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

Intermediate data product
Data product

Topic

Weather and atmosphere
Weather observations

From the National Weather Service, this data website provides animated maps of snow data in the contiguous United States going back to 2003.

Audience

Grade 6-8
Grade 9-12
College+
Adults

Subject

Earth science
Physical science

Resource type

Activities, lessons, and units
Activity/demonstration
Background information
Collection

Topic

Space
Space weather

Special categories

Instructional strategies
Hands-on
Informal
Models

Collection name

Solar physics and terrestrial effects curriculum guide

Solar Physics and Terrestrial Effects is a resource consisting of three main parts: a short textbook, a hands-on activity guide, and resource listings. The textbook should provide the necessary background in solar physics for teachers. The activity section offers ideas for hands-on experiences that can be done in the classroom, using materials that are cheap and easily available. Background information is available in the text for the activities. Any materials that are needed for activities can be obtained from a variety of sources.

Audience

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

Subject

Engineering and technology
Earth science
Life science
Physical science

Resource type

Easy-to-use data product
Data product

Topic

Technology and engineering
Marine life
Ocean and coasts
Fish
Marine mammals
Ocean pollution and marine debris

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

Audience

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

Resource type

Video

Topic

Ocean and coasts
Marine life
Technology and engineering
Ocean sounds
Ocean pollution and marine debris
Marine mammals

Special categories

Other languages
Spanish

Collection name

Ocean Today
Ocean Today: Research

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.

Audience

Grade 6-8
Grade 9-12
College+
Adults

Subject

Earth science
Engineering and technology
Social studies

Resource type

Background information

Topic

Space
Space weather
Technology and engineering
Satellites

Special categories

Safety/preparedness

In order to protect people and systems that might be at risk from space weather effects, we need to understand the causes. The sun is the main source of space weather. Eruptions of plasma and magnetic field structures from the sun's atmosphere, called coronal mass ejections (CMEs), and sudden bursts of radiation, called solar flares, can cause space weather effects at or near Earth. Luckily, Earth's magnetosphere, ionosphere, and atmosphere do a great job of protecting us from the most hazardous effects.

Audience

Grade 6-8
Grade 9-12
College+
Adults

Subject

Earth science
Engineering and technology

Resource type

Background information

Topic

Space
Space weather
Technology and engineering
Satellites

Frequently asked questions answered by the Space Weather Prediction Center.

Audience

Grade 6-8
Grade 9-12
College+
Adults

Subject

Earth science
Engineering and technology
Social studies

Resource type

Background information

Topic

Space
Space weather
Technology and engineering
Satellites

Special categories

Safety/preparedness

Different types of space weather can affect different technologies at Earth.

Audience

Grade 9-12
College+
Adults

Subject

Earth science
Engineering and technology

Resource type

Background information
Poster/brochure

Topic

Space
Space weather
Technology and engineering
Satellites

Special categories

Printable

A two sided poster and printable booklet on space weather.

Audience

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

Subject

Earth science
Engineering and technology

Resource type

Background information
Multimedia
Video

Topic

Space
Space weather
Technology and engineering
Satellites

This website from the Space Weather Prediction Center shares space weather information and resources for a broad audience.

Audience

Grade 6-8
Grade 9-12
College+
Adults

Subject

Earth science
Engineering and technology

Resource type

Background information
Data product
Intermediate data product

Topic

Space
Space weather
Technology and engineering
Satellites

An overview of the different types of phenomena that are a result of space weather.