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.”

 

Audience

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

Subject

Earth science

Resource type

Easy-to-use data product
Data product

Topic

Weather and atmosphere
Hurricanes

Special categories

Printable

Printable hurricane tracking charts for the Atlantic and Eastern Pacific regions.

Audience

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

Resource type

Video

Topic

Ocean and coasts
Marine life
Invertebrates

Collection name

Ocean Today

How do horseshoe crabs keep you healthy? Watch this episode to find out.

Audience

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

Subject

Earth science

Resource type

Video
Multimedia

Topic

Freshwater
Water cycle

Collection name

Science On a Sphere catalog

Blue Planet provides viewers with an overview of how water shapes our planet and nearly every aspect of our lives. Using data sets from a variety of sources, including NOAA and NASA, the movie presents water as the driver of Earth's dynamic systems, the source of all life on the planet, and it underscores just how rare and precious Earth's fresh water resource is. Blue Planet is a seven minute, narrated movie that was produced for the traveling exhibition WATER: H2O=Life.*

Audience

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

Subject

Earth science

Resource type

Video

Topic

Ocean and coasts
Rip currents

Special categories

Other languages
Spanish
Safety/preparedness

Collection name

Ocean Today
Ocean Today: Danger zone

Rip currents account for 80% of beach rescues. Know what to do BEFORE you head to the beach to keep yourself and others safe.

Audience

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

Resource type

Video

Topic

Ocean and coasts
Rip currents

Special categories

Safety/preparedness

Collection name

Ocean Today

Research shows that teens are more likely to take risks than other age groups, which could make them more vulnerable to getting caught in a rip current. Share this video with the teens you know so they'll know what to do if they're caught in one - it could save their life.

Audience

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

Resource type

Video

Topic

Ocean and coasts
Marine life
Freshwater
Fisheries and seafood
Invertebrates

Special categories

Other languages
Spanish

Collection name

Ocean Today
Ocean Today: Go fish

Using aquaculture, farmers grow mussels. These shellfish are not only a popular food, but they help clean the water. Learn more about them and how they're farmed.

Audience

Adults
College+
Grade 9-12
Grade 6-8

Subject

Earth science

Resource type

Related story

Topic

Climate
Weather and atmosphere
Climate data monitoring
Weather systems and patterns
El Niño and La Niña

Volcanic eruptions have had HUGE impacts on the global climate by cooling Earth. It’s only natural to wonder, if the planet is affected by volcanic eruptions, can ENSO be?

Audience

Adults
College+
Grade 9-12
Grade 6-8

Subject

Earth science

Resource type

Background information

Topic

Ocean and coasts
Oil spills

When asked what oil looks like, most people would probably describe it similar to molasses — black, and somewhat viscous in appearance. But did you know, crude oils can come in a range of colors? From black to red to yellow, oil can appear in a number of different colors and consistencies. This can make it especially hard to find and identify oil from the air.

Audience

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

Subject

Earth science

Resource type

Simulation
Game/online activity
Activity/demonstration
Activities, lessons, and units
Multimedia

Topic

Climate
Carbon cycle

Special categories

Informal
Printable
Education at home
Models
Hands-on
Instructional strategies

Here are three hands-on games you can use to simulate the Carbon Cycle. This includes instructions and printable game pieces.

Audience

College+
Grade 9-12
Grade 6-8

Subject

Earth science

Resource type

Background information
Collection

Topic

Climate
Carbon cycle

Collection name

Carbon educational tools

A brief background about the carbon cycle and links to a few other resources, including the global carbon budget, more carbon cycle information and diagrams, carbon data, and more.