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

Adults
College+
Grade 9-12
Grade 6-8

Subject

Earth science

Resource type

Related story

Topic

Climate
Weather and atmosphere
Climate data monitoring
Climate change impacts
Weather systems and patterns
Weather observations

The desiccating Four Corners drought, intense heat waves on the Iberian peninsula and in northeast Asia, exceptional precipitation in the Mid-Atlantic states, and record-low sea ice in the Bering Sea were 2018 extreme weather events made more likely by human-caused climate change, according to new research published in the Bulletin of the American Meteorological Society (BAMS).

Audience

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

Subject

Social studies
Earth science

Resource type

Video
Multimedia

Topic

Weather and atmosphere
Weather observations

Special categories

Navajo/Diné
Cultural heritage
Other languages

Science isn't all about numbers. In 2017 the National Weather Service learned of the importance of the Navajo Tsiiyéeł and the relationship with weather. In this short, Navajo filmmaker Cherylee Francis and actors partner with the National Weather Service to explain this important connection. WINNER of First Place and Audience Choice at the 2019 Navajo Film Festival!

Audience

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

Subject

Earth science
Engineering and technology
Physical science
Social studies

Resource type

Career profile
Collection
Multimedia
Video

Topic

Climate
Climate change impacts
Climate data monitoring
Marine life
Fisheries and seafood
NOAA careers
Ocean and coasts
Ocean chemistry
Ocean sounds
Space
Space weather
Technology and engineering
Weather and atmosphere
Weather observations

Collection name

NOAA Boulder Labs: Meet our team

Learn about the different types of career paths that are available at the NOAA Boulder campus. Many NOAA employees are scientists, but there are also administrative staff, tech workers, science communicators, and more!

Audience

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

Subject

Earth science
Physical science

Resource type

Background information
Collection
Multimedia
Video

Topic

Climate
Changing seasons
Climate data monitoring
Cryosphere
Freshwater
Watersheds, flooding, and pollution
Space
Space weather
Technology and engineering
ROVs, AUVs, and drones
Weather and atmosphere
Fires
Tornadoes
Weather systems and patterns

Collection name

NOAA Boulder scientists explain science

In NOAA Boulder's ask-a-scientist portal, scientists explain different weather and climate concepts, like weather in space all the way down to things we experience here on Earth.

Audience

Grade 6-8

Subject

Earth science
Engineering and technology
Life science
Physical science

Resource type

Activities, lessons, and units
Activity/demonstration
Collection

Topic

Ocean and coasts
Tsunamis
Space
Space weather
Weather and atmosphere
Weather observations
Weather systems and patterns

Special categories

Instructional strategies
Hands-on
Informal
Models
Uses data

Collection name

NOAA Boulder Virtual 8th Grade Science Days

From studying the ocean to solar flares, NOAA has researchers in a wide range of scientific topics. Put on your scientist hat and take your time to look around at the videos and activities we have prepared for you to see what it would be like to be one of our scientists in these various fields!

Audience

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

Subject

Earth science

Resource type

Background information
Poster/brochure

Topic

Weather and atmosphere
Clouds
Weather observations
Weather systems and patterns

Special categories

Printable

The downloadable NOAA cloud chart includes information about the different types of clouds as well as broad information about climate zones in the contiguous United States.

Audience

Grade 6-8
Grade 9-12
College+

Subject

Earth science
Engineering and technology
Physical science

Resource type

Related story

Topic

Climate
Climate data monitoring
Marine life
Fisheries and seafood
Ocean and coasts
Ocean currents
Technology and engineering
Buoys
Satellites
Weather and atmosphere
Hurricanes

Drifters, buoys, Argo floats and more help scientists monitor the global ocean, including areas that are difficult to travel to via research ship.

Audience

Grade 9-12
College+
Adults

Subject

Earth science
Engineering and technology

Resource type

Career profile
Job seeker resource

Topic

Ocean and coasts
Technology and engineering
Ships and planes
Weather and atmosphere

Collection name

NOAA Commissioned Officer Corps

Learn about the NOAA Commissioned Officer Corps (NOAA Corps). NOAA Corps officers serve on the sea, on land, and in the air to support NOAA's environmental science and stewardship mission.

Audience

Adults
College+
Grade 9-12
Grade 6-8

Subject

Engineering and technology
Earth science

Resource type

Intermediate data product
Easy-to-use data product
Data product
Collection

Topic

Technology and engineering
Freshwater
Climate
Weather and atmosphere
Ocean and coasts
Sea level rise
Watersheds, flooding, and pollution
Climate change impacts
Hurricanes

Collection name

NOAA Digital Coast

Part of the NOAA Office of Coastal Management, the NOAA Digital Coast website is mobile-optimized. This website is focused on helping communities address coastal issues and visualizing coasts and adjacent land. Explore many data resources such as the Sea Level Rise Viewer, the Data Access Viewer, Intro to Lidar, Historical Hurricane Tracks, the Flood Exposure Mapper and much more.

Audience

Adults
College+
Grade 9-12
Grade 6-8

Subject

Earth science

Resource type

Arts and crafts

Topic

Technology and engineering
Marine life
Weather and atmosphere
Satellites
Ships and planes
Fish
Invertebrates
Tornadoes

Special categories

Printable

“Carve” out some time for some Halloween (or anytime!) fun! These pumpkin carving templates take you on an adventure from satellites far above our heads to sea creatures in the depths of the ocean.