Educational Opportunities
An NCCOS scientist assists students with squid dissection at a NOAA Education
Day event.
National Centers for Coastal Ocean Science (NCCOS) develops and shares high–quality
science through technology transfer, technical assistance, and educational efforts.
NCCOS seeks to educate
present and future generations of scientists, coastal managers, and informed citizens
about the coastal ocean, its resources, and the importance of protecting it. These
educational materials are provided to increase environmental literacy on issues
important to NCCOS
and NOAA.
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 (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 the
Holings 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.
Learn more.
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.
Learn more.
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, contributed the chapter "What is a Harmful Algal Bloom?" and accompanying
material.
Learn
more.
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
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. Current topics include:
Discovery Stories
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. Current topics include:
Discovery Classroom
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.
Learn more
Resources Across NOAA and its Partners
NOAA's 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
Learn more.
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. 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.
Learn more.
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.
Learn more.
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.
Learn more.
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.
Learn more.