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

Grade 6-8
Grade 9-12
College+

Subject

Earth science

Resource type

Video
Multimedia

Topic

Ocean and coasts
Tsunamis

Special categories

Safety/preparedness

Collection name

Ocean Today
Ocean Today: Tsunami science and safety

This collection of videos teaches potential warning signs of an incoming tsunami, science of these dangerous waves, and safety information.

Audience

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

Subject

Earth science
Life science

Resource type

Video
Multimedia

Topic

Marine life
Ocean and coasts
Ocean floor features
Ecosystems

Collection name

Ocean Today

Not too long ago, scientists studying the ocean made a fascinating discovery that has helped us better understand our planet Earth. Down in the deep and dark waters, they found hot springs on the ocean floor releasing warm and mineral-rich fluids – these are called hydrothermal vents.

Audience

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

Subject

Earth science

Resource type

Video
Multimedia

Topic

Weather and atmosphere
Tornadoes

Collection name

Ocean Today
Ocean Today: Danger zone

They are sometimes seen as threatening funnel clouds descending from stormy skies. Others can be nearly invisible, like a ghostly spiral of wind skimming the sea surface. These eerie columns of rotating air are known as waterspouts — commonly defined as tornadoes over water.

Audience

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

Resource type

Video

Topic

Ocean and coasts
Marine life
Technology and engineering
Ocean exploration
Ocean pollution and marine debris
Invertebrates
Coral reef ecosystems

Special categories

Other languages
Spanish

Collection name

Ocean Today

Ocean Today host Symone Johnson introduces The Ocean We Love video collection, which highlights some of Ocean Today's other video collections focusing on ocean life, technology, and how you can help the ocean.

Audience

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

Subject

Earth science

Resource type

Webinar

Topic

Marine life
Ecosystems
Ocean and coasts
Ocean exploration
Ocean floor features

Collection name

Ocean Today

Discover out of this world creatures and phenomena in the Earth’s deep ocean. Visit underwater volcanoes and thermal vents where temperatures range from extremely hot (400° C) to icy cold (1°C).Join the NOAA/NASA science and exploration crews in the deep ocean as they work together to reveal how life can live outside of the goldilocks zone... in some of the harshest conditions on earth!

Audience

Grade K-2

Subject

Earth science
Life science

Resource type

Coloring/activity book
Podcast
Video
Background information
Collection
Multimedia

Topic

Marine life
Ocean and coasts
Ocean exploration
Fish
Ecosystems
Invertebrates

Collection name

Octonauts Corner

NOAA Ocean Exploration and the Octonauts (http://www.theoctonauts.com/) have teamed up to bring you great deep-ocean information, to help you learn about and protect our ocean.

Audience

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

Subject

Arts
Humanities/liberal arts
Life science
Social studies

Resource type

Collection
Multimedia
Simulation
Video

Topic

Freshwater
Great Lakes ecoregion
Marine life
Aquatic food webs
Coral reef ecosystems
Ecosystems
Fish
Invertebrates
Marine mammals
Sea turtles
Ocean and coasts

Special categories

Virtual reality/VR

Collection name

Sanctuaries 360 virtual dives

Dive in without getting wet! Your National Marine Sanctuary System protects a network of underwater parks encompassing more than 600,000 square miles of marine and Great Lakes waters, and now you can visit these amazing places in the blink of an eye. From the thriving kelp forests of Channel Islands to the treasured coral reefs of the Florida Keys, few places on the planet can compete with the wonders of the National Marine Sanctuary System. Come along as we experience these underwater treasures through eight virtual reality videos. Check out the Next Generation Science Standard lesson plans that complement the VR videos to go deeper.

Audience

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

Resource type

Video

Topic

Ocean and coasts
Marine life
Freshwater
Oil spills
Ocean pollution and marine debris

Special categories

Other languages
Spanish

Collection name

Ocean Today
Ocean Today: Fix the ocean

Quick action can help prevent oil spills from becoming environmental disasters. See what happened after an oil tanker collided into a barge in New Orleans.

Audience

Adults
College+
Grade 9-12

Subject

Earth science
Life science

Resource type

Story map
Background information
Multimedia

Topic

Marine life
Ocean and coasts
Marine mammals
Oil spills

NOAA's guidelines assessing exposure and impacts of oil spills on marine mammals

Audience

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

Subject

Earth science

Resource type

Video

Topic

Weather and atmosphere
Climate
Climate change impacts
Weather systems and patterns

Special categories

Citizen science
Other languages
Spanish

Collection name

Ocean Today
Ocean Today: Research

By studying ships’ logs dating back to the 19th century, we can find all sorts of weather data that we can plug into computer models and improve our climate projections. Find out how you can help.