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.”

 

Filters:

Audience

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

Resource type

Video

Topic

Marine life
Conservation
Marine mammals
Ocean and coasts

Special categories

Other languages
Spanish

Collection name

Ocean Today
Ocean Today: Marine life

Whale watching may not seem intrusive, but it can actually disrupt whale feeding, nursing, mating and migrating behaviors, and can cause unintended injuries to both whale and whale watcher. NOAA and Whale and Dolphin Conservation developed Whale SENSE; an educational awareness program dedicated to responsible whale watching.

Audience

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

Subject

Earth science

Resource type

Video
Multimedia

Topic

Weather and atmosphere
Weather observations
Clouds

Special categories

Outdoor education
Instructional strategies

Collection name

SciJinks

A video from NOAA SciJinks about clouds. All clouds are made up of basically the same thing: water droplets or ice crystals that float in the sky. But all clouds look a little bit different from one another, and sometimes these differences can help us predict a change in the weather.

Audience

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

Resource type

Video

Topic

Climate
Climate change impacts
Marine life
Coral reef ecosystems
Conservation
Endangered species
Fisheries and seafood
Seaweed, algae, and aquatic plants
Ocean and coasts

Collection name

Ocean Today

Learn about some of the bold and brilliant ideas researchers and conservationists have to rescue corals and coral reefs from disaster.

Audience

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

Subject

Earth science

Resource type

Video
Background information
Multimedia

Topic

Ocean and coasts
Tides

Special categories

Education at home
Instructional strategies

Collection name

SciJinks

A video from NOAA SciJinks about tides.

Audience

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

Resource type

Video

Topic

Ocean and coasts
Maritime archaeology and history
Ocean exploration

Special categories

Cultural heritage
Other languages
Spanish

Collection name

Ocean Today
Ocean Today: Exploration

Maritime archaeologist Jim Delgado explains what maritime archaeology is.

Audience

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

Subject

Earth science
Life science

Resource type

Video
Background information
Multimedia

Topic

Climate
Carbon cycle

Special categories

Education at home
Instructional strategies

A broad overview of the carbon cycle. The video is hosted on a webpage that includes more information about the carbon cycle. A side menu on the page links to more carbon resources. There is also an explanation of "blue carbon," or carbon captured by the world's ocean and coastal ecosystems.

Audience

Adults
College+
Grade 9-12
Grade 6-8

Subject

Earth science

Resource type

Video
Multimedia

Topic

Weather and atmosphere
Hurricanes

Special categories

Safety/preparedness

The hurricane cone of uncertainty is often misunderstood and misinterpreted. This video from the National Hurricane Center helps to explain what it means.

Audience

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

Subject

Earth science

Resource type

Video
Background information
Multimedia

Topic

Weather and atmosphere
Weather systems and patterns
Weather observations

Collection name

SciJinks

Jet streams are narrow bands of strong wind that generally blow from west to east all across the globe. Earth has four primary jet streams: two polar jet streams, near the north and south poles, and two subtropical jet streams closer to the equator.

Audience

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

Subject

Social studies
Earth science

Resource type

Video
Multimedia

Topic

Weather and atmosphere
Tornadoes

Special categories

Safety/preparedness
Education at home
Instructional strategies

What's a severe thunderstorm or tornado watch? How's it different from a warning? What actions should be taken when a watch is issued? Get the answers to these frequently asked questions here!

Audience

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

Subject

Earth science

Resource type

Video

Topic

Weather and atmosphere
Weather systems and patterns

Special categories

Other languages
Spanish
Safety/preparedness

Collection name

Ocean Today
Ocean Today: Danger zone

Every year, millions of lightning flashes fill our skies. Learn what causes lightning and how to stay safe.