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

Grade 6-8
Grade 9-12
College+
Adults

Subject

Earth science
Physical science

Resource type

Background information

Topic

Ocean and coasts
Ocean pollution and marine debris

Microplastics are found throughout the ocean, from tropical waters, to polar ice, and even in fresh water and the air we breathe. Learn more about the different types of microplastics, where they come from, and what you can do to help!

Audience

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 pollution and marine debris
Fish

A video on some issues impacting fish health.

Audience

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

Resource type

Video

Topic

Ocean and coasts
Technology and engineering
Ocean exploration
ROVs, AUVs, and drones
Ocean floor features

Special categories

Other languages
Spanish

Collection name

Ocean Today
Ocean Today: Exploration

Learn about NOAA’s Okeanos Explorer ship and how the technology onboard helps shape the future of ocean exploration.

Audience

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

Subject

Earth science

Resource type

Career profile
Video
Collection
Multimedia

Topic

Technology and engineering
Climate
Ocean and coasts
Buoys
Satellites
Ships and planes
Cryosphere

Collection name

MOSAiC: Multidisciplinary Drifting Observatory for the Study of Arctic Climate videos

In 2020, an international group of educators, photographers, cinematographers, and scientists are teamed together to bring the MOSAiC expedition to everyone and anyone fascinated by the Arctic, including K-16 students across the globe. General videos are 1-10 minutes, interviews are 30-60 minutes.

Audience

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

Subject

Earth science
Engineering and technology

Resource type

Collection
Multimedia
Images
Simulation

Topic

Climate
Cryosphere
Ocean and coasts
Technology and engineering
Ships and planes

Special categories

Region
Alaska region
Virtual reality/VR

Collection name

MOSAiC: Multidisciplinary Drifting Observatory for the Study of Arctic Climate virtual reality tours

In 2020, an international group of educators, photographers, cinematographers, and scientists are teamed together to bring the MOSAiC expedition to everyone and anyone fascinated by the Arctic, including K-16 students across the globe. Explore this voyage with 360-degree virtual experiences.

Audience

Grade 6-8

Subject

Social studies
Math
Engineering and technology
Earth science

Resource type

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

Topic

Ocean and coasts
Ocean floor features

NGSS DCI

ESS2: Earth’s Systems

Special categories

Models
Hands-on
Uses data
Instructional strategies

In this 6-7 day investigation, students begin with an introduction to seamounts that are present in the Gulf of Alaska. They learn how seamounts were formed and look at a bathymetric map of a seamount. In Activity 3A, students explore sea floor mapping techniques as they participate in an activity to create a map of a sea feature they have molded out of clay. In Activity 3B, students watch a short animated presentation, "Who cares about Sea Floor Mapping?" then create a model of a seamount found in Alaska. They use pre-sonar techniques to collect data and create a graph of their seamount using Excel.

Audience

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

Subject

Arts
Earth science

Resource type

Images
Multimedia

Topic

Climate
Ocean and coasts
Cryosphere

Inspired by the Arctic? Take a virtual stroll through the galleries to enjoy the artistic creations of MOSAiC fans around the world. Submit artwork to the Museum of MOSAiC Art in conjunction with the MOSAiC expedition. https://mosaic.colorado.edu/education

Audience

Grade 3-5

Subject

Arts
Social studies
ELA (English Language Arts)
Earth science

Resource type

Lesson plan
Activities, lessons, and units

Topic

Ocean and coasts
Ocean floor features

NGSS DCI

ESS2: Earth’s Systems

Special categories

Models
Hands-on
Instructional strategies

Collection name

Teacher at Sea

In this lesson students will learn about some of the features found on the ocean floor and that our knowledge of the ocean floor is due to exploration. Students will understand that there are similar features on the ocean floor that there are on land. Students will understand the importance and excitement of ocean exploration.

Audience

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

Resource type

Video

Topic

Ocean and coasts
Marine life
Technology and engineering
Ships and planes
Ocean exploration
Invertebrates
Fish
Fisheries and seafood
Plankton
Aquatic food webs
Marine mammals
Seabirds
Maritime archaeology and history
ROVs, AUVs, and drones

Collection name

Ocean Today

The world's largest underwater migration takes place twice a day in the ocean's mesopelagic zone. Watch to see some of the extraordinary life that dwells there, and learn more about this fascinating part of the ocean.

Audience

Grade 9-12
College+
Adults

Subject

Earth science
Engineering and technology
Life science
Physical science

Resource type

Collection
Data product
Advanced data product

Topic

Climate
Carbon cycle
Changing seasons
Climate change impacts
Climate data monitoring
Cryosphere
Marine life
Coral reef ecosystems
Ecosystems
Ocean and coasts
Space
Space weather
Technology and engineering
Buoys
Satellites
Weather and atmosphere
Drought
El Niño and La Niña
Fires
Hurricanes
Tornadoes
Weather observations
Weather systems and patterns

Collection name

National Centers for Environmental Information (NCEI)

NCEI is a major NOAA data repository that hosts and provides public access to one of the most significant archives for environmental data on Earth. Over 25 petabytes (25 million gigabytes) of atmospheric, coastal, oceanic, and geophysical data are available, including interactive maps, numerical data, satellite imagery, graphs and figures, modeled and predicted data, and more.