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

Grade 6-8

Subject

ELA (English Language Arts)
Life science
Social studies

Resource type

Activities, lessons, and units
Lesson plan

Topic

Marine life
Aquatic food webs
Conservation
Ecosystems
Marine mammals

NGSS DCI

LS2: Ecosystems: Interactions, Energy, and Dynamics

Collection name

Sanctuaries 360 virtual dives

Students will explore the ecology of one of three different species in Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary (HIHWNMS). They will also explore conservation measures in place for their species protection. Students will produce a trifold brochure meant to teach visitors of the sanctuary about the ecology of their assigned species and its important to Native Hawaiian culture.

Audience

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

Subject

Earth science

Resource type

Related story

Topic

Ocean and coasts
Oil spills

One spring day in 2014, a shy young boy sidled up to the booth Ashley Braun, a writer with NOAA, was standing at during an open house hosted at NOAA's Seattle campus. His blond head just peaking over the table, this then-six-year-old, Alek, accompanied by his mom and younger sister, proceeded to ask how NOAA's oil spill trajectory model, GNOME, works. This was definitely not the question Braun was expecting from a child his age.

Audience

Adults
College+
Grade 9-12
Grade 6-8

Subject

Earth science

Resource type

Video
Multimedia

Topic

Ocean and coasts
Oil spills

Hindsight and Foresight was written and directed by marine biologist, Gary Shigenaka, of the NOAA Office of Response and Restoration Emergency Response Division (formerly the Hazardous Materials Response Branch). The movie received two awards: a bronze Telly Award and Honorable Mention at the Blue Ocean Film Festival in Savannah, Georgia. It was also selected as a featured film at the Paris International Environmental Film Festival.

Audience

Adults
College+
Grade 9-12
Grade 6-8

Subject

Earth science

Resource type

Background information

Topic

Ocean and coasts
Oil spills

Information about the causes of oil spills.

Audience

Adults
College+
Grade 9-12
Grade 6-8

Subject

Earth science
Life science

Resource type

Related story

Topic

Marine life
Ocean and coasts
Marine mammals
Oil spills
Ocean pollution and marine debris

Preventing oil spills is key, but since killer whales, also known as orcas, spend much of their time in the busy waters around Seattle, the San Juan Islands, and Vancouver, British Columbia, there is always a chance a spill could impact them.

Audience

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

Subject

Life science
Physical science

Resource type

Activity/demonstration
Activities, lessons, and units

Topic

Ocean and coasts
Oil spills

Special categories

Informal
Education at home
Hands-on
Instructional strategies

Try this slick and simple experiment for elementary school students in class or at home to see how oil behaves with water.

Audience

Adults
College+
Grade 9-12

Subject

Earth science

Resource type

Related story

Topic

Ocean and coasts
Oil spills

Fear not! There are ways to reduce your oil consumption without having to trek several miles on foot through blizzard conditions.

Audience

Adults
College+
Grade 9-12
Grade 6-8

Subject

Earth science
Life science

Resource type

Related story

Topic

Marine life
Ocean and coasts
Fish
Oil spills

Vessel traffic and oil development have increased in the Arctic in response to warming ocean water and declining sea ice. Anywhere oil is collected, transported, or refined there is a risk of oil spills. As ship traffic and oil development increase in the Arctic, the risk of oil spills also increases.

Audience

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

Subject

Life science
Social studies

Resource type

Coloring/activity book

Topic

Marine life
Conservation
Sea turtles

Special categories

Other languages
Samoan
Printable

Collection name

National marine sanctuaries coloring pages and puzzles

This coloring book explains the seven species of sea turtles and how to conserve them. The book is bilingual in English and Samoan.

Audience

Adults
College+
Grade 9-12

Subject

Social studies
Earth science

Resource type

Intermediate data product
Data product
Background information

Topic

Ocean and coasts
Oil spills

Following the Deepwater Horizon oil spill, scientists, economists, and restoration experts came together to collect data, determine the extent and magnitude of injuries, and plan and implement restoration projects.