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

Data product
Easy-to-use data product

Topic

Freshwater
Water cycle
Weather and atmosphere
Weather observations

Explore this interactive map with information on observed precipitation spanning from the past year through today. 

Audience

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

Subject

Earth science

Resource type

Video

Topic

Weather and atmosphere
Climate
Freshwater
Technology and engineering
El Niño and La Niña
Weather systems and patterns
Climate change impacts
Satellites
Buoys
Watersheds, flooding, and pollution
Drought

Special categories

Other languages
Spanish

Collection name

Ocean Today
Ocean Today: Research

El Niño and La Niña are periodic weather patterns resulting from interactions between the ocean and the atmosphere in the tropical Pacific Ocean. With so much at stake, it’s critical to be able to monitor and forecast when El Niño or La Niña is developing so governments, businesses, and private citizens can prepare.

Audience

College+
Grade 9-12
Grade 6-8

Subject

Earth science

Resource type

Podcast
Multimedia

Topic

Ocean and coasts
Ocean acidification

Collection name

Sea Grant podcasts
Making Waves podcast

In this podcast, learn what ocean acidification is, how it's affecting marine life, and how NOAA tools are helping people monitor and adapt to changes in ocean chemistry.

Audience

Grade 9-12
Grade 6-8
Grade 3-5
Grade K-2

Subject

Earth science
Life science
Physical science

Resource type

Activity/demonstration
Activities, lessons, and units

Topic

Ocean and coasts
Ocean acidification

NGSS DCI

PS1: Matter and Its Interactions

Special categories

Informal
Hands-on
Instructional strategies

Explore the chemical reaction between frozen carbon dioxide (dry ice) and water and compare this to changes that are occurring in ocean ecosystems, as excess carbon dioxide in the atmosphere is absorbed by the ocean.

Audience

Adults
College+
Grade 9-12
Grade 6-8

Subject

Earth science
Life science

Resource type

Video
Multimedia

Topic

Marine life
Climate
Ocean and coasts
Invertebrates
Fisheries and seafood
Climate change impacts
Ocean acidification

The world's ocean is absorbing carbon dioxide at an unprecedented rate and the resulting acidification is transforming marine ecosystems. Learn how ocean acidification is already affecting oysters and other shellfish in the U.S.

Audience

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

Subject

ELA (English Language Arts)
Life science
Physical science

Resource type

Webinar
Images
Infographic
Video
Background information
Collection
Multimedia

Topic

Ocean and coasts
Ocean acidification

Special categories

Uses data
Instructional strategies

Collection name

Ocean Acidification Communication Toolkit: Dungeness crab case study

Dungeness crab is a valuable species throughout the national marine sanctuaries of the West Coast from Washington state to throughout California. This communication toolkit is designed for educators and communicators to use to teach others about the impact of ocean acidification on Dungeness crab. The toolkit includes: fact sheet; infographic; PowerPoint slideshow with script; reference list; resource list; public domain video B-roll; and public domain images.

Audience

Adults
College+
Grade 9-12

Subject

Earth science
Physical science

Resource type

Intermediate data product
Data product

Topic

Ocean and coasts
Ocean acidification

The NOAA Pacific Marine Environmental Laboratory (PMEL) data portal features ocean acidification data from hydrographic cruises and surface ocean carbon dynamics through measurements made on volunteer observing ships, buoys, and other autonomous systems. PMEL has large scale data from both the open ocean and in coastal environments, from both long-term and short-term studies.

Audience

Adults
College+
Grade 9-12
Grade 6-8

Subject

Earth science
Life science

Resource type

Career profile

Topic

Climate
Ocean and coasts
Climate change impacts
Ocean acidification

Dr. Shallin Busch co-leads a team of scientists at NOAA’s Northwest Fisheries Science Center studying ocean acidification.

Audience

Adults
College+
Grade 9-12
Grade 6-8

Subject

Earth science

Resource type

Related story

Topic

Climate
Ocean and coasts
Climate change impacts
Ocean acidification

Nearly a third of the carbon dioxide released into the atmosphere from human sources has dissolved into the ocean, increasing the acidity of seawater. Acidified water corrodes calcium carbonate minerals — an essential ingredient for shell- and skeleton-building that many calcifying organisms rely upon.

Audience

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

Resource type

Video

Topic

Ocean and coasts
Ocean currents
Tides

Special categories

Safety/preparedness

Collection name

Ocean Today
Ocean Today: Danger zone

Join Bruckner Chase in the Ocean Today Wave Safe series as we travel the country’s coasts to teach you how to protect yourself and others.