NOAA Sea to Sky: Education resource database

⚠️ This page recently underwent an update. If you had bookmarked direct links to search results from this page prior to March 18, 2024, those links may no longer work and you may need to make a new bookmark. If you have any questions or concerns, please reach out to us at education@noaa.gov.

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

Engineering and technology
Earth science
Physical science

Resource type

Easy-to-use data product
Data product

Topic

Technology and engineering
Marine life
Climate
Weather and atmosphere
Ocean and coasts
Satellites
Clouds
Cryosphere
Fires
Sea level rise
Invertebrates
Coral reef ecosystems
Climate data monitoring
Climate change impacts
Changing seasons
Weather systems and patterns
Weather observations
Hurricanes
El Niño and La Niña
Ocean floor features
Ocean acidification

Access NOAA data from a variety of satellite, model, and other observations in a single, user-friendly interactive map. Investigate various datasets related to the ocean, atmosphere, land, cryosphere, and climate and view them as animations over weeks, months, or years. Mouse over the maps to inspect individual data values at any point.

Audience

Adults
College+
Grade 9-12
Grade 6-8

Subject

Engineering and technology
Earth science
Physical science

Resource type

Career profile

Topic

NOAA careers
Technology and engineering
Climate
Weather and atmosphere
Satellites

Celebrate the trailblazing women within NOAA who prove that women play a critical role in the continued success of our agency.

Audience

Adults
College+
Grade 9-12
Grade 6-8

Subject

Earth science

Resource type

Related story

Topic

Climate
Weather and atmosphere
Climate data monitoring
Climate change impacts
Tornadoes

he tornado outbreak across the southern United States in late April 2011 was deadly, devastating, and record breaking. These days, when the weather breaks records, it's natural to wonder if climate change is to blame.

Audience

Adults
College+
Grade 9-12
Grade 6-8

Subject

Engineering and technology
Earth science
Life science

Resource type

Related story
Background information

Topic

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

A blog on marine debris issues that has been active since 2012.

Audience

Adults
College+
Grade 9-12
Grade 6-8

Subject

Social studies
Earth science

Resource type

Related story

Topic

Freshwater
Watersheds, flooding, and pollution

NOAA and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency disapproved the state of Oregon’s coastal nonpoint pollution control program because it does not sufficiently protect salmon streams and landslide-prone areas from logging impacts or reduce runoff from forest roads built before 1971.

Audience

Grade 6-8
Grade 9-12
College+
Adults

Subject

Earth science
Engineering and technology

Resource type

Related story

Topic

Space
Space weather
Technology and engineering

A new model from the Space Weather Prediction Center and the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) calculates disturbances in Earth’s magnetic field from geomagnetic storms. The near real-time data indicates the level of space weather impact affecting the electrical power grid to help operators manage effects on critical infrastructure.

Audience

Adults
College+
Grade 9-12
Grade 6-8

Subject

Engineering and technology
Earth science

Resource type

Related story

Topic

Technology and engineering
Ocean and coasts
Oil spills

Ten years ago an experimental satellite-based Marine Pollution Surveillance Report program was thrust into the national spotlight during the Deepwater Horizon oil spill. Since then, this program has grown in scale and accuracy, becoming an indispensable tool for oil spills of all sizes.

Audience

College+
Grade 9-12
Grade 6-8

Subject

Earth science

Resource type

Background information

Topic

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

Nonpoint source pollution, or polluted runoff, is the greatest threat to coastal waters in the United States. Through the Coastal Nonpoint Pollution Control Program, NOAA's Office for Coastal Management works with states to take action to reduce and prevent polluted runoff, making our coastal waters cleaner for everyone to enjoy. Learn more about this important issue.

Audience

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

Subject

Engineering and technology
Earth science
Life science

Resource type

Related story
Career profile

Topic

Technology and engineering
Marine life
Ocean and coasts
Mapping and charting
Ships and planes
Ocean exploration
Ecosystems
Fisheries and seafood
Ocean floor features

Special categories

Cultural heritage

Collection name

Sea Grant podcasts
Making Waves podcast

Short profiles on Maria Mitchell, Marie Tharp, Dr. Nancy Foster, Rear Admiral Evelyn J. Fields (ret.), and Pamela Chelgren-Koterba.

Audience

Grade K-2
Grade 3-5
Grade 6-8
Grade 9-12
College+
Adults

Subject

Earth science
Physical science

Resource type

Activities, lessons, and units
Activity/demonstration
Collection

Topic

Weather and atmosphere
Clouds
El Niño and La Niña
Hurricanes
Tornadoes
Weather observations
Weather systems and patterns

Special categories

Instructional strategies
Education at home
Hands-on
Informal
Models
Outdoor education
Safety/preparedness

Collection name

JetStream: An online school for weather

A collection of lessons and learning activities from the National Weather Service.