Northwest Fisheries Science Center Education Website - Northwest Fisheries Science Center

Our Center conducts research that helps keep our ocean and coastal communities safe. We study organisms as tiny as bacteria and phytoplankton, and as large as orcas and sharks. Many of our scientists study Pacific Northwest salmon species and their habitats. We invite you to get involved and learn about our cool science and why it’s important!


Opportunities to learn about ocean science. Get involved!	Educational programs and links to sites with activities, games and puzzles!	Opportunities to bring ocean science education to your students.

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Ecology by Inquiry (PDF 4,194kb | 14,351kb)
(Please contact Ashley Steel at 206-860-3406 with any accessibility questions)

A new series of seven lessons, designed to teach fundamental ecological principles using an inquiry-based approach to middle-school students. They cover a wide range of scientific skills and ecological concepts: quantitative versus qualitative observations, the four parts of a scientific report, invertebrate ecology, Linnaean classification, food webs, predators and prey, mapping, habitats and adaptations, photosynthesis, decomposition, aquatic insects, scientific inference, water quality, and watershed ecology. Many of the lessons are designed around animals and ecosystems found in the Pacific Northwest USA, but the lessons can be customized and adapted to incorporate local wildlife and habitats. The lessons, taught in sequence, would take 18 50-minute classroom periods. Concepts in later lessons build on concepts in earlier lessons; however each lessons is designed to stand alone and can be used out of sequence and/or in coordination with other science activities. These lessons were developed in cooperation with the Highline School District and the Wascowitz Outdoor School. Publication of these lessons was funded by a grant from the NOAA Education Office.

For more information on education programs at the NWFSC, contact nwfsc.education@noaa.gov or call 206-860-3430

Welcome to the Northwest Fisheries Science Center Education Website!