NOAA Sea to Sky: Education resource database

⚠️ This page recently underwent an update. If you had bookmarked direct links to search results from this page prior to March 18, 2024, those links may no longer work and you may need to make a new bookmark. If you have any questions or concerns, please reach out to us at education@noaa.gov.

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

College+
Grade 9-12
Grade 6-8

Subject

Social studies
Earth science

Resource type

Infographic
Background information
Poster/brochure
Multimedia

Topic

Weather and atmosphere
Hurricanes

Special categories

Safety/preparedness

The National Weather Service hurricane safety page includes information on general safety, watches and warnings, how to plan for a hurricane, and what to do during and after a hurricane.

Audience

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

Resource type

Video

Topic

Weather and atmosphere
Hurricanes

Special categories

Other languages
Spanish
Safety/preparedness

Collection name

Ocean Today
Ocean Today: Danger zone

Follow these steps NOW so you'll be ready for the next hurricane and keep yourself and your family safe. Know the difference between a Hurricane Watch and Warning and how to prepare in case of an evacuation order.

Audience

Grade 6-8
Grade 3-5

Subject

Earth science

Resource type

Webinar
Collection
Multimedia

Topic

Technology and engineering
Weather and atmosphere
Ships and planes
Hazards and safety
Hurricanes

Special categories

Other languages
Spanish

This webinar series from the National Hurricane Center features forecasters from local NWS Weather Forecast Offices, flight directors and other personnel from the NOAA Aircraft Operations Center, the Air Force Reserve Hurricane Hunters, and international meteorological agencies. Some webinars are available in Spanish.

Audience

Grade 6-8
Grade 3-5

Subject

Earth science

Resource type

Webinar
Multimedia

Topic

Weather and atmosphere
Hurricanes

Special categories

Safety/preparedness

The 2018 Hurricane Webinar for 4th through 6th grade classes are presented by the Hurricanes: Science and Society (HSS) team at the University of Rhode Island's Graduate School of Oceanography (URIO/GSO) in partnership with the NOAA National Hurricane Center (NHC) and the NOAA Aircraft Operations Center (AOC). The purpose of the Hurricane Webinars is to raise awareness about hurricanes in advance of the North Atlantic hurricane season. Students will hear from NHC scientists as well as NOAA AOC personnel who fly into hurricanes. The webinar will cover hurricane hazards, forecasting, observing hurricanes with airplanes, and hurricane preparedness. Questions from the audience were answered during the webinar.

Audience

Grade 9-12
Grade 6-8
Grade 3-5
Grade K-2

Subject

Engineering and technology
Earth science

Resource type

Simulation
Activity/demonstration
Activities, lessons, and units
Multimedia

Topic

Technology and engineering
Ocean and coasts
Ships and planes
Ocean floor features

Special categories

Informal
Models
Hands-on
Instructional strategies

Hydrographic surveying is a scientific career that many people may not know about. In this activity, a sealed shoe box with a varied topography made out of clay will be measured by taking depth “soundings” with a skewer.

Audience

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

Resource type

Video

Topic

Ocean and coasts
Marine life
Technology and engineering
Fisheries and seafood
Fish
Salmon

Collection name

Ocean Today

From veggie fish food to underwater cameras, U.S. ocean farming is evolving. Watch to learn some of these sustainable innovations.

Audience

Adults
College+
Grade 9-12
Grade 6-8

Subject

Engineering and technology
Earth science

Resource type

Story map
Multimedia

Topic

Weather and atmosphere
Tornadoes

Special categories

Safety/preparedness

NOAA’s story map takes you inside Tornado Alley to NOAA’s Norman, Okla., campus. It’s here that some of the world’s most significant scientific and technological breakthroughs are born. From the front lines of meteorology and the way forecasts are made, to a revealing look at what’s on the horizon, you’ll see how NOAA continues to change the face of weather forecasting. Catch the action in America’s heartland!

Audience

Adults
College+
Grade 9-12
Grade 6-8

Subject

Earth science
Physical science

Resource type

Easy-to-use data product
Images
Data product
Multimedia

Topic

Climate
Climate data monitoring
Climate change impacts
Changing seasons

Select an image type, region, year, and week to browse archived images.

Audience

Adults
College+
Grade 9-12
Grade 6-8

Subject

Earth science

Resource type

Intermediate data product
Images
Data product
Infographic
Video
Background information
Collection
Multimedia

Topic

Ocean and coasts
Tsunamis

The UNESCO Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission (IOC) coordinates the international tsunami warning and mitigation system. Background information, safety messaging, data, imagery, and more are available at this website.

Audience

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

Resource type

Video

Topic

Ocean and coasts
Marine life
Technology and engineering
Marine mammals
Ships and planes

Special categories

Citizen science

Collection name

Ocean Today
Ocean Today: Fix the ocean

Whales face threats from ship strikes and entanglement in fishing gear. YOU can help! All it takes is a smartphone.