NOAA's National Centers for Coastal Ocean Science

Resources
from NCCOS & Partners

Lionfish Education and Outreach – Learn how NCCOS teamed up with a high–tech multimedia company to educate and raise public awareness about the presence of the Indo–Pacific lionfish along the U.S. East Coast.

Fish Gut Chromatography and other Chemistry Activities from Hollings Marine Laboratory (High School) – These activities focus on specific requirements for all levels of chemistry and marine science curricula but are based on real–life environmental science projects at Hollings Marine Laboratory (HML). Developed during the summer of 2007 by chemistry and marine science teachers working with HML scientists, the activities may be customized for use in your classroom. Each contains background information, student activities and assessments. "Fish Gut Chromatography" was a cooperative project between NCCOS’s HML and the South Carolina Sea Grant Consortium.

A Fourth Grade Teacher’s Research Experience (for grades 3–8) – Anna Hilton’s Research Journal is written for fourth graders to follow their teacher’s research experience through the pluff mud (a local type of special mud) in Charleston, S.C. while working at NCCOS’s Hollings Marine Laboratory. This photo journal includes links to background materials and a vocabulary page. Hilton participated in the ARMADA project during the summer of 2006. ARMADA provides teachers with research and mentoring experiences.

Rising Tides: What is a Harmful Algal Bloom? – "Rising Tides" is a NASA oceanographic education journal funded by NOAA, developed with high school science teachers and students in mind. The journal focuses on the biological aspects of coastal oceanography with an emphasis on research technology.

Pat Tester, a researcher from the National Centers for Coastal Ocean Science’s Center for Coastal Fisheries and Habitat Research, contributed the Chapter "What is a Harmful Algal Bloom?" and accompanying material:

• What is a Harmful Algal Bloom?
• Harmful Algal Blooms Activity
• Harmful Algal Blooms Answer Key

Resources from the National Ocean Service

Discovery Centers – The Discovery Centers contain a series of products developed for educators and students at the high school level, but easily adaptable for students at the middle school or undergraduate levels. Discovery Center resources include Discovery Kits, Discovery Stories, and the Discovery Classroom.

	Discovery Kits ›	Current topics:
	Discovery Kits describe the scientific principles underlying the applied science and activities of NOAA Ocean Service. Discovery Kits contain interactive tutorials, roadmaps to data roadmaps, and lesson plans in each Discovery Kit are designed to work together, but are comprehensive enough to be used on their own.	Corals Estuaries Nonpoint Source Pollution
	Discovery Stories ›	Current topics:
	Discovery stories are case studies in coastal and ocean science drawn from research conducted NOAA Ocean Service (NOS) scientists. These stories provide opportunities to learn through inquiry and are accompanied by supporting resources, including student and teacher guides, interactive quizzes, exercises with real data, and interviews with NOS scientists that explore how scientists think.	The Lionfish Invasion
	Discovery Classroom ›	Current topics:
	The Discovery Classroom is a collection of inquiry–based, formal lesson plans based on the major thematic areas of the NOAA Ocean Service Web site. The lesson plans emphasize hands–on activities using online data resources and are correlated to National Science Education Standards and the American Association for the Advancement of Science Benchmark for Science Literacy.	Coral Reef Conservation Coastal Ecosystem Science Coastal Management Coastal Monitoring and Observations Contaminants in the Environment Ecological Forecasting Harmful Algal Blooms Natural Resource Restoration

Other Resources Across NOAA & Partners

Please note that this is not an exhaustive list

The NOAA Education Website – NOAA’s many educational activities are distributed across the agency. This site has been designed to help students, teachers, librarians and the general public access the many educational activities, publications, and booklets that have been produced.

HazNet.org – The Extension Disaster Education Network (EDEN) is a collaborative multi-state effort by Extension Services across the country to reduce the impact of disasters. The Hazard Education K–12 Programs contain information on public awareness and formal educational programs. This site is for both students and teachers.

National Estuarine Research Reserves – Most National Estuarine Research Reserves provide K–12 education, ranging from hands–on field experiences for students to professional teacher development opportunities. In addition, the reserves invite students and teachers to learn about estuaries by actively participating in the EstuaryLive program, an interactive field trip over the internet. These are great opportunities to learn, teach about estuaries, and engage students in activities that will excite them and get them to explore the estuarine environment. Reserve educators also provide regularly scheduled public programs and special events, and they are always eager to partner with schools, community–based organizations and volunteers.

National Marine Sanctuaries – The National Marine Sanctuaries Education for Students offers information and hands–on activities in ocean, watershed, technology and marine careers topics; for students of all levels. Regional field experiences for students and teachers. Online resources include: virtual Sanctuary field trips, virtual expeditions and discovery classrooms. Some address national standards and state standards. This site is for both students and teachers.

NOAA Education Resource Collection – The NOAA Education Resource Collection within the Bridge Ocean Science Education Resource Center is a selection of exemplary NOAA resources that have been reviewed by educators and selected as particularly well–suited for educational purposes.

NOAA’s Teacher–at–Sea Program – The mission of the NOAA Teacher–at–Sea (TAS) program is to give teachers a clearer insight into our ocean planet, a greater understanding of maritime work and studies, and to increase their level of environmental literacy by fostering an interdisciplinary research experience. The program provides a unique environment for learning and teaching by sending kindergarten through college–level teachers to sea aboard NOAA research and survey ships to work under the tutelage of scientists and crew.

Sea Monsters NCCOS helped develop this educational initiative to promote awareness of the fascinating life associated with the seafloor at the Gray’s Reef National Marine Sanctuary (GRNMS) off the coast of Georgia. This initiative is intended to help support NOAA’s goal of enhancing public awareness, understanding, and wise use of the Sanctuary’s natural resources and surrounding marine environment.

Other Resources:

• NOAA Education Website
• Lionfish education page

Regional Ocean Activity Books– These books include fun and informative activities about the local coastal ocean and its inhabitants.

Currently available are:

Chesapeake Bay Activity Book	Coastal North Carolina Activity Book	Salish Sea Activity Book	Mobile Bay Activity Book
Why is Hawaii's Ocean Important: A Keiki Activity Book	Coastal Louisiana Activity Book	Arctic & Antarctic Activity Book

Thematic Ocean Activity Books– This new series of books will include fun and informative activities about broader topics in the coastal ocean and its inhabitants.

Currently available are:

Coral Reef Activity Book