NOAA Sea to Sky: Education resource database

Students, teachers, and school administrators all have their own parts to play in the vision of One Cool Earth’s Earth Genius marine debris education program in San Luis Obispo, California. This unique educational program partners with schools to incorporate marine debris education, practices, and principles throughout public school systems, from classrooms and cafeterias to school facilities and administration.

California's nutrient-rich coastal waters are home to several species of large whales, including several endangered species. The state is also home to major shipping ports that bring thousands of large container and tanker ships through California national marine sanctuary waters. Ship and whale collisions have led to whale fatalities, and recent research suggests that many more of these ship strikes are going undetected each year. To address this global issue, national marine sanctuaries along the West Coast have been working with a number of partners to better understand the issue of ship strikes and slow vessels down to reduce harmful air emissions and protected endangered whales.

This map shows the locations of oil spills and other incidents for which NOAA's Office of Response and Restoration (OR&R) provided scientific support for the response. It also shows the locations of other major spills, but it does not show the location of every significant oil spill.

This interactive map displays the locations of oil spills, hazardous waste sites, or ship groundings where we are currently pursuing protection and restoration of natural resources. The locations of restoration efforts associated with these projects are also available.

Photos, videos, and virtual dives from the NOAA Office of National Marine Sanctuaries.

This curriculum incorporates lessons on marine debris into a broader investigation that helps students make the connection between the various parts of an aquatic ecosystem, as well as understand how people can impact such environments. It is designed to be used by fifth-grade teachers that are participating in the Nature’s Academy hands-on educational program in Florida. It outlines the specific standards that are covered by the included lessons, provides background information meant to best prepare students and teachers for participation in the field trip activities, and includes comprehensive lesson plans that utilize the Nature’s Academy Citizen Science Database. Although this curriculum is aimed at students and teachers participating in the field trip program, the materials provided may prove to be a useful resource for many educators.

Many Sea Grant programs host or support podcasts that highlight ocean, coastal and Great Lakes topics. Some of the podcasts offer a quick overview of relevant science and others feature conversations with coastal residents, researchers or other experts. Find the perfect podcast, whether for a lesson plan or entertainment on your morning commute!

The ocean is in trouble, but you can help save it! Every day the news is filled with stories about issues affecting our ocean, such as marine debris, ocean acidification, and sea level rise. But most stories will not explain how individuals can help. The Sea Stewards Handbook is here to teach you what you need to know to help save the world, or at least the 70% of it that is covered in saltwater.

Listen to exemplar sound clips of marine sounds, taken from passive acoustic recorders.

There is increasing concern that human-made noises may affect marine animals, especially whales. An international team of scientists and underwater sound experts conducted a study at a U.S. Navy listening range to study the impact.