Educator frameworks

Want to use NOAA content in your classroom? Explore our pedagogical frameworks to find the best approach for each of these topics.

The cover photo of "An Educator's Guide to the Meaningful Watershed Educational Experience." The background photo is of students testing water quality along an algae covered river. At the bottom of the page it has the NOAA logo and reads "NOAA Bay Watershed Education and Training Program, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, U.S. Department of Commerce, October 2022."
An Educator’s Guide to the Meaningful Watershed Educational Experience (MWEE)

An Educator’s Guide to the Meaningful Watershed Educational Experience (MWEE), commonly referred to as the MWEE Guide, is designed for users with varying levels of familiarity with the MWEE. It is an easy to-use manual for constructing high-quality MWEEs for all students. In this guide you will find information about why the MWEE is a powerful educational framework, descriptions of the MWEE essential elements and supporting practices, and resources for planning a MWEE. The tools and information in this guide help ensure that MWEEs are done thoroughly and thoughtfully to increase student environmental literacy. 

CGLL logo
Great Lakes Literacy Principles

Great Lakes literacy is an understanding of the Great Lakes’ influences on you and your influence on the Great Lakes. These principles from the Center for Great Lakes Literacy (CGLL) mirror the seven principles in the Ocean Literacy Framework, while also including an eighth principle unique to the Great Lakes.

A Great Lakes literate person understands essential principles and fundamental concepts about the characteristics, functioning, and value of the Great Lakes; can communicate accurately about the Great Lakes’ influence on systems and people in and beyond their watershed; and is able to make informed and responsible decisions regarding the Great Lakes and the resources of their watershed.

Seven circular graphics that illustrate important oceanic topics and properties. Graphics showcase ocean currents, erosion, weather patterns, evolution, diverse marine life, human impacts, and exploration.
Ocean Literacy: The Essential Principles and Fundamental Concepts of Ocean Science

The Ocean Literacy Guide describes the seven most important ideas, or Essential Principles, about the ocean that all people of our water planet should have the opportunity to learn and understand. The Essential Principles and supporting Fundamental Concepts were developed through a community-wide consensus-building process. This effort built on previous work to define ocean literacy, assess what the public knows about the ocean, and redress the lack of ocean-related content in state and national science education standards, instructional materials, and assessments.

The Ocean Literacy Guide is one part in a four-part framework that presents a vision of an ocean-literate society and outlines the knowledge required to be considered ocean literate.

A hand holding a net scooping into a large plastic pool of water. There is text that reads, Planning for an AQUACULTURE SYSTEM in the Classroom.
Planning for an Aquaculture System in the Classroom

A comprehensive, easy-to-follow resource guide designed to help educators take their first steps in selecting and setting up a recirculating aquaculture system. Whether you're just beginning to explore aquaculture or looking to expand your program, this guide was built with you in mind—by educators, for educators. 

This guide includes three sections: 

  • Considerations before designing and implementing a recirculating aquaculture system
  • Best practices and proactive measures
  • System design and species selection