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 3-5
Grade 6-8

Subject

Arts
Earth science
Engineering and technology
Life science
Math
Physical science
Social studies

Resource type

Activities, lessons, and units
Lesson plan
Module/unit

Topic

Marine life
Aquatic food webs
Entanglement
Life in an estuary
Marine mammals
Seabirds
Ocean and coasts
Ocean pollution and marine debris

NGSS DCI

ESS3: Earth and Human Activity
ETS1: Engineering Design
LS2: Ecosystems: Interactions, Energy, and Dynamics
LS4: Biological Evolution: Unity and Diversity
PS1: Matter and Its Interactions

Special categories

Instructional strategies
Hands-on
Models
Outdoor education
Printable

Collection name

NOAA Marine Debris Program

This guide is designed for educators in both formal and informal education situations. It is a regional introduction to three main categories of marine debris: litter; derelict or abandoned boats; and lost or abandoned commercial and recreational fishing gear.

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

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

Subject

Engineering and technology
Earth science

Resource type

Module/unit
Lesson plan

Topic

Technology and engineering
Ocean and coasts
Ocean pollution and marine debris

NGSS DCI

ETS1: Engineering Design
ESS3: Earth and Human Activity

Special categories

Project-based
Uses data

Collection name

NOAA Marine Debris Program

In this project, students focus on one marine debris object commonly found on Oregon beaches, research its original purpose, user, and life cycle, and then propose targeted solutions to prevent this particular item from becoming marine debris. The webpage contains three 5E lessons centered around the anchoring phenomena of yellow rope fragments, plastic shotgun wads, or balloons on the beach, and include resources and a template to create similar lessons for five other marine debris objects. This project is supported by supported by funding from the NOAA National Sea Grant Office, the NOAA Marine Debris Program, and Oregon Sea Grant.

Audience

Grade 3-5
Grade K-2

Subject

Arts
Math
Engineering and technology
Earth science
Life science
Physical science

Resource type

Module/unit
Lesson plan
Activities, lessons, and units

Topic

Marine life
Ocean and coasts
Entanglement
Ocean pollution and marine debris

NGSS DCI

ETS1: Engineering Design
PS4: Waves and Their Applications in Technologies for Information Transfer
PS3: Energy
PS1: Matter and Its Interactions
ESS3: Earth and Human Activity
ESS2: Earth’s Systems
LS4: Biological Evolution: Unity and Diversity
LS1: From Molecules to Organisms: Structures and Processes

Special categories

Region
Pacific Islands region
Hands-on
Instructional strategies

Collection name

NOAA Marine Debris Program

This curriculum introduces ocean circulation, marine ecology, and human impacts with a focus on marine debris for students in K-5th grade. Student activities meet the math and science benchmarks and "Common Core" standards for the State of Hawai'i Department of Education for each grade level. The curriculum includes presentations, lesson plans, hands-on activities, and vocab sheets.

Audience

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

Subject

Earth science
Life science
Social studies

Resource type

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

Topic

Ocean and coasts
Ocean pollution and marine debris
Oil spills

Special categories

Citizen science
Instructional strategies
Education at home
Hands-on
Informal
Models
Uses data
Printable
Safety/preparedness

Collection name

NOAA Marine Debris Program

Explore an assortment of formal curricula for grades 1-12 from the NOAA Marine Debris Program. All curricula are available for download and print!