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

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

Subject

Humanities/liberal arts
Life science

Resource type

Career profile

Topic

NOAA careers
Marine life
Marine mammals

Dr. Kristine Laidre is a marine mammal biologist who works at the Polar Science Center in the Applied Physics Laboratory at the University of Washington collecting and analyzing information on marine mammals. Read the full text of Kristine's interview below to learn more about her job.

Audience

Adults
College+
Grade 9-12
Grade 6-8

Subject

Engineering and technology
Earth science
Life science
Physical science

Resource type

Career profile

Topic

NOAA careers
Technology and engineering
Freshwater
Great Lakes ecoregion

Learn more about Great Lakes biologist Dave Faslow. Read this Great Lakes Environmental Research Laboratory interview with Dave to learn more about the lab's fluoroprobe, along with a decades-old scientific mystery that still haunts him and a fear he had to overcome on the job.

Audience

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

Subject

Humanities/liberal arts
Engineering and technology
Life science

Resource type

Career profile
Video
Multimedia

Topic

NOAA careers
Marine life
Marine mammals

Watch this video to find out more about Southern Resident killer whales, the threats they face, and how we are studying them from a NOAA biologist.

Audience

Adults
College+
Grade 9-12
Grade 6-8

Subject

Social studies

Resource type

Career profile

Topic

NOAA careers

An interview with Kenneth M. Bailey, Director of NOAA’s Office of Inclusion and Civil Rights.

Audience

Grade 6-8
Grade 9-12
College+

Subject

Earth science

Resource type

Job seeker resource

Topic

NOAA careers
Weather and atmosphere

Collection name

JetStream: An online school for weather

Better understand the requirements to become a meteorologist with the National Weather Service on this website from the National Weather Service's JetStream: An online school for weather.

Audience

Adults
College+
Grade 9-12

Subject

Earth science
Life science

Resource type

Job seeker resource

Topic

NOAA careers
Marine life
Fisheries and seafood

Learn about NOAA Fisheries on the West Coast and how to find federal and contract positions.

Audience

Adults
College+
Grade 9-12

Subject

Social studies
Engineering and technology
Earth science

Resource type

Job seeker resource

Topic

NOAA careers
Technology and engineering
Ships and planes

The NOAA Commissioned Officer Corps (NOAA Corps) is one of the nation’s seven uniformed services. Learn about eligibility requirements, pay and benefits, how to apply, pre-commissioning requirements, and information about basic NOAA Corps officer training.

Audience

Grade 6-8
Grade 9-12

Subject

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

Resource type

Activities, lessons, and units
Lesson plan
Module/unit
Background information

Topic

Freshwater
Watersheds, flooding, and pollution
Marine life
Aquatic food webs
Entanglement
Invasive marine species
Marine mammals
Sea turtles
Seabirds
NOAA careers
Ocean and coasts
Ocean currents
Ocean pollution and marine debris
Weather and atmosphere
Hazards and safety
Hurricanes
Weather observations
Weather systems and patterns

NGSS DCI

ESS3: Earth and Human Activity
ETS1: Engineering Design

Special categories

Citizen science
Instructional strategies
Education at home
Hands-on
Models
Outdoor education
Scientists in action

Collection name

NOAA Marine Debris Program

Marine debris is a pervasive, global problem and one that is felt locally in the U.S. Virgin Islands (USVI). Through a NOAA Marine Debris Program prevention grant, the University of the Virgin Islands(link is external) adapted and revised marine debris lessons for USVI, including Oregon Marine Debris STEAMSS, Turning the Tide on Trash, and Talking Trash and Taking Action. The curriculum was co-created with the input of educators from USVI who participated in workshops and provided input following in-class use. The curriculum also includes 15 spotlights, which highlight USVI-specific marine debris research, local researchers, community-led prevention efforts, and natural disaster impacts from marine debris.

Audience

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

Subject

Social studies
Engineering and technology
Earth science
Life science

Resource type

Job seeker resource
Career profile
Collection

Topic

NOAA careers
Technology and engineering
Marine life
Ocean and coasts
Ships and planes
Ocean exploration
Sharks, rays, and skates
Fish
Ecosystems
Invertebrates
Sea turtles
Marine mammals
Ocean floor features

Collection name

Marine Careers: A Sea Grant guide to ocean opportunities

Explore a wide range of marine career fields and hear from the people working in those fields. This website, hosted by Sea Grant, gives people a chance to say what they like and dislike about their careers, what they see for the future in their fields, and much more.

Audience

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

Subject

Humanities/liberal arts
Life science

Resource type

Career profile

Topic

NOAA careers
Marine life
Marine mammals

Part of the series, Faces of the Southeast Fisheries Science Center. Laura Dias serves as a marine mammal observer and data manager during line-transect vessel and aerial surveys. She manages the data collected and assists with analysis and publishing.