ocean and what we've learned. Topics include harmful algal blooms in the Gulf of Mexico, climate recaps, climate change, ocean exploration, Arctic sea ice, and more

Audience

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

Subject

Earth science

Resource type

Video
Multimedia

Topic

Climate
Ocean and coasts
Sea level rise
Climate data monitoring

Collection name

Ocean Today
Ocean Today: Research

The Earth’s Climate is changing, and it is causing sea levels to change too. Even small changes in sea levels can dramatically alter coastal landscapes all across the world. Continuously measuring sea level changes over the long term is the best way for scientists to understand and project how and when this will affect our communities.

Audience

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

Subject

Earth science

Resource type

Video

Topic

Ocean and coasts
Climate
Technology and engineering
Sea level rise
Climate change impacts
GPS and geodesy
Satellites
Buoys

Special categories

Other languages
Spanish

Collection name

Ocean Today
Ocean Today: Research

Scientists use high-tech instruments to determine how much sea levels are changing, both locally and globally.

Audience

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

Subject

Earth science

Resource type

Video

Topic

Ocean and coasts
Climate
Technology and engineering
Cryosphere
Satellites
Ships and planes
Climate change impacts
Sea level rise

Special categories

Other languages
Spanish

Collection name

Ocean Today
Ocean Today: Research

There are three main ways that scientists measure Arctic ice: satellites, aircraft, and on-site, or “in situ” measuring. It is these multiple observations that provide a more complete picture and story of the ice.

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
Climate change impacts
Cryosphere
Weather systems and patterns
Sea level rise
Endangered species

Special categories

Other languages
Spanish

Collection name

Ocean Today
Ocean Today: Research

As Arctic ice continues to melt, it will cause ripple effects across the planet. Here are some of the impacts.