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 K-2
Grade 3-5
Grade 6-8
Grade 9-12
College+
Adults

Subject

Earth science
Engineering and technology
Life science
Math
Physical science

Resource type

Activities, lessons, and units
Activity/demonstration
Lesson plan
Collection
Multimedia
Game/online activity
Simulation

Topic

Climate
Carbon cycle
Changing seasons
Climate change impacts
Climate data monitoring
Cryosphere
Freshwater
Rivers
Water cycle
Ocean and coasts
Earth processes
Ocean acidification
Ocean currents
Ocean floor features
Ocean pollution and marine debris
Oil spills
Sea level rise
Tides
Space
Space weather
Weather and atmosphere
Clouds
Drought
El Niño and La Niña
Fires
Hurricanes
Tornadoes
Weather observations
Weather systems and patterns

Special categories

Citizen science
Instructional strategies
Education at home
Hands-on
Informal
Inquiry
Models
Outdoor education
Project-based
Uses data

Collection name

CLEAN climate and energy education resource collection

Accurate education about climate and energy topics has never been more important, and it can be challenging to locate reliable, vetted educational materials to use in your classroom. CLEAN is here to help you find the resources that you need, without wondering about their scientific credibility or educational value. Search for resources by NGSS Performance Expectations (PE) and Disciplinary Core Ideas (DCI), grade level, keyword or resource type, or use CLEAN to design your own unit.

Audience

Grade 6-8

Subject

ELA (English Language Arts)
Math
Earth science

Resource type

Module/unit
Lesson plan
Activities, lessons, and units

Topic

Ocean and coasts
Sea level rise

NGSS DCI

ESS3: Earth and Human Activity
ESS2: Earth’s Systems

Special categories

Inquiry
Models
Hands-on
Uses data
Instructional strategies

Collection name

Data in the Classroom

Scientists know that sea level is rising, and that we experience some of these impacts as more frequent and intense storm surge and coastal flooding events. Using data from NOAA’s satellites and coastal stations, you will do the analysis to see sea level changing.

Audience

Adults
College+
Grade 9-12
Grade 6-8

Subject

Math
Earth science

Resource type

Easy-to-use data product
Data product

Topic

Ocean and coasts
Sea level rise
Tides

NOAA documents changes in high-tide flooding patterns from the previous year at 97 NOAA tide gauges along the U.S. coast, and provides a flooding outlook for these locations for the coming year, as well as projections for the next several decades.

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

Grade 9-12
Grade 6-8

Subject

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

Resource type

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

Topic

Technology and engineering
Marine life
Climate
Ocean and coasts
Buoys
Satellites
ROVs, AUVs, and drones
Ecosystems
Sea level rise
Climate data monitoring
Climate change impacts
Ocean pollution and marine debris
Ocean floor features
Ocean currents
Ocean acidification

Special categories

Informal
Models
Hands-on
Instructional strategies

Collection name

NOAA Ship Okeanos Explorer: Education materials collection

The Okeanos Explorer education materials collection was developed to encourage educators and students to become personally involved with the voyages and discoveries of the Okeanos Explorer – the only federal vessel dedicated to exploring our largely unknown ocean for the purpose of discovery and the advancement of knowledge about the deep ocean.

Audience

Adults
College+
Grade 9-12
Grade 6-8

Subject

Math
Engineering and technology
Physical science

Resource type

Intermediate data product
Data product

Topic

Technology and engineering
Freshwater
Ocean and coasts
Sea level rise
Tides
Ocean currents

Special categories

Outdoor education
Models
Instructional strategies

Explore future tide predictions across U.S. states and Puerto Rico.

Audience

Grade 9-12
Grade 6-8
Grade 3-5
Grade K-2

Subject

Math
Engineering and technology
Earth science
Life science
Physical science

Resource type

Collection
Activity/demonstration
Activities, lessons, and units

Topic

Marine life
Weather and atmosphere
Ocean and coasts
Hazards and safety
Earth processes
Sea level rise
Coral reef ecosystems
Weather systems and patterns
Weather observations
El Niño and La Niña
Ocean pollution and marine debris
Ocean acidification

Special categories

Informal
Inquiry
Education at home
Models
Hands-on
Uses data
Instructional strategies

Collection name

Science On a Sphere catalog

Phenomenon-based learning is an educational approach that engages students in science. It starts with a “phenomenon,” or an attention-grabbing image or video clip that hooks students into the lesson. In these modules, we use datasets from NOAA’s Science On a Sphere® (SOS) to help explore and explain science phenomena. The modules are also aligned to NGSS.

Audience

Adults
College+
Grade 9-12
Grade 6-8

Subject

Math
Earth science

Resource type

Intermediate data product
Data product

Topic

Ocean and coasts
Sea level rise
Tsunamis
Tides
Ocean currents

A resource to find tide and current data from NOAA's Center for Operational Oceanographic Products and Services website.

Audience

Grade 9-12
Grade 6-8

Subject

Math
Earth science
Physical science

Resource type

Module/unit
Lesson plan
Activities, lessons, and units

Topic

Ocean and coasts
Sea level rise
Tides

NGSS DCI

ESS3: Earth and Human Activity
ESS2: Earth’s Systems

Special categories

Informal
Models
Hands-on
Uses data
Instructional strategies

Tides and tide-like water level changes can greatly affect the nation's estuaries. Water normally moves into and out of estuaries through the estuary's "mouths," or areas that open out into the ocean or lake. High water levels keep the estuary mouths very open and wide, whereas low water levels may cause the mouths to become closed due to sediment and sand movements. Mouth closures prevent the exchange of water between the estuary and the ocean or lake. This can mean death from estuary plant and animal species if dissolved oxygen levels are affected. In this activity, students will examine the effects of tides on estuaries, and look at real data to understand the effect on dissolved oxygen levels before and after a mouth closure.