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.”

 

Filters:

Audience

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

Subject

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

Resource type

Module/unit
Video
Background information
Collection
Activity/demonstration
Lesson plan
Activities, lessons, and units
Multimedia

Topic

Technology and engineering
Ocean and coasts
Ships and planes
Maritime archaeology and history
ROVs, AUVs, and drones
Ocean pollution and marine debris
Ocean acidification

Special categories

Informal
STEM
Inquiry
Project-based
Printable
Models
Hands-on
Instructional strategies

Collection name

Maritime Archaeology

Monitor National Marine Sanctuary offers a variety of free resources for educators. Resources include social studies activities, as well as science, technology, engineering, art, and math (STEAM) activities, lesson plans, and guides. Each section below is filled with STEM activities, lesson plans, and games. Explore the Civil War and USS Monitor, World War I, World War II, Shipwrecks and STEM, Wrecks as Reefs, the Outer Banks Maritime Heritage Trail, and more.

Audience

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

Subject

Arts
Engineering and technology
Life science

Resource type

Activity/demonstration
Activities, lessons, and units

Topic

Technology and engineering
Marine life
Coral reef ecosystems

Special categories

Informal
3D printable
STEM
Education at home
Models
Hands-on
Instructional strategies

This 3D coral polyp model shows a cross section of a single polyp, including its tentacles, gastrodermis, stomach cavity, and the complex skeletal structure underneath. It is a generic representation and not a replica of any particular species. Each half has interlocking pegs that allow a full polyp to be assembled.

Audience

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

Subject

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

Resource type

Activities, lessons, and units
Lesson plan
Collection

Topic

Ocean and coasts
Ocean pollution and marine debris

NGSS DCI

ESS2: Earth’s Systems
ESS3: Earth and Human Activity
ETS1: Engineering Design
LS2: Ecosystems: Interactions, Energy, and Dynamics
LS4: Biological Evolution: Unity and Diversity

Special categories

Instructional strategies
Hands-on
Informal
Models
Outdoor education
STEM
Other languages
Spanish
Printable

Designed as a stand-alone teaching tool or to supplement lessons for educators in both formal and informal settings. Appropriate for students grades K-12, with a focus on STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics) objectives.

Audience

Adults
College+
Grade 9-12
Grade 6-8

Subject

Engineering and technology

Resource type

Video
Multimedia

Topic

Technology and engineering
ROVs, AUVs, and drones

NGSS DCI

ETS1: Engineering Design

Special categories

STEM
Instructional strategies

Collection name

Ocean Exploration educational materials

The Deep Discoverer remotely operated vehicle (ROV) gives scientists unprecedented access to the deep ocean – from delivering stunning high-definition video and gathering physical data about surrounding waters, to allowing the collection of biological and geological samples. This in turn helps scientists to better understand an ecosystem in its entirety, meaning we can make better decisions about an area's management as well as its protection.

Audience

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

Subject

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

Resource type

Infographic
Video
Background information
Poster/brochure
Collection
Activity/demonstration
Lesson plan
Activities, lessons, and units
Multimedia

Topic

Technology and engineering
GPS and geodesy

Special categories

Informal
STEM
Printable
Education at home
Models
Hands-on
Instructional strategies

Collection name

GPS educational resources

A collection of educational resources for teachers and students about GPS. The Global Positioning System is a U.S.-owned utility that provides users with positioning, navigation, and timing services.

Audience

Grade 6-8

Subject

Engineering and technology
Earth science
Physical science

Resource type

Simulation
Module/unit
Background information
Collection
Activity/demonstration
Lesson plan
Activities, lessons, and units
Multimedia

Topic

Technology and engineering
Weather and atmosphere
Satellites
Weather systems and patterns
Weather observations

Special categories

STEM
Safety/preparedness
Education at home
Models
Uses data
Instructional strategies

Collection name

UCAR teaching boxes

UCAR Center for Science Education presents the Satellites and Weather Teaching Box! We have collected high quality resources from our program and from other science education programs, sequenced them to help build student understanding, and aligned the collection with Next Generation Science Standards. Resources have been reviewed by our team of educators. Teaching Boxes are collections of classroom-ready and standards-aligned activities, content, and multimedia that build student understanding of science, technology, engineering, and math.