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.”
- Climate (305)
- Freshwater (167)
- Marine life
(504)
- Adaptations (18)
- Aquatic food webs (64)
- (-) Coral reef ecosystems (89)
- Conservation (39)
- Ecosystems (131)
- Endangered species (22)
- Entanglement (16)
- Fish (113)
- Fisheries and seafood (123)
- Invasive marine species (9)
- Invertebrates (94)
- Life in an estuary (36)
- Marine mammals (138)
- Plankton (15)
- Salmon (24)
- Sea turtles (64)
- Seabirds (31)
- Seaweed, algae, and aquatic plants (24)
- Sharks, rays, and skates (40)
- NOAA careers (29)
- Ocean and coasts
(686)
- Earth processes (27)
- Harmful algal blooms (21)
- Maritime archaeology and history (36)
- Ocean acidification (67)
- Ocean chemistry (16)
- Ocean currents (102)
- Ocean exploration (86)
- Ocean floor features (88)
- Ocean pollution and marine debris (174)
- Ocean sounds (15)
- Oil spills (58)
- Rip currents (22)
- Sea level rise (43)
- Tides (59)
- Tsunamis (55)
- Space (50)
- Technology and engineering (294)
- Weather and atmosphere (335)
- ESS2: Earth’s Systems (2)
- ESS3: Earth and Human Activity (4)
- ETS1: Engineering Design (1)
- LS1: From Molecules to Organisms: Structures and Processes (1)
- LS2: Ecosystems: Interactions, Energy, and Dynamics (13)
- LS4: Biological Evolution: Unity and Diversity (1)
- PS1: Matter and Its Interactions (2)
- PS3: Energy (2)
- PS4: Waves and Their Applications in Technologies for Information Transfer (1)
- Data in the Classroom (2)
- Diving Deeper podcast (1)
- ELP grantee (1)
- Exploring Ocean Mysteries: From Dynamic Shores to the Deep Sea (2)
- Ocean facts (1)
- Ocean Today (29)
- Sanctuaries 360 virtual dives (3)
- Sanctuaries resource collection (1)
- Science On a Sphere catalog (1)
- Sea Grant podcasts (1)
- Teacher at Sea (1)
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Data in the Classroom has structured, student-directed lesson plans that use historical and real-time NOAA data. The five modules address research questions and include stepped levels of engagement with complex inquiry investigations with real-time and past data.
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The Deep Ocean Education Project is a collaboration among NOAA Ocean Exploration, Ocean Exploration Trust, and Schmidt Ocean Institute featuring high-quality ocean exploration and science education materials from the three organizations. The Deep Ocean Education Project website – launched in 2021 – is built around themes that are easily searchable, address key ocean-related phenomena, and encourage and support three-dimensional approaches to teaching and learning for K-12 education. The objective is to provide a one-stop resource hub for public, educators, and students looking for deep-sea educational materials. The website also includes information on how to connect with research vessels, including a list of upcoming events and opportunities, and live feeds of expeditions.
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Watch. Explore. Discover. View the beauty and mystery of the ocean realm captured on video around the globe. Videos are organized into collections to help educators.
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This Sanctuaries of Deep-Sea Coral Communities lesson focuses on species found in deep-sea coral communities and environmental factors that influence their presence and abundance. Students will view videos of real scientific transects taken with remotely operated vehicles (ROVs), and record data on the presence of specified species.
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In the Modeling Coral Reef Ecosystems: Rainforests of the Sea lesson, students research an organism from coral reef ecosystems. They will determine which organisms are producers, consumers and detritivores. They will also identify physical and behavioral adaptations aiding survival and reproduction. Students will present their findings to the class, then create kinesthetic and visual ecosystem models, incorporating other organisms and nonliving things that are important for the ecosystem. Through their models and class discussion, students will demonstrate how biodiversity makes ecosystems more resilient.
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These are selected archives of presentations given by scientists, educators, and communicators to the NOAA Planet Stewards' community. In November 2017 the NOAA Climate Stewards Education Project changed its name to NOAA Planet Stewards to reflect the program’s expanded scope of understanding and protecting the environment including decreasing marine debris, and conserving and restoring natural resources. NOAA Planet Stewards continues its programmatic emphasis on climate as a driver of environmental impacts to humans and natural ecosystems.
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A set of five lesson plans that match up with the Teacher at Sea and Teacher in the Air books.
- Miss Cook’s Voyage on the Ronald H. Brown: Monitoring Our Ocean and Atmosphere
- Dr. Diane’s Flight with the NOAA Hurricane Hunters: Planning and Preparing for a Natural Disaster & Tracking Hurricanes
- Mrs. Armwood’s Hydrographic Adventure on the NOAA Ship Fairweather: Surveying Our Coastal Waters
- Mr. Tanenbaum Explores Atlantic Fisheries on the NOAA Ship Henry B. Bigelow: Living in Coral
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A fun coloring page with suggestions on how anyone can help protect coral reefs.
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Get inspired by a team of Florida scientists who are racing to save coral reefs with the help of an army of hungry crabs!
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In celebration of the 50th anniversary of the National Marine Sanctuary System, the best of the best educational materials for an elementary school audience have been compiled in collaboration with the National Park Trust. Discover Spectacular with these education and outreach digital materials focused on 10 exciting topics: climate change, ocean acidification, marine debris, kelp forest ecosystems, coral reef ecosystems, sea turtles, sharks, whales and ocean noise, seabirds, and shipwrecks.