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

Math
Earth science
Life science
Physical science

Resource type

Easy-to-use data product
Data product

Topic

Freshwater
Marine life
Weather and atmosphere
Ecosystems
Rivers
Watersheds, flooding, and pollution
Life in an estuary
Weather observations

Select the data preferred (vegetation data, habitat maps, weather, water, nutrient data, and more) to create a generated report.

Audience

Adults
College+
Grade 9-12

Subject

Earth science
Physical science

Resource type

Easy-to-use data product
Data product

Topic

Technology and engineering
Freshwater
Weather and atmosphere
Ocean and coasts
Buoys
Watersheds, flooding, and pollution
Weather observations
Ocean currents
Ocean acidification

This data explorer web app has real-time remote sensing data from the Pacific Northwest coast, including weather observations, ocean chemistry, ocean currents, river discharge, and more. View the Guide at the top for instructions on how to use this data portal.

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

Special categories

Other languages
Spanish

Collection name

Ocean Today
Ocean Today: Go fish

Scientists and gear specialists from the University of New Hampshire are working with fishermen to test a new ‘selective’ fishing net. This fishing net, called a trawl, is compatible with ground fish regulations and would reduce the amount of bycatch while fishing for haddock.

Audience

Grade K-2
Grade 3-5

Subject

Earth science
Life science

Resource type

Coloring/activity book

Topic

Marine life
Coral reef ecosystems
Ecosystems
Fish
Invertebrates
Marine mammals
Sea turtles
Seabirds

Special categories

Printable
Region
Pacific Islands region

These books feature coloring pages and activities about coastal ecosystems. Regions include Guam, Chesapeake Bay, Coastal North Carolina, Salish Sea, Mobile Bay, Hawaiʻi, Louisiana, and Arctic/Antarctic.

Audience

Adults
College+
Grade 9-12
Grade 6-8

Subject

Earth science

Resource type

Related story

Topic

Weather and atmosphere
Hurricanes

Take a look back at 2001's Tropical Storm Allison, which never reached hurricane-level winds but brought devastating flooding to parts of Texas.

Audience

Grade 6-8
Grade 3-5

Subject

Earth science
Life science

Resource type

Module/unit
Activities, lessons, and units

Topic

Marine life
Coral reef ecosystems

NGSS DCI

LS2: Ecosystems: Interactions, Energy, and Dynamics

Satellites have revolutionized communication, entertainment, and scientific monitoring. It becomes increasingly relevant for our 21st-century students to learn about these objects that hover around our planet. Satellite monitoring of the environment around coral reefs offers invaluable information to those working to preserve these unique ecosystems. The lessons in this unit are designed to be taught in sequence, however, many of the activities are suited to teaching in isolation. This science unit is appropriate for grades four through six.

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

Collection name

Ocean Today

Social Entrepreneurs in Hawaii are applying space technology and design principles to build a sustainable fish farm in the open ocean.

Audience

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

Subject

Engineering and technology

Resource type

Background information

Topic

Technology and engineering
ROVs, AUVs, and drones

NGSS DCI

ETS1: Engineering Design

Collection name

Ocean Exploration educational materials

Remotely Operated Vehicles (ROVs) are tethered to and operated from a ship, allowing humans to explore the ocean without actually being in the vehicle.

Audience

Grade 9-12
Grade 6-8

Subject

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

Resource type

Module/unit
Lesson plan
Activities, lessons, and units

Topic

Technology and engineering
ROVs, AUVs, and drones

NGSS DCI

ETS1: Engineering Design

Special categories

Informal
Inquiry
Project-based
Models
Hands-on
Instructional strategies

This curriculum introduces students to remotely operated vehicles (ROV) and careers in marine science and underwater archaeology. Through a variety of hands-on activities, using problem-based learning, students learn the science behind an ROV. They also work to solve real world problems, while learning about the engineering design process. Students design, build, and test an ROV, as they ready for competition. The curriculum can be used in its entirety or activities can be used independently as appropriate for individual teaching objectives.

Audience

Adults
College+
Grade 9-12
Grade 6-8

Subject

Earth science

Resource type

Related story

Topic

Climate
Cryosphere
Climate data monitoring
Climate change impacts

Alaska’s climate is changing, thanks to human-caused global warming, and the effects are widespread and sometimes dangerous.