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

Grade 6-8
Grade 9-12
College+
Adults

Subject

Earth science

Resource type

Career profile

Topic

Ocean and coasts
Ocean acidification

Career profile of Dr. Emily Osborne.

Audience

College+

Subject

Earth science
ELA (English Language Arts)
Humanities/liberal arts
Life science
Social studies

Resource type

Activities, lessons, and units
Module/unit

Topic

Ocean and coasts
Ocean pollution and marine debris

Special categories

Instructional strategies
Hands-on
Outdoor education

The From Shore to State House curriculum was the product of a project with the University of Hartford to create an open source, replicable, college-level service learning course to improve knowledge, lead outreach, inform policy, and inspire change on the issue of marine debris. The curriculum guides students to prevent marine debris and develop policy alternatives to discuss with state legislators.

Audience

Grade 6-8
Grade 9-12
College+
Adults

Subject

Earth science
Life science

Resource type

Background information
Data product
Easy-to-use data product

Topic

Climate
Changing seasons

As we head further into the Northern Hemisphere’s spring, many people across the country are ready to put winter — and its cold and snow — behind them. But, even the spring months can have their cold spells. So, when can we expect the cold to really be on its way out? The “Day of the Last Spring Freeze” map, which is based on climatology, can help answer that question for your area.

Audience

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

Subject

Earth science

Resource type

Video
Multimedia

Topic

Freshwater
Climate
Cryosphere
Water cycle

Collection name

Science On a Sphere catalog

FROZEN features the global cryosphere, those places on Earth where the temperature doesn't generally rise above water's freezing point. As one of the most directly observable climate gauges, the changing cryosphere serves as a proxy for larger themes. The movie brings the Earth alive, projected onto spherical movie screens hanging in the center of darkened theaters. Turning in space, the sphere becomes a portal onto a virtual planet, complete with churning, swirling depictions of huge natural forces moving below.

Audience

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

Subject

Earth science

Resource type

Video

Topic

Ocean and coasts
Weather and atmosphere
Climate
Hurricanes
Satellites
Weather systems and patterns

Special categories

Other languages
Spanish

Collection name

Ocean Today
Ocean Today: Danger zone

We’ve all heard that hurricanes are one of the most powerful and destructive forces on Earth. But did you ever wonder where they get their strength?

Audience

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

Subject

Life science

Resource type

Background information
Collection

Topic

Marine life
Salmon
Sharks, rays, and skates
Fish
Invertebrates
Sea turtles
Marine mammals
Fisheries and seafood

Collection name

Fun facts about sea life

NOAA Fisheries answers thousands of questions every year about the ocean and the life that thrives within them. Learn fascinating information about fish and other marine animals, and dive deeper into more information on these species.

Audience

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

Resource type

Video

Topic

Ocean and coasts
Marine life
Technology and engineering
Fisheries and seafood
Seaweed, algae, and aquatic plants
Invertebrates
Fish

Collection name

Ocean Today

Ocean Today host Symone Johnson introduces the Future of Ocean Farming video collection, which highlights innovations in ocean farming, or aquaculture.

Audience

Grade 6-8

Subject

ELA (English Language Arts)
Earth science
Life science

Resource type

Lesson plan
Activities, lessons, and units

Topic

Marine life
Fisheries and seafood
Aquatic food webs

NGSS DCI

LS2: Ecosystems: Interactions, Energy, and Dynamics

Special categories

Informal
Hands-on
Instructional strategies

By the end of the interactive lesson, the students will be able to explain why overfishing has occurred in our ocean and describe the effects of overfishing on fish stocks.

Audience

Grade 6-8
Grade 9-12
College+
Adults

Subject

Earth science

Resource type

Background information

Topic

Ocean and coasts
Ocean currents
Ocean pollution and marine debris

Learn more about garbage patches including what they are and how we can help.

Audience

Adults
College+
Grade 9-12
Grade 6-8

Subject

Earth science

Resource type

Podcast
Multimedia

Topic

Ocean and coasts
Ocean pollution and marine debris
Ocean currents

In this episode we're focusing on something that you've likely at least heard a little bit about in the last few years — garbage patches. Before we dive in to that specific subject, let’s take a step back to discuss the areas of the ocean where trash seems to collect. We're talking about gyres.