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

Adults
College+
Grade 9-12
Grade 6-8

Subject

Earth science
Life science

Resource type

Related story

Topic

Marine life
Weather and atmosphere
Sea turtles
Hurricanes

Caught in an Atlantic hurricane, satellite-tagged loggerhead turtles changed their dive behavior and movement patterns as the storm passed.

Audience

Grade 6-8
Grade 9-12

Subject

Earth science
Life science
Math
Physical science

Resource type

Activities, lessons, and units
Activity/demonstration
Lesson plan
Collection

Topic

Climate
Carbon cycle
Climate change impacts
Climate data monitoring
Ocean and coasts
Ocean acidification
Weather and atmosphere
Weather observations
Weather systems and patterns

Special categories

Grantee resource
Instructional strategies
Education at home
Hands-on
Informal
Models
Uses data

Collection name

ELP grantee

The activities in this collection are based on the principle that real-time environmental data is a valuable tool for providing students with opportunities for self-directed exploration of the natural world. Students engaging in these activities will gain a deeper understanding of carbon cycling, ocean acidification, and other phenomena related to climate change. These activities are designed with the three-dimensional approach to teaching in mind (e.g. NGSS-aligned), and also use a data literacy framework to help guide students through data orientation, interpretation, and synthesis.

Audience

Adults
College+
Grade 9-12
Grade 6-8

Subject

Engineering and technology
Earth science
Life science

Resource type

Career profile

Topic

Technology and engineering
Marine life
Weather and atmosphere
Satellites
Fisheries and seafood
Weather observations

Four NOAA employees were recognized at the annual Women of Color in STEM conference, which was held virtually October 8-10, 2020. These awards highlight significant achievements in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM).

Audience

Adults
College+
Grade 9-12
Grade 6-8

Subject

Engineering and technology
Earth science

Resource type

Career profile

Topic

Technology and engineering
Climate
Weather and atmosphere
Ocean and coasts
Mapping and charting
Harmful algal blooms
Fires
Weather systems and patterns
Weather observations

Learn from recipients of the Black Engineer of the Year awards about their paths to a career at NOAA and their advice for future STEM leaders.

Audience

Adults
College+
Grade 9-12
Grade 6-8

Subject

Earth science

Resource type

Podcast
Multimedia

Topic

Ocean and coasts
Weather and atmosphere
Tsunamis

Special categories

Safety/preparedness

Meteotsunamis occur all over the world — including the Great Lakes — but scientists are just beginning to better detect and understand them. In this podcast, learn about new research that advances what we know about these little known, but surprisingly common, weather-driven events.

Audience

Adults
College+
Grade 9-12
Grade 6-8

Subject

Engineering and technology
Earth science

Resource type

Citizen science project
Mobile app
Multimedia

Topic

Weather and atmosphere
Weather observations

Special categories

Citizen science

The NOAA National Severe Storms Laboratory collects public weather reports through a free app available for mobile devices. Reporters select the type of weather that is occurring, and tap “submit.” mPING reports are immediately archived into a database at The University of Oklahoma, and are displayed on a map accessible to anyone. Weather radars cannot “see” at the ground, so mPING (Meteorological Phenomena Identification Near the Ground) reports are used by the National Weather Service to fine-tune their forecasts. NSSL uses the data in a variety of ways, including to develop new radar and forecasting technologies and techniques.

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.

Audience

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

Subject

Math
Engineering and technology
Earth science

Resource type

Easy-to-use data product
Data product

Topic

Technology and engineering
Freshwater
Weather and atmosphere
Ocean and coasts
Buoys
Sea level rise
Watersheds, flooding, and pollution
Great Lakes ecoregion
Weather systems and patterns
Weather observations
Hurricanes
El Niño and La Niña
Tsunamis
Tides
Ocean currents
Ocean acidification

The National Data Buoy Center provides real-time environmental observations collected from buoys around the world. View both recent and historical information on ocean and weather conditions, as well as any current tsunami activity. Graphs and tables of data are available for water column height at each buoy location.

Audience

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

Subject

Earth science

Resource type

Easy-to-use data product
Data product
Background information

Topic

Weather and atmosphere
Hurricanes

The National Hurricane Center (NHC) portal includes forecasts of upcoming Atlantic and Pacific hurricanes, tropical storms, and other tropical weather, as well as satellite, aerial, and analysis data on past storms, archived reports, and outreach materials.

Audience

Adults
College+
Grade 9-12

Subject

Earth science

Resource type

Easy-to-use data product
Data product

Topic

Freshwater
Climate
Weather and atmosphere
Drought
Water cycle
Climate data monitoring
Weather systems and patterns
Weather observations

View the U.S Drought Monitor's weekly interactive map and summary and the Climate Prediction Center's monthly drought outlook. Zoom in to see the regional, state, and county level and obtain historical comparisons. Explore numerical and graphical data.