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.”

 

No results match your search.

Audience

Grade 6-8
Grade 9-12
College+
Adults

Subject

Earth science
Life science
Physical science

Resource type

Related story

Topic

Marine life
Marine mammals
Ocean and coasts
Ocean sounds

"Sonobuoys" record ocean sounds and are deployed over the side of a ship to send back real-time recordings.

Audience

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

Subject

Life science

Resource type

Background information
Collection
Coloring/activity book
Multimedia
Video
Webinar
Related story

Topic

Marine life
Conservation
Marine mammals
Ocean and coasts
Ocean sounds

Learn more about the intelligent mammals that inhabit our ocean, the problems they face, and their importance in the marine ecosystem. Read to explore NOAA’s efforts to protect dolphin populations and how national marine sanctuaries benefit dolphins.

Audience

Grade 6-8
Grade 9-12
College+
Adults

Subject

Life science
Physical science

Resource type

Related story

Topic

Marine life
Marine mammals
Ocean and coasts
Ocean sounds

SanctSound, a four-year effort led by NOAA, the U.S. Navy, and over 20 partner organizations to better understand the underwater soundscape of the National Marine Sanctuary System. The SanctSound team has been able to gather a wealth of data on the sounds heard in seven national marine sanctuaries and one marine national monument.

Audience

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

Resource type

Video

Topic

Ocean and coasts
Marine life
Seabirds
Marine mammals
Plankton
Invertebrates
Cryosphere
Ocean sounds
Aquatic food webs
Seaweed, algae, and aquatic plants

Special categories

Other languages
Spanish

Collection name

Ocean Today

Learn about animals that live on ice: penguins, polar bears, beluga, Antarctic krill, and walrus. How have they adapted to such a cold environment?

Audience

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

Subject

Earth science

Resource type

Video

Topic

Ocean and coasts
Marine life
Climate
Technology and engineering
Climate change impacts
Mapping and charting
Ships and planes
Invertebrates
Ocean sounds
Cryosphere

Special categories

Region
Alaska region
Other languages
Spanish

Collection name

Ocean Today
Ocean Today: Exploration

The Around the Americas voyage is a 25,000-mile circumnavigation of the North and South American continents. The mission is simple: to raise awareness about the health of the ocean and to show how changes are impacting various ecosystems and human life.

Audience

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

Subject

Social studies
Earth science
Life science

Resource type

Webinar
Collection
Multimedia

Topic

Technology and engineering
Marine life
Ocean and coasts
Satellites
Ocean sounds
Plankton
Sharks, rays, and skates
Fish
Harmful algal blooms
Invertebrates
Sea turtles
Marine mammals
Fisheries and seafood
Coral reef ecosystems
Oil spills
Ocean pollution and marine debris

Special categories

Other languages
Spanish

Collection name

Bite-sized Science webinar series

These 30-minute webinars are presented by Florida Sea Grant extension agents and specialists. They focus on marine and coastal science topics, specifically related to Florida. Some webinars were presented in Spanish.

Audience

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

Resource type

Video

Topic

Ocean and coasts
Marine life
Technology and engineering
Marine mammals
Ocean sounds

Special categories

Other languages
Spanish

Collection name

Ocean Today
Ocean Today: Marine life

Learn about the North Atlantic right whale and how scientists are learning more about them and how to protect them.

Audience

Grade 6-8
Grade 9-12
College+
Adults

Subject

Earth science
Engineering and technology
Social studies

Resource type

Multimedia
Webinar

Topic

Ocean and coasts
Ocean sounds
Technology and engineering

National marine sanctuaries are a source of many sounds from humans and animals, as well as abiotic sounds coming from weather and water. Researchers need special tools to "see" beneath the waves to better understand and protect sanctuaries. Channel Islands National Marine Sanctuary has been a hot spot for passive acoustic monitoring for years, and this webinar explores various ways in which the Channel Islands sanctuary and partners are characterizing the sanctuary soundscape, what we've been able to learn so far, and what we are still seeking to understand.

Audience

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

Subject

Earth science
Engineering and technology
Physical science
Social studies

Resource type

Career profile
Collection
Multimedia
Video

Topic

Climate
Climate change impacts
Climate data monitoring
Marine life
Fisheries and seafood
NOAA careers
Ocean and coasts
Ocean chemistry
Ocean sounds
Space
Space weather
Technology and engineering
Weather and atmosphere
Weather observations

Collection name

NOAA Boulder Labs: Meet our team

Learn about the different types of career paths that are available at the NOAA Boulder campus. Many NOAA employees are scientists, but there are also administrative staff, tech workers, science communicators, and more!

Audience

Adults
College+
Grade 9-12
Grade 6-8

Subject

Engineering and technology
Earth science

Resource type

Background information

Topic

Technology and engineering
Ocean and coasts
Buoys
Satellites
Mapping and charting
Ocean sounds
Ships and planes
Ocean exploration
Harmful algal blooms
Tides
Ocean floor features
Ocean currents

Collection name

Ocean facts

Read through dozens of answered questions about ocean technology.