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.
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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

Resource type

Video

Topic

Ocean and coasts
Marine life
Marine mammals
Endangered species

Special categories

Region
Alaska region
Other languages
Spanish

Collection name

Ocean Today
Ocean Today: Marine life

The gray whale makes the longest migration of any mammal—12,000 miles. Learn more about these graceful giants.

Audience

Adults
College+
Grade 9-12
Grade 3-5

Subject

Social studies
Humanities/liberal arts
Earth science
Life science
Physical science

Resource type

Story map
Multimedia

Topic

Freshwater
Invasive species
Rivers
Watersheds, flooding, and pollution
Great Lakes ecoregion

A story map shows the benefits of habitat restoration in the Great Lakes, which benefits people and fish. Learn about threats to the Great Lakes basin, the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative, how we determine what to restore, and two restoration case studies.

Audience

Adults
College+
Grade 9-12

Subject

Social studies
Earth science

Resource type

Background information

Topic

Climate
Climate change impacts

Climate change is a significant threat to the health of the American people. This scientific assessment examines how climate change is already affecting human health and the changes that may occur in the future.

Audience

Adults
College+
Grade 9-12
Grade 6-8

Subject

Life science

Resource type

Podcast
Multimedia

Topic

Marine life
Sea turtles

Experts with very different backgrounds join forces to protect endangered sea turtles.

Audience

Grade 9-12

Subject

Social studies
Math
Engineering and technology
Earth science
Life science
Physical science

Resource type

Module/unit
Lesson plan
Activities, lessons, and units

Topic

Freshwater
Watersheds, flooding, and pollution

NGSS DCI

ETS1: Engineering Design
PS1: Matter and Its Interactions
ESS3: Earth and Human Activity
LS2: Ecosystems: Interactions, Energy, and Dynamics
LS1: From Molecules to Organisms: Structures and Processes

Special categories

Hands-on
Instructional strategies

These lessons give a thorough understanding of PPCP disposal issues, and extension activities are here to inspire action. All of the videos and online resources can be found on the Resources and Glossary page.

Audience

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

Resource type

Video

Topic

Ocean and coasts
Marine life
Ecosystems
Coral reef ecosystems
Fish
Ocean exploration

Special categories

Other languages
Spanish

Collection name

Ocean Today
Ocean Today: Research

The Mesophotic Zone, 30 to 150 meters beneath the ocean surface, is the furthest that sunlight can penetrate Only recently, with advancements in diving techniques and new technology, have we been able to study it in-depth.

Audience

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

Subject

Earth science
Physical science

Resource type

Background information
Related story

Topic

Ocean and coasts
Ocean pollution and marine debris

Huge amounts of marine debris enter the ocean and Great Lakes every year, from large abandoned and derelict vessels and fishing gear, to plastic bottles, food wrappers, and other trash, and even tiny pieces of plastic that you can't see with the human eye! But once our trash is in the ocean, what happens to it? How long does it last, and can we ever say that it’s gone? Unfortunately, when we talk about degradation rates, or the amount of time something takes to break down in the marine environment, the answer isn't simple.

Audience

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

Subject

Earth science

Resource type

Video

Topic

Ocean and coasts
Technology and engineering

Special categories

Cultural heritage
Region
Pacific Islands region
Other languages
Spanish

Collection name

Ocean Today
Ocean Today: Exploration

Hundreds of years ago, Pacific Islanders used voyaging canoes to travel. They developed navigation techniques to steer across the ocean without instruments or charts. Modern science is just now beginning to understand and appreciate the traditional Marshallese navigation techniques.

Audience

Adults
College+
Grade 9-12

Subject

Earth science

Resource type

Video
Multimedia

Topic

Weather and atmosphere
El Niño and La Niña

Special categories

Education at home
Instructional strategies

When the Pacific Ocean warms and cools with El Niño and La Niña, global temperatures rise and fall. Because there was a La Niña event in the early part of this year, the global surface temperature for 2012 won't break the high temperature record. However, the odds are that this will be the warmest of the La Niña years in the global climate record.

Audience

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

Resource type

Video

Topic

Ocean and coasts
Marine life
Invertebrates

Collection name

Ocean Today

Why are horseshoe crabs remarkable? Watch this video to learn more about a creature whose ancestors roamed the earth over 450 million years ago.