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

Subject

Earth science
Engineering and technology

Resource type

Collection
Multimedia
Infographic

Topic

Climate
Freshwater
Water cycle
Space
Space weather
Technology and engineering
Satellites
Weather and atmosphere
Fires
Hurricanes
Weather systems and patterns

Special categories

Printable

Collection name

GOES-R infographics

A collection of infographics from the GOES-R satellite program on satellites, weather, and climate. Some infographics are appropriate for a broad audience, while others are more appropriate for an older audience.

Audience

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

Subject

Earth science
Engineering and technology

Resource type

Collection
Multimedia
Video

Topic

Space
Space weather
Technology and engineering
Satellites
Weather and atmosphere
Hurricanes
Tornadoes
Weather observations
Weather systems and patterns

Collection name

GOES-R satellite video collection

This collection of videos from the GOES-R satellite program includes videos on satellites, weather forecasting, and weather phenomena.

Audience

Adults
College+
Grade 9-12
Grade 6-8

Subject

Engineering and technology
Earth science

Resource type

Video
Collection
Multimedia

Topic

Technology and engineering
Weather and atmosphere
Satellites
Weather observations
Hurricanes

Collection name

GOES-R satellite video collection

A collection of videos, some more technical than others, about the GOES-R satellite program and what NOAA satellites do.

Audience

Adults
College+
Grade 9-12
Grade 6-8

Subject

Earth science

Resource type

Intermediate data product
Data product

Topic

Weather and atmosphere
Fires
Weather systems and patterns
Weather observations
Tornadoes
Hurricanes

This forecast data product from the National Weather Service provides an interactive map, which can be customized to feature data on temperature, precipitation, hazard, humidity, wind, cloud cover, snow and ice, fire, wave, tornado, hurricane, and more. Once users select a chosen region and data type, they can generate a bookmarkable URL, so they can return to the same forecast at later dates.

Audience

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

Subject

Earth science
Physical science

Resource type

Intermediate data product
Images
Data product
Poster/brochure
Multimedia

Topic

Freshwater
Great Lakes ecoregion

These detailed bathymetry maps of the Great Lakes can be viewed digitally or printed as color posters (full-size and mini). You can also download bathymetry contours as Esri Shapefiles.

Audience

Adults
College+
Grade 9-12

Subject

Social studies
Earth science
Life science
Physical science

Resource type

Advanced data product
Data product

Topic

Freshwater
Watersheds, flooding, and pollution
Great Lakes ecoregion

Special categories

Safety/preparedness

The Great Lakes Environmental Response Management Application (ERMA) is a tool for visualizing environmental contaminant data in the region, as well as information on natural resources, habitats, weather, water levels, and currents. Great Lakes ERMA is used to facilitate pollution response, cleanup, and restoration and is the most comprehensive collection of contaminant data in the region. NOAA’s ERMA is a critical tool for equipping experts to coordinate with partners and natural resource managers, including the Environmental Protection Agency, NOAA Great Lakes Environmental Research Laboratory, and State and Tribal partners, across the Great Lakes region.

Audience

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

Subject

Life science

Resource type

Background information
Poster/brochure
Multimedia

Topic

Freshwater
Great Lakes ecoregion
Freshwater food webs

Special categories

Printable

View or print these digital posters of food webs for each of the Great Lakes and Lake St. Clair from the Great Lakes Environmental Research Laboratory! They briefly describe the major species in each lake, and include a diagram summarizing the ecosystem energy flow (who eats or is eaten by whom!). These diagrams are based on a model from a paper published in 2003 supported by both NOAA and the Great Lakes Fishery Commission.

Audience

Adults
College+
Grade 9-12

Subject

Earth science

Resource type

Intermediate data product
Data product
Collection

Topic

Freshwater
Weather and atmosphere
Great Lakes ecoregion
Weather observations

Collection name

Great Lakes Coastal Forecasting System

Use the Great Lakes Coastal Forecasting System to view real-time data and forecasts for any of the Great Lakes. For most locations, you can view forecasts for wind, waves, ice, surface temperature, surface currents, temperature profiles, and water levels.

Audience

Adults
College+
Grade 9-12
Grade 6-8

Subject

Social studies
Earth science

Resource type

Intermediate data product
Simulation
Data product
Multimedia

Topic

Freshwater
Climate
Ocean and coasts
Sea level rise
Watersheds, flooding, and pollution
Great Lakes ecoregion
Climate change impacts

Special categories

Safety/preparedness

This web-based tool creates visuals that capture lake level changes that range from six feet above to six feet below historical long-term average water levels in the Great Lakes. Potential shoreline and coastal impacts are also provided through a social vulnerability index and a business layer that shows numbers of employees in coastal areas. This information can be used to think about appropriate preparations, including zoning restrictions, infrastructure improvements, and habitat conservation.

Audience

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

Subject

Earth science

Resource type

Data product
Easy-to-use data product
Multimedia
Images

Topic

Freshwater
Great Lakes ecoregion
Technology and engineering
Satellites
Weather and atmosphere
Clouds
Weather observations

View real-time and recent satellite images from the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) instrument. Download high-resolution images in multiple formats.