Lesson Plan Library

These comprehensive lessons present NOAA science through activities using online data from NOAA Web sites. The lessons are correlated to National Science Education Standards and designed to supplement existing curricula at the middle and high school levels. Click on a subject area above to see the lessons within that subject.

Chemistry

National Marine Sanctuaries

USS Monitor National Marine Sanctuary: The Iron Cheesebox (pdf, 280Kb)

Ocean Exploration

Ocean Exploration - DNA Sequencing: Molecular Explorations (pdf, 360Kb)

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Geography

Global Positioning

Introduction to Global Positioning / Geodesy: Meet Geodesy (pdf, 264Kb)
Introduction to Global Positioning System: I Know Where You Are (pdf, 180Kb)
Nautical Charts and Marine Navigation: Plot your Course (pdf, 268Kb)

Habitat Management / Monitoring

Smart Growth/Sustainable Development: Get Smart (pdf, 200Kb)
Human Dimensions of Coastal Management: "I'll Stay Here if it Kills Me!" (pdf, 236Kb)
Benthic Habitat Monitoring: Bottom Watching (pdf, 784Kb)

Resource Protection / Restoration

Protecting Natural and Cultural Resources: No Fishing? (pdf, 276Kb)
Marine Protected Areas: Water Parks (pdf, 372Kb)
Marine Protected Artect Teas: Prohis! (pdf, 896Kb)

National Marine Sanctuaries

Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary: Shipwreck Alley (pdf, 352Kb)

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Earth Science

Corals

Monitoring Coral Reefs: Who has the Data?
Monitoring Coral Reefs: Keeping Watch on Coral Reefs

Tides

What Causes Tides: Ups and Downs (pdf, 292Kb)
Effects of the Moon on the Organisms: The Moon Made Me Do It (pdf, 188Kb)

Currents

What Causes Waves and Ocean Currents: Motion in the Ocean (pdf, 172Kb)
Coastal Currents and Navigation: Ready, Set, Drift! (pdf, 284Kb)

Climate Change

Drought: Getting Thirsty? (pdf, 332Kb)
Climate Change: Is it Getting Hot in Here? (pdf, 344Kb)
Natural Hazards Assessment - Hurricanes: Do You Want to Risk It? (pdf, 212Kb)
Aerial Photography & Shoreline Mapping: Images of Hurricane Katrina (pdf, 344Kb)
Ecological Forecasting - Sea Nettles in Chesapeake Bay: The Stinging Sea (pdf, 656Kb)

Pollution

Nonpoint Source Pollution: Get to the Point (pdf, 688Kb)
Watersheds and Polluted Runoff: Where's the Point? (pdf, 352Kb)
Contaminants in the Environment: Dirty Mud, (pdf, 1.2Mb) download the Data File (zip, 5.6Mb)

Global Positioning

Introduction to Global Positioning / Geodesy: Meet Geodesy (pdf, 264Kb)
Introduction to Global Positioning System: I Know Where You Are (pdf, 180Kb)
Global Positioning and Plate Tectonic Movement: It's Not Your Fault (pdf, 624Kb)
Global Positioning and Seismic Events: All Shook Up (pdf, 524Kb)
Global Positioning and Surveying: How High Is That? (pdf, 576Kb)

Estuaries

National Estuarine Research Reserves: Natural Laboratories (pdf, 268Kb)
Estuaries and Anthropology: For the Last 10,000 Years... (pdf, 180Kb)
Estuaries - Monitoring Living Resources: Eyes on the Estuaries (pdf, 276Kb)
Estuaries - The Physical Environment: Getting Physical with Estuaries(pdf, 468Kb)

Navigation

Introduction to Sonar: See that Sound? (pdf, 112Kb)
Nautical Charts and Marine Navigation: Plot Your Course (pdf, 268Kb)
Marine Navigation Using Real-Time Online Data: Do You Need a Map? (pdf, 360Kb)

Ecosystem Science

Ecological Forecasting - Gulf of Mexico Dead Zone: The Dead Zone (pdf, 504Kb)

Habitat Management / Monitoring

Shoreline Erosion: Who Moved the Beach? (pdf, 206Kb)
Benthic Habitat Monitoring: Bottom Watching (pdf, 784Kb)
Coastal Habitat Monitoring: Do You Have Change? (pdf, 580Kb)

Resource Protection / Restoration

Repairing Damaged Resources: Fix It! (pdf, 240Kb)
Restoring Natural Resources - Aquatic Vegitation: SAV Me! (pdf, 132Kb)
Protecting Natural and Cultural Resources: No Fishing? (pdf, 276Kb)

Ocean Exploration

Exploring Explorations (pdf, 360Kb)
Origin and Structure of the Earth: Bang! You're Alive (pdf, 404Kb)

The Outlier

Natural Hazards Assessment - Earthquakes: Are You Ready to Shake? (pdf, 140Kb)

Case Studies Resources

Oil Pollution: Oily Mess

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Life Science

Corals

Monitoring Coral Reefs: Who Has the Data?
Monitoring Coral Reefs: Keeping Watch on Coral Reefs
Coral Reef Biology: A Reef of Your Own
Coral Reef Bleaching: Do Not Bleach!

Tides

Effects of the Moon on the Organisms: The Moon Made Me Do It (pdf, 656Kb)

Climate Change

Ecological Forecasting - Sea Nettles in Chesapeake Bay: The Stinging Sea (pdf, 504Kb)

Pollution

Nonpoint Source Pollution: Get to the Point (pdf, 688Kb)
Nonpoint Source Pollution: The Seeds Tell the Story (pdf, 656Kb)
Watersheds and Polluted Runoff: Where's the Point? (pdf, 352Kb)
Contaminants in the Environment: Dirty Mud, (pdf, 1.2Mb) download the Data File (zip, 5.6Mb)

Estuaries

National Estuarine Research Reserves: Natural Laboratories (pdf, 268Kb)
Estuaries and Anthropology: For the Last 10,000 Years... (pdf, 180Kb)
Estuaries - Monitoring Living Resources: Eyes on the Estuaries (pdf, 276Kb)

Ecosystem Science

Invasive Species: Alien Invasion (pdf, 424Kb)
Ecological Forecasting - Gulf of Mexico Dead Zone: The Dead Zone (pdf, 504Kb)
Harmful Algal Blooms: Bad Algae (pdf, 2.1Mb)

Habitat Management / Monitoring

Smart Growth/Sustainable Development: Get Smart (pdf, 200Kb)
Human Dimensions of Coastal Management: "I'll Stay Here if it Kills Me!" (pdf, 236Kb)
Benthic Habitat Monitoring: Bottom Watching (pdf, 784Kb)
Coastal Habitat Monitoring: Do You Have Change? (pdf, 580Kb)

Resource Protection / Restoration

Repairing Damaged Resources: Fix It! (pdf, 240Kb)
Restoring Natural Resources - Aquatic Vegitation: SAV Me! (pdf, 132Kb)
Protecting Natural and Cultural Resources: No Fishing? (pdf, 276Kb)
Marine Protected Areas: Water Parks (pdf, 372Kb)
Marine Protected Artect Teas: Protect This! (pdf, 896Kb)

Ocean Exploration

Exploring Explorations (pdf, 360Kb)
DNA Sequencing: Molecular Explorations (pdf, 224Kb)

Case Studies Resources

Lionfish Invasion: Lionfish Invasion
Oil Pollution: Oily Mess

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Math

Global Positioning

Global Positioning and Surveying: How High Is That? (pdf, 576Kb)

Physical Science

Currents

What Causes Waves and Ocean Currents: Motion in the Ocean (pdf, 172Kb)
Coastal Currents and Navigation: Ready, Set, Drift! (pdf, 284Kb)

Navigation

Introduction to Sonar: See that Sound? (pdf, 112Kb)

National Marine Sanctuaries

Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary: Shipwreck Alley (pdf, 352Kb)

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