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

Background information
Collection

Topic

Freshwater
Weather and atmosphere
Watersheds, flooding, and pollution
Weather systems and patterns
Weather observations
Tornadoes
Hurricanes

Collection name

Severe weather 101

What is a wall cloud? What's the difference between a watch and a warning? Is it ever “too cold to snow”? Learn all about thunderstorms, tornadoes, hail, lightning, floods, damaging winds, and severe winter weather from the National Severe Storms Lab.

Audience

Grade 9-12
College+
Adults

Subject

Earth science

Resource type

Collection
Data product
Intermediate data product

Topic

Weather and atmosphere
Tornadoes
Weather observations
Weather systems and patterns

Collection name

Severe weather event summaries

Designed for people with experience in meteorology, this site shows real time and historic severe weather data on an interactive map, focusing on tornadoes, thunderstorms, hail, and wind. Datasets include daily events, monthly summaries, annual trends, downloadable radar data, and event archives.

Audience

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

Subject

Earth science

Resource type

Intermediate data product
Data product

Topic

Weather and atmosphere
Weather observations
Tornadoes

An interactive map with information about the probabilities of tornadoes, wind, and hail across the contiguous United States.

Audience

Grade 3-5

Subject

Arts
Life science
Math

Resource type

Activities, lessons, and units
Lesson plan

Topic

Marine life
Sharks, rays, and skates

NGSS DCI

LS2: Ecosystems: Interactions, Energy, and Dynamics

Special categories

Instructional strategies
Hands-on
Informal
Models

Collection name

Teacher at Sea

Students will research various shark species. Students will then put their research to the test by sketching sharks for other groups to identify. The groups will identify the sharks by estimating and recording length, observing the type of jaw, looking at the types of prey the shark eats, and noticing other defining characteristics of the sharks.

Audience

Grade K-2
Grade 3-5
Grade 6-8
Grade 9-12

Subject

Life science

Resource type

Coloring/activity book

Topic

Marine life
Sharks, rays, and skates

Special categories

Printable

Download this fun coloring book to discover the sharks and rays of the Channel Islands. This 20-page coloring book has species descriptions, samples of natural colors, a matching activity and 11x17 coloring poster.

Audience

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

Resource type

Video

Topic

Ocean and coasts
Technology and engineering
Tides
Ships and planes

Special categories

Other languages
Spanish

Collection name

Ocean Today
Ocean Today: Fix the ocean

Learn how NOAA's Air Gap system helps huge container ships safely enter and leave U.S. ports.

Audience

Grade 6-8

Subject

Earth science
ELA (English Language Arts)
Engineering and technology
Social studies

Resource type

Activities, lessons, and units
Lesson plan

Topic

Technology and engineering
Ships and planes

NGSS DCI

ESS3: Earth and Human Activity

Collection name

Sanctuaries 360 virtual dives

In pairs, students will research the historical, ecological, and economic importance of Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary by focusing on the wreck of D.M. Wilson, a wooden coal freighter that sank in 1894. Students will then create a digital infographic that communicates the importance of preserving the wreck.

Audience

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

Resource type

Video

Topic

Ocean and coasts
Maritime archaeology and history
Ocean exploration

Special categories

Cultural heritage
Other languages
Spanish

Collection name

Ocean Today

Ocean Today host Symone Johnson introduces the Shipwrecked video collection, which explores various shipwrecks in our ocean.

Audience

Grade 6-8

Subject

Life science
Math
Social studies

Resource type

Activities, lessons, and units
Lesson plan

Topic

Marine life
Ecosystems
Fish
Ocean and coasts
Maritime archaeology and history

NGSS DCI

LS2: Ecosystems: Interactions, Energy, and Dynamics

Special categories

Instructional strategies
Hands-on
Models

This lesson highlights the use of shipwrecks as artificial reefs. Students conduct a mock biological survey of fish populations using practiced methods of visual census transects and stationary quadrats. Students will apply and practice data sampling, collection, and analysis techniques. Students will make observations of similarities and differences between surveys and then make informed conclusions based on the data.

Audience

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

Subject

Earth science

Resource type

Video

Topic

Ocean and coasts
Marine life
Climate
Climate change impacts
Cryosphere
Sea level rise
Endangered species
Marine mammals

Special categories

Other languages
Spanish

Collection name

Ocean Today

As Arctic ice continues to melt, it will cause ripple effects across the planet for both animals and people. Here are some of the impacts.