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

Resource type

Video

Topic

Ocean and coasts
Marine life
Freshwater
Watersheds, flooding, and pollution
Ocean chemistry

Special categories

Other languages
Spanish

Collection name

Ocean Today
Ocean Today: Research

Learn about the Gulf of Mexico hypoxic zone, where oxygen in the water is so low it can no longer sustain marine life in bottom or near bottom waters – literally a dead zone. This video reports on the size of the Gulf hypoxic zone in 2015.

Audience

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

Resource type

Video

Topic

Ocean and coasts
Marine life
Freshwater
Ocean pollution and marine debris

Collection name

Ocean Today
Ocean Today: Research

Learn about the Gulf of Mexico hypoxic zone, where oxygen in the water is so low it can no longer sustain marine life in bottom or near bottom waters – literally a dead zone. This video reports on the size of the Gulf hypoxic zone in 2020.

Audience

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

Resource type

Video

Topic

Ocean and coasts
Marine life
Freshwater
Ocean pollution and marine debris
Watersheds, flooding, and pollution

Collection name

Ocean Today
Ocean Today: Research

Learn about the Gulf of Mexico hypoxic zone, where oxygen in the water is so low it can no longer sustain marine life in bottom or near bottom waters – literally a dead zone. This video reports on the size of the Gulf hypoxic zone in 2021.

Audience

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

Resource type

Video

Topic

Ocean and coasts
Marine life
Freshwater
Ocean pollution and marine debris
Watersheds, flooding, and pollution

Special categories

Other languages
Spanish

Collection name

Ocean Today
Ocean Today: Research

Learn about the Gulf of Mexico hypoxic zone, where oxygen in the water is so low it can no longer sustain marine life in bottom or near bottom waters – literally a dead zone. This video reports on the size of the Gulf hypoxic zone in 2011.

Audience

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

Subject

Earth science

Resource type

Video

Topic

Climate
Technology and engineering
Climate change impacts
Cryosphere
Sea level rise
Resiliency and mitigation

Special categories

Other languages
Spanish

Collection name

Ocean Today
Ocean Today: Research

The numbers are in. The American Meteorological Society’s State of the Climate in 2013 shows that the vast majority of worldwide climate indicators continued to reflect trends of a warmer planet.

Audience

Adults
College+
Grade 9-12

Subject

Earth science

Resource type

Intermediate data product
Data product
Collection

Topic

Ocean and coasts
Harmful algal blooms
Ocean pollution and marine debris

HABSOS contains harmful algal bloom (HAB) information in the Gulf of Mexico. It provides scientists and the public with a data-driven resource for HAB events. Cell counts and environmental information are distributed via data files and an interactive ArcGIS map. HABSOS strives to provide an accurate picture of harmful algal bloom location and quantity by using the latest sample data.

Audience

Grade 6-8

Subject

ELA (English Language Arts)
Life science
Social studies

Resource type

Activities, lessons, and units
Lesson plan

Topic

Marine life
Aquatic food webs
Conservation
Ecosystems
Marine mammals

NGSS DCI

LS2: Ecosystems: Interactions, Energy, and Dynamics

Collection name

Sanctuaries 360 virtual dives

Students will explore the ecology of one of three different species in Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary (HIHWNMS). They will also explore conservation measures in place for their species protection. Students will produce a trifold brochure meant to teach visitors of the sanctuary about the ecology of their assigned species and its important to Native Hawaiian culture.

Audience

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

Subject

Earth science
Life science

Resource type

Coloring/activity book

Topic

Marine life
Fish
Invertebrates
Marine mammals
Sea turtles
Ocean and coasts

Special categories

Cultural heritage
Other languages
Hawaiian
Printable
Region
Pacific Islands region

The Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary has several different activity books, coloring pages, and puzzles to enjoy. Some resources are available in Hawaiian.

Audience

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

Resource type

Video

Topic

Ocean and coasts
Marine life
Technology and engineering
Marine mammals
Sharks, rays, and skates
Coral reef ecosystems
Endangered species

Special categories

Region
Pacific Islands region
Other languages
Spanish

Collection name

Ocean Today
Ocean Today: Marine life

The Hawaiian monk seal is one of the rarest marine mammals in the world. Learn more about them and what NOAA scientists are doing to help.

Audience

Adults
College+
Grade 9-12
Grade 6-8

Subject

Social studies

Resource type

Career profile

Topic

NOAA careers

An interview with Kenneth M. Bailey, Director of NOAA’s Office of Inclusion and Civil Rights.