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+

Subject

Earth science

Resource type

Career profile
Collection

Topic

Weather and atmosphere
Weather systems and patterns
Weather observations

Collection name

Faces of the National Weather Service

Hear from National Weather Service meteorologists from around the country. Learn about their backgrounds and experiences, and what it is like to be a meteorologist.

Audience

Adults
College+
Grade 9-12

Subject

Earth science

Resource type

Career profile

Topic

Weather and atmosphere
Weather systems and patterns
Weather observations
Tornadoes

Information about working for the National Weather Service, with specific information about the Norman, Oklahoma office.

Audience

College+
Grade 9-12
Grade 6-8

Subject

Earth science
Life science
Physical science

Resource type

Related story

Topic

Ocean and coasts
Ocean acidification

Native seaweed has the potential to be cultivated in California coastal waters and used to alleviate the effects of local ocean acidification, according to a study funded by NOAA's California Sea Grant.

Audience

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

Resource type

Career profile
Video

Topic

Marine life
Climate
Climate change impacts
Cryosphere
Seabirds
Marine mammals
Fish
Aquatic food webs

Special categories

Region
Alaska region
Other languages
Spanish

Collection name

Ocean Today

Hear from Dr. George Divoky, who has been studying Black Guillemots, an Arctic seabird, for the past forty-two years on an island off northern Alaska where climate change has greatly impacted the birds breeding on the island.

Audience

Grade 3-5
Grade K-2

Subject

Life science
Physical science

Resource type

Activity/demonstration
Activities, lessons, and units

Topic

Ocean and coasts
Oil spills

Special categories

Informal
Hands-on
Instructional strategies

In this experiment for elementary school students, you'll look at the way oil affects bird feathers, and try different cleanup methods to find out which works best.

Audience

Adults
College+
Grade 9-12
Grade 6-8

Subject

Engineering and technology
Earth science
Life science

Resource type

Images
Podcast
Video
Background information
Multimedia

Topic

Technology and engineering
Marine life
Ocean and coasts
Buoys
Ships and planes
Ocean exploration
ROVs, AUVs, and drones
Ecosystems
Coral reef ecosystems
Ocean floor features

Collection name

Finding fish hotspots and mapping coral reefs

In 2015, NOAA scientists went on a research expedition in the U.S. Virgin Islands aboard the NOAA Ship Nancy Foster to continue to map the Caribbean's sprawling coral reef ecosystem, home to an amazing variety of ocean life. The science team used multibeam sonar, scientific echosounder, underwater gliders, a remotely operated vehicle, and other high-tech tools to locate previously-unknown seafloor habitats; to map out coral reefs in fine detail; and to find 'hotspots' where many species of fish gather to spawn in rhythm with the lunar cycle. Explore their findings through videos, photos, podcasts, and other information.

Audience

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

Subject

Life science

Resource type

Activity/demonstration
Activities, lessons, and units

Topic

Freshwater
Marine life
Invasive species
Fish
Great Lakes ecoregion

Special categories

Informal
Printable
Education at home
Hands-on
Instructional strategies

Working with a set of illustrated Great Lakes fish cards, students identify distinguishing characteristics of fish and use a dichotomous key to identify 10 common fish families.

Audience

Adults
College+
Grade 9-12
Grade 6-8

Subject

Earth science

Resource type

Related story

Topic

Ocean and coasts
Ocean floor features

Deep in the ocean exist some of the world's oldest and most mysterious sea canyons and mountains, or seamounts. Formed millions of years ago by extinct volcanoes and sediment erosion, sea canyons and seamounts are biodiversity hotspots — home to many rare and endangered species.

Audience

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

Subject

Life science

Resource type

Activities, lessons, and units
Activity/demonstration

Topic

Marine life
Fisheries and seafood

Special categories

Instructional strategies
Hands-on
Informal
Models

In this activity, students will learn how to use sampling to estimate the size of a fish population.

Audience

Grade K-2
Grade 3-5

Subject

Life science

Resource type

Activities, lessons, and units
Activity/demonstration

Topic

Marine life
Fish
Life in an estuary

NGSS DCI

LS3: Heredity: Inheritance and Variation of Traits

Special categories

Instructional strategies
Education at home
Hands-on
Informal

In this activity, students build their own fish and describe how it lives in its habitat. Students choose which type of body shape, mouth, and tail will aid in the survival of their fish in their habitat. Students can draw in scales and sensory organs if they choose.