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.”

 

Filters:

Audience

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

Resource type

Webinar

Topic

Ocean and coasts
Ocean currents
Tides

Special categories

Safety/preparedness

Collection name

Ocean Today

Watch cool videos and learn everything you need to know to make your next trip to the shore your best and safest.

Audience

Grade 9-12
Grade 6-8

Subject

Earth science
Life science
Physical science

Resource type

Lesson plan
Activities, lessons, and units

Topic

Ocean and coasts
Tides

Special categories

Models
Uses data
Instructional strategies

In this activity, students learn about tides and salinity in estuaries. They observe time-lapse models of tides and salinity distribution in the York River, part of the Chesapeake Bay-Virginia National Estuarine Research Reserve. They will learn how salinity changes with an incoming and outgoing tide, observing the dynamics of the salt wedge at various sites along the river.

Audience

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

Subject

Earth science
Physical science

Resource type

Collection
NOAA Education resource collection

Topic

Ocean and coasts
Tides

This resource collection from NOAA Education shares an introduction to tides. Knowledge of the times, heights, and the flow of tides is of importance in a wide range of situations such as navigation through coastal waterways; construction of bridges, docks, breakwaters, and deep-water channels; and for fishing, boating, surfing, and water sports.

Audience

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

Subject

Earth science

Resource type

Multimedia
Video

Topic

Climate
Climate change impacts
Resiliency and mitigation
Freshwater
Watersheds, flooding, and pollution
Ocean and coasts
Sea level rise
Tides

Collection name

Ocean Today

Flooding. It’s often associated with heavy rains and severe storms. But with rising sea levels, flooding in some coastal communities is now occurring during high tides and sunny days.

Audience

Grade 6-8
Grade 9-12

Subject

Earth science
Engineering and technology
Life science
Physical science

Resource type

Background information
Collection

Topic

Freshwater
Watersheds, flooding, and pollution
Marine life
Coral reef ecosystems
Life in an estuary
Ocean and coasts
Ocean currents
Tides
Technology and engineering
GPS and geodesy

Dive into tutorials on corals, estuaries, global positioning, pollution, ocean currents, and tides. Learn the basics about these topics and how they are a part of NOAA's work.

Audience

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

Resource type

Video

Topic

Ocean and coasts
Ocean currents
Tides

Special categories

Safety/preparedness

Collection name

Ocean Today
Ocean Today: Danger zone

Join Bruckner Chase in the Ocean Today Wave Safe series as we travel the country’s coasts to teach you how to protect yourself and others.

Audience

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

Resource type

Video

Topic

Ocean and coasts
Ocean currents
Tides

Special categories

Safety/preparedness

Collection name

Ocean Today

Join Ocean Today host Symone Barkley and safety expert Bruckner Chase as they survey hidden hazards in a bay or harbor where there are jetties and piers, strong currents and no lifeguards nearby. Watch to learn tips you can use to stay safe in the water and have fun.

Audience

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

Resource type

Video

Topic

Ocean and coasts
Ocean pollution and marine debris
Tides

Special categories

Safety/preparedness

Collection name

Ocean Today

In this short video, Ocean Today host Symone Barkley and ocean safety expert Bruckner Chase offer tips for what to take to the beach to help you stay safe and have fun...in the surf and sun.

Audience

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

Resource type

Webinar

Topic

Ocean and coasts
Ocean currents
Tides

Special categories

Safety/preparedness

Collection name

Ocean Today

In this webinar, watch cool videos, visit the beach live, and learn everything you need to know to make your next trip to the shore your best and safest.

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.