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

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

Subject

Life science

Resource type

Webinar
Multimedia

Topic

Marine life
Fish
Ecosystems
Invertebrates
Marine mammals
Aquatic food webs

Collection name

National Marine Sanctuaries Webinar Series: Archived webinars

Male and female northern elephant seals exhibit dramatic differences in size, shape and behavior. My research compares the feeding behavior of male and female seals to understand how the sexes use marine resources throughout the North Pacific Ocean.

Audience

Adults
College+
Grade 9-12
Grade 6-8

Subject

Earth science
Life science

Resource type

Webinar
Multimedia

Topic

Marine life
Climate
Ocean and coasts
Sea level rise
Climate change impacts
Ocean acidification

As a system of nationally significant places managed by NOAA, national marine sanctuaries are directly experiencing climate impacts, and serve as important assets for climate-informed management, science and education. Learn more about how the NOAA Office of National Marine Sanctuaries is actively incorporating climate into site management plans, facilities management, science and assessment, and education and outreach. This presentation will discuss how sanctuaries work with partners to use NOAA climate information in management, our role as climate educators, building a network of sentinel sites, and challenges in managing sanctuaries in a changing ocean.

Audience

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

Resource type

Video

Topic

Ocean and coasts
Marine life
Ocean pollution and marine debris
Coral reef ecosystems

Collection name

Ocean Today
Ocean Today: Fix the ocean

Even the most remote locations on Earth are fouled by man-made garbage and cast-outs. Marine debris is everywhere. And no matter what location it resides, it causes problems. There are no easy solutions to the worldwide problem of marine debris, but there are things you can do to help.

Audience

Grade 9-12
College+
Adults

Subject

Earth science
Social studies

Resource type

Multimedia
Infographic

Topic

Ocean and coasts
Ocean pollution and marine debris

An infographic with the results of a study on how much money Orange County residents could potentially save by reducing marine debris on 31 beaches in Southern California.

Audience

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

Subject

Earth science

Resource type

Collection
Multimedia
Infographic

Topic

Freshwater
Watersheds, flooding, and pollution
Marine life
Fisheries and seafood
Ocean and coasts
Ocean pollution and marine debris

Special categories

Region
Pacific Islands region

Check out some of the NOAA Marine Debris Program infographics! These are useful tools for visualizing information related to marine debris.

Audience

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

Subject

Earth science

Resource type

Multimedia
Images

Topic

Ocean and coasts
Ocean pollution and marine debris

Check out our photo gallery for images of marine debris types, sources, solutions, research, prevention, and impacts.

Audience

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

Subject

Earth science
Engineering and technology

Resource type

Citizen science project
Multimedia
Mobile app

Topic

Freshwater
Ocean and coasts
Ocean pollution and marine debris

Special categories

Citizen science
Instructional strategies
Education at home
Outdoor education

The Marine Debris Tracker mobile app allows you to help make a difference by checking in when you find trash along our coastlines and waterways. This tool is a great way to get involved in local and global data collection. This app pairs well with the Marine Debris Monitoring Toolkit for Educators. https://marinedebris.noaa.gov/curricula/marine-debris-monitoring-toolkit-educators

Audience

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

Subject

Arts
Earth science
Life science

Resource type

Module/unit
Infographic
Collection
Activity/demonstration
Lesson plan
Activities, lessons, and units
Multimedia

Topic

Ocean and coasts
Ocean pollution and marine debris

Special categories

Informal
Printable
Citizen science
Outdoor education
Education at home
Hands-on
Instructional strategies

Collection name

Marine Debris at-home collection

Check out these activities, lessons, and resources that use curiosity and inquiry to answer your questions about marine debris.

Audience

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

Resource type

Video

Topic

Ocean and coasts
Marine life
Technology and engineering
Sea turtles

Special categories

Other languages
Spanish

Collection name

Ocean Today
Ocean Today: Research

The U.S. Government has charged NOAA with enforcing the laws and treaties related to the conservation and protection of marine resources. See how marine criminals have been brought to justice.

Audience

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

Resource type

Video

Topic

Ocean and coasts
Marine life
Freshwater
Ecosystems

Special categories

Other languages
Spanish

Collection name

Ocean Today
Ocean Today: Fix the ocean

What exactly are Marine Protected Areas, or MPAs, and why are they important?