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
Grade 3-5
Grade K-2

Subject

Arts
Earth science

Resource type

Images
Multimedia

Topic

Climate
Ocean and coasts
Cryosphere

Inspired by the Arctic? Take a virtual stroll through the galleries to enjoy the artistic creations of MOSAiC fans around the world. Submit artwork to the Museum of MOSAiC Art in conjunction with the MOSAiC expedition. https://mosaic.colorado.edu/education

Audience

Grade 3-5

Subject

Arts
Social studies
ELA (English Language Arts)
Earth science

Resource type

Lesson plan
Activities, lessons, and units

Topic

Ocean and coasts
Ocean floor features

NGSS DCI

ESS2: Earth’s Systems

Special categories

Models
Hands-on
Instructional strategies

Collection name

Teacher at Sea

In this lesson students will learn about some of the features found on the ocean floor and that our knowledge of the ocean floor is due to exploration. Students will understand that there are similar features on the ocean floor that there are on land. Students will understand the importance and excitement of ocean exploration.

Audience

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

Resource type

Video

Topic

Ocean and coasts
Marine life
Technology and engineering
Ships and planes
Ocean exploration
Invertebrates
Fish
Fisheries and seafood
Plankton
Aquatic food webs
Marine mammals
Seabirds
Maritime archaeology and history
ROVs, AUVs, and drones

Collection name

Ocean Today

The world's largest underwater migration takes place twice a day in the ocean's mesopelagic zone. Watch to see some of the extraordinary life that dwells there, and learn more about this fascinating part of the ocean.

Audience

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

Subject

Social studies
Life science

Resource type

Webinar
Multimedia

Topic

Marine life
Fisheries and seafood

Special categories

Region
Pacific Islands region
Cultural heritage

Gordon ‘Umialiloalahanauokalakaua Kai (“Umi”) started crafting Hawaiian implements in 1967 in high school and continues today. He fashions implements for fishing, kapa making, poi pounding, hula, farming, and he is best known for his traditional weaponry. Umi Kai shares his knowledge and experiences with people locally and internationally, and he makes presentations regularly at schools, hotels, and organizations.

Audience

Grade 6-8
Grade 3-5

Subject

ELA (English Language Arts)
Life science

Resource type

Simulation
Background information
Game/online activity
Multimedia

Topic

Freshwater
Watersheds, flooding, and pollution
Great Lakes ecoregion

Special categories

Models
Instructional strategies

Nab the Aquatic Invader! is a fun way to learn about aquatic invaders. By using this site you can check out lots of unusual species that create real problems in the Atlantic, Pacific, Gulf, and Great Lakes regions. There are many ways that this site can help you with your class projects. By doing the activities and playing the games on this site, you will learn about nature and be inspired to help the environment by "nabbing" these pesky critters and seeing that you can make a difference.

Audience

Grade 9-12
College+
Adults

Subject

Earth science
Engineering and technology
Life science
Physical science

Resource type

Collection
Data product
Advanced data product

Topic

Climate
Carbon cycle
Changing seasons
Climate change impacts
Climate data monitoring
Cryosphere
Marine life
Coral reef ecosystems
Ecosystems
Ocean and coasts
Space
Space weather
Technology and engineering
Buoys
Satellites
Weather and atmosphere
Drought
El Niño and La Niña
Fires
Hurricanes
Tornadoes
Weather observations
Weather systems and patterns

Collection name

National Centers for Environmental Information (NCEI)

NCEI is a major NOAA data repository that hosts and provides public access to one of the most significant archives for environmental data on Earth. Over 25 petabytes (25 million gigabytes) of atmospheric, coastal, oceanic, and geophysical data are available, including interactive maps, numerical data, satellite imagery, graphs and figures, modeled and predicted data, and more.

Audience

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

Subject

Math
Engineering and technology
Earth science

Resource type

Easy-to-use data product
Data product

Topic

Technology and engineering
Freshwater
Weather and atmosphere
Ocean and coasts
Buoys
Sea level rise
Watersheds, flooding, and pollution
Great Lakes ecoregion
Weather systems and patterns
Weather observations
Hurricanes
El Niño and La Niña
Tsunamis
Tides
Ocean currents
Ocean acidification

The National Data Buoy Center provides real-time environmental observations collected from buoys around the world. View both recent and historical information on ocean and weather conditions, as well as any current tsunami activity. Graphs and tables of data are available for water column height at each buoy location.

Audience

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

Subject

Earth science
Life science
Physical science

Resource type

Background information

Topic

Freshwater
Marine life
Fish
Ecosystems
Watersheds, flooding, and pollution
Water cycle
Great Lakes ecoregion
Life in an estuary

The National Estuarine Research Reserve System is a network of 29 coastal sites designated to protect and study estuarine systems. Established through the Coastal Zone Management Act, the reserves represent a partnership program between NOAA and the coastal states. NOAA provides funding and national guidance, and each site is managed on a daily basis by a lead state agency or university with input from local partners.

Audience

Adults
College+
Grade 9-12

Subject

Engineering and technology
Earth science

Resource type

Video
Collection
Multimedia

Topic

Technology and engineering
Mapping and charting

Collection name

National Geodetic Survey geodesy and mapping videos
National Geodetic Survey

The National Geodetic Survey, in partnership with The COMET Program, has developed short videos about topics related to geodesy, or the science of mapping and measuring the Earth's shape and location, and mapping.

Audience

Adults
College+
Grade 9-12

Subject

ELA (English Language Arts)
Engineering and technology
Earth science

Resource type

Module/unit
Background information
Activities, lessons, and units

Topic

Technology and engineering
GPS and geodesy

Special categories

Models
Uses data
Instructional strategies

Collection name

National Geodetic Survey

The National Geodetic Survey, in partnership with The COMET Program, has developed a series of self-paced lessons on geodetic and remote sensing topics. Create a free user account to gain access to the courses below and many others that may be of interest. You will have the option of printing out a certificate upon successful completion of the quiz at the end of each lesson.