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.
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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 6-8

Subject

ELA (English Language Arts)
Engineering and technology
Life science
Physical science

Resource type

Activities, lessons, and units
Lesson plan

Topic

Marine life
Marine mammals

NGSS DCI

PS3: Energy

Special categories

Instructional strategies
Education at home
Hands-on
Inquiry
Models

Collection name

Sanctuaries 360 virtual dives

This three-part investigation will engage students in learning about Channel Islands National Marine Sanctuary and what makes it unique. Students will explore the plants and animals that live and thrive in the Channel Islands while learning about specific adaptations they have for surviving in cold water marine environments. Students will then design an experiment to model insulation, comparing how humans and sea lions have specific adaptations (or requirements) to help them survive in cold water environments.

Audience

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

Resource type

Video

Topic

Ocean and coasts
Marine life
Harmful algal blooms
Invertebrates
Fish
Marine mammals
Sea turtles
Fisheries and seafood

Special categories

Other languages
Spanish

Collection name

Ocean Today
Ocean Today: Research

Sea lions have been getting sick - very sick. Each year, the number of sea lions that strand on California beaches has increased dramatically. The Marine Mammal Center rescues and rehabilitates sick sea lions and has traced one of the causes to harmful algal bloom-related illnesses. By studying sea lions, scientists can better understand how toxic algae may affect other mammals, including humans.

Audience

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

Subject

Life science
Social studies

Resource type

Background information

Topic

Freshwater
Watersheds, flooding, and pollution
Marine life
Conservation
Fisheries and seafood
Marine mammals
Ocean and coasts
Earth processes
Ocean acidification
Ocean pollution and marine debris
Oil spills
Sea level rise

The ocean is in trouble, but you can help save it! Every day the news is filled with stories about issues affecting our ocean, such as marine debris, ocean acidification, and sea level rise. But most stories will not explain how individuals can help. The Sea Stewards Handbook is here to teach you what you need to know to help save the world, or at least the 70% of it that is covered in saltwater.

Audience

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

Subject

Earth science
Physical science

Resource type

Easy-to-use data product
Data product
Video
Multimedia

Topic

Technology and engineering
Ocean and coasts
Ocean currents

Collection name

Science On a Sphere catalog

This Science On a Sphere data visualization shows global ocean currents.

Audience

Adults
College+
Grade 9-12
Grade 6-8

Subject

Life science

Resource type

Related story

Topic

Marine life
Sea turtles

Scientists study sea turtle “fingerprints” to gather clues about their life history, mating strategies, and family groups.

Audience

Grade 6-8
Grade 9-12
College+
Adults

Subject

Life science

Resource type

Related story

Topic

Marine life
Conservation
Sea turtles

The bones of sea turtles have annual rings like those found in trees, and chemical markers within them give scientists a detailed view of the animal's life history.

Audience

Adults
College+
Grade 9-12

Subject

Life science

Resource type

Advanced data product
Data product

Topic

Marine life
Sea turtles

The Sea Turtle Stranding and Salvage Network collects data across the country and contributes to a centralized database. Explore their data. Some images may be graphic in nature.

Audience

Grade 3-5

Subject

Social studies
Earth science
Life science
Physical science

Resource type

Module/unit
Collection
Lesson plan
Activities, lessons, and units

Topic

Marine life
Weather and atmosphere
Ocean and coasts
Ocean sounds
Fish
Ecosystems
Marine mammals
Coral reef ecosystems
Aquatic food webs
Weather systems and patterns
Ocean currents

Special categories

Region
Pacific Islands region
Cultural heritage

Collection name

Sea-Earth-Atmosphere (SEA) resources

A collection of lessons on Earth, life, and physical science designed to teach students how scientific principles explain phenomena, not to solely explain the single phenomena. Each activity begins with an investigation of a natural phenomena with the goal of uncovering the scientific concepts that explain that event. We invite you to explore or add your own phenomena that is meaningful to you and your students.

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
Fish
Invertebrates

Special categories

Other languages
Spanish

Collection name

Ocean Today
Ocean Today: Go fish

U.S. commercial fishing generates billions of dollars and millions of jobs. While the U.S. is a world leader in sustainability, with NOAA Fisheries managing and improving fish habitats and stocks, our marine scientists are at the cutting edge of research that’s keeping our seafood supply safe.

Audience

Adults
College+
Grade 9-12
Grade 6-8

Subject

Earth science

Resource type

Related story

Topic

Ocean and coasts
Ocean floor features

Three seamounts in the Pacific Ocean now bear names honoring the contributions to science made by NOAA and its partners in ocean exploration during a campaign led by the NOAA Ocean Exploration.