Lt. Col. Keith Gibson interacts with students from Gilchrist Elementary School during the Tallahassee Hurricane Awareness Tour May 22, 2014, at the Tallahassee Regional Airport, Fla. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's national hurricane center and the 403rd Wing's 53rd Weather Reconnaissance Squadron's tour is designed to help save lives and decrease property damage by promoting hurricane preparedness and awareness among local populations along the Gulf of Mexico. Gibson is the director of operations for the 53rd Weather Reconnaissance Squadron. (Image credit: Courtesy photo/403rd Public Affairs)
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Climate change and coral activities
4th - 12th grade
Students learn how climate change impacts the ocean through activities that help them understand ocean acidification, melting ice caps, and thermal expansion of water.
Ducks in the flow offsite link
3rd - 5th grade • Teacher guide • Links to standards
Students use scientific inquiry and data gathering skills to learn about force, motion, and ocean currents using the true story of toys that fell off a ship during a storm and drifted to various places.
Elementary GLOBE
K - 4th grade • Teacher guide
Students learn about Earth systems through science-based fictional story books and accompanying lesson plans. The seven books in this series cover air quality, climate, clouds, Earth system, seasons, soil, and water.
Exploring changes in ocean chemistry offsite link
4th - 5th grade • Uses data • Links to standards
Students test different water samples, analyze their results, and share their ideas about how to improve the experimental design.
The methane circus
5th - 6th grade • Links to standards
Students learn about the role methane hydrates played in animal evolution during the Cambrian Explosion, 541 million years ago. Students also learn how methane hydrates may contribute to climate change.
Mysteries in the ocean offsite link
3rd - 5th grade
Students learn about ocean floor features and how scientists explore and map these underwater landscapes.
Sanctuaries themed elementary collections
K - 6th grade
In celebration of the 50th anniversary of the National Marine Sanctuary System, the best of the best educational materials for an elementary school audience have been compiled in collaboration with the National Park Trust. Discover Spectacular with these education and outreach digital materials focused on 10 exciting topics: climate change, ocean acidification, marine debris, kelp forest ecosystems, coral reef ecosystems, sea turtles, sharks, whales and ocean noise, seabirds, and shipwrecks.
Watershed and rainscaping lessons offsite link
K - 6th grade • Teacher guide • Links to standards
Students learn about soil, watersheds, pollution, and how to improve local landscapes in this collection of lesson plans focused on watershed education.
What's the story with sand? offsite link
4th - 6th grade • Teacher guide • Links to standards
Students learn how sand forms, how to recognize different types, and how to tell sand apart from soil and other small particles.
Winged ambassadors offsite link
5th - 12th grade • Teacher guide • Uses data • Links to standards
In this collection of five lessons, students learn about albatrosses, their migration patterns, and how they are impacted by marine debris.