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

Life science

Resource type

Activities, lessons, and units
Lesson plan

Topic

Marine life
Fisheries and seafood

NGSS DCI

LS2: Ecosystems: Interactions, Energy, and Dynamics

Special categories

Instructional strategies
Uses data

Collection name

Teacher at Sea

Students examine actual data from a NOAA sea scallop survey in 2012, organize it, and make inferences about what type of story the data might tell.

Audience

Grade 6-8
Grade 3-5

Subject

Life science

Resource type

Lesson plan
Activities, lessons, and units

Topic

Marine life
Fish

Special categories

Hands-on
Instructional strategies

Collection name

Teacher at Sea

Taxonomic keys are tools that scientists use in the field to identify organisms based on physical characteristics. By designing one, students will understand how to properly use a taxonomic key. This activity also requires students to make observations and apply knowledge of external fish anatomy. Students will observe pictures of ten different Alaskan fish species and design a taxonomic (dichotomous) key that can be used to identify them.

Audience

Grade 3-5
Grade 6-8

Subject

Earth science
Life science
Physical science

Resource type

Activities, lessons, and units
Lesson plan

Topic

Climate
Climate data monitoring
Freshwater
Rivers
Watersheds, flooding, and pollution
Ocean and coasts

NGSS DCI

ESS3: Earth and Human Activity

Special categories

Instructional strategies
Hands-on

Collection name

Teacher at Sea

Students will analyze and graph three marine water samples from South Florida, compare/contrast the results, draw inferences about the impact of freshwater on marine ecosystems, and improve the design of the experiment.

Audience

Grade 9-12

Subject

Life science

Resource type

Activities, lessons, and units
Lesson plan

Topic

Marine life
Fisheries and seafood

NGSS DCI

LS2: Ecosystems: Interactions, Energy, and Dynamics

Special categories

Instructional strategies
Models
Uses data

Collection name

Teacher at Sea

After selecting and analyzing fisheries data from NOAA, students develop research questions, analyze the data and draw conclusions, which are then represented visually in the form of a poster presentation and shared with the class.

Audience

Grade 3-5
Grade 6-8

Subject

Life science
Math

Resource type

Activities, lessons, and units
Lesson plan

Topic

Marine life
Fisheries and seafood

Special categories

Instructional strategies
Models
Uses data

Collection name

Teacher at Sea

The groundfish survey is part of SEAMAP — South East Area Monitoring and Assessment Program — a joint venture between NOAA and the states to better understand the populations of fish and shellfish along the coast of the Gulf and Atlantic. In this lesson, students will simulate the groundfish survey by classifying fish species and record their lengths. Students will then make graphs of their results and compare their findings. Finally, students will explore online maps to understand variations in habitat.

Audience

Grade K-2

Subject

ELA (English Language Arts)
Life science

Resource type

Activities, lessons, and units
Lesson plan

Topic

Marine life
Marine mammals

NGSS DCI

LS2: Ecosystems: Interactions, Energy, and Dynamics

Collection name

Teacher at Sea

Students will choose a whale to research. They will research their whale and then work with a partner who has researched a different whale to compare and contrast the whales using a Venn diagram. After completing the Venn diagram, students will create an informational poster using their research. Students will share their work with peers from another class.

Audience

Grade 3-5

Subject

Arts
Social studies
ELA (English Language Arts)
Earth science

Resource type

Lesson plan
Activities, lessons, and units

Topic

Ocean and coasts
Ocean floor features

NGSS DCI

ESS2: Earth’s Systems

Special categories

Models
Hands-on
Instructional strategies

Collection name

Teacher at Sea

In this lesson students will learn about some of the features found on the ocean floor and that our knowledge of the ocean floor is due to exploration. Students will understand that there are similar features on the ocean floor that there are on land. Students will understand the importance and excitement of ocean exploration.

Audience

Grade K-2
Grade 3-5

Subject

ELA (English Language Arts)
Life science

Resource type

Activities, lessons, and units
Activity/demonstration

Topic

NOAA careers

Special categories

Instructional strategies
Informal
Printable

Collection name

Teacher at Sea

In this activity, students will follow the steps in their printable book to find out which NOAA job best fits their personality.

Audience

Grade 3-5

Subject

ELA (English Language Arts)

Resource type

Activities, lessons, and units
Lesson plan

Topic

NOAA careers

Collection name

Teacher at Sea

Students will select an ocean career that interests them based on their responses to an student career interest inventory. Students will create a brochure or poster to present to the class with information about their selected career.

Audience

Grade 3-5

Subject

ELA (English Language Arts)
Life science

Resource type

Activities, lessons, and units
Lesson plan

Topic

Marine life
Ecosystems

NGSS DCI

LS2: Ecosystems: Interactions, Energy, and Dynamics

Special categories

Instructional strategies
Hands-on

Collection name

Teacher at Sea

Students will learn the important role sargassum plays in supporting marine life. Through hands-on exploration, students will participate in a simulated research survey of surface dwelling marine organisms that rely on sargassum as a habitat. Using the Super Lotus model, students will research one marine species that relies on sargassum as a habitat and write a 1-2 page informational article.