Welcome to NOAA's virtual exhibit at the Annual Conference for the North American Association for Environmental Education (NAAEE) offsite link. Explore this collection of resources, funding opportunities, educator guides, and partnerships. If you're attending the conference in Pittsburgh, come find us in-person in the central foyer in the exhibit hall!
Teachers practice using anemometers to take wind speed measurements; they will use these same instruments in their classrooms with their students to gather atmospheric data in St. Petersburg, Florida. (Image credit: Lauren Drizd)
Climate Literacy Guide
Just released in September 2024, the new Climate Literacy: Essential Principles for Understanding and Addressing Climate Change presents information that is important for individuals and communities to know and understand about Earth’s climate, the impacts of climate change, and solutions. Principles in the guide can serve as discussion starters or launching points for learning about the climate crisis and what’s being done to address it across the world. The guide aims to promote greater climate literacy by providing this educational and communication framework of principles and concepts.
Educator’s Guide to the Meaningful Watershed Educational Experience offsite link
The Educator’s Guide to the MWEE is designed for users with varying levels of familiarity with the Meaningful Watershed Educational Experience (MWEE). The guide describes the power of the MWEE approach, defines the essential elements and supporting practices, and provides planning documents to develop your own experience. The educator’s guide was developed by the Chesapeake Bay Program offsite link in partnership with NOAA but content is relevant to other geographic areas. Be sure to check out the MWEE 101 and MWEE 201 online courses to learn more!
Environmental Literacy Program (ELP) Resilience Hub
NOAA’s Environmental Literacy Program (ELP) maintains a website for NOAA-related resilience resources.
Ocean Literacy Resources offsite link
With the support of NOAA, the National Marine Educators Association (NMEA) offsite link has developed an extensive ocean literacy framework made up of the Ocean Literacy Guide, the Ocean Literacy Scope and Sequence for Grades K–12 offsite link, and the Alignment of Ocean Literacy to the Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS) offsite link. This framework presents a vision of an ocean-literate society and outlines the knowledge required to be considered ocean literate. We recommend you see the NMEA Ocean Literacy page offsite link for additional resources and information about these efforts.
Toolbox for teaching climate & energy
NOAA Climate.gov and a community of educational and science partners have developed and organized a toolbox of supporting resources and programs for those who want to teach climate and energy science. Backed by some of the nation's most experienced professional educators, scientists, and engineers, the toolbox uses the Climate Action Learning Process to provide a path for teachers to follow in educating students, while also developing the skills to take action and reevaluating teaching methods.
Search through hundreds of free educational resources on the ocean, coast, Great Lakes, weather, atmosphere, and climate. Explore our lessons, data resources, videos, posters, and much more in our new NOAA Sea to Sky database!
Climate.gov
The federal climate portal is a one-stop-shop for your climate teaching needs! This climate education portal was built so both formal and informal educators can incorporate climate science into their classes and programs. Search within the “Teaching Climate” tab to find rigorously reviewed educational resources around energy and climate topics and foster a community that supports learning about climate and energy topics from the CLEAN portal offsite link.
Coral reef resources
Discover exciting ways to teach about corals and coral reefs with the NOAA Coral Reef Conservation Program. Highlights include information on how to 3D-print your very own coral polyp and an interactive coral reef with photos and facts.
Data in the Classroom
This interactive module is designed to help teachers and students use real scientific data to explore dynamic Earth processes and understand the impact of environmental events on a regional and global scale. Can ocean conditions support the growth and survival of marine life, both now and in the future? Data in the Classroom provides authentic research questions and scaled data interactions that give students the opportunity to explore this question (and more).
Deep Ocean Exploration Project offsite link
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.
Estuary education
Educators and estuary enthusiasts will find a variety of resources about the National Estuarine Research Reserve System — a network of 29 coastal sites designated to protect and study estuarine systems. This information will help educators share the wonders of estuaries with students and others.
JetStream: An online school for weather
JetStream, the National Weather Service Online Weather School, is designed to help educators, emergency managers, or anyone interested in learning about weather and weather safety. This portal includes comprehensive, well-organized, colorfully illustrated resources designed to help teach about the wonders and dangers that abound in the Earth's atmosphere.
National Ocean Service education resources
NOAA’s National Ocean Service hosts resources and programs for educators, students, and kids who want to learn more about our ocean and coasts. From active professional development programs, content, and resources to Earth science topics like corals, tides, and global positioning, you’re bound to find something that fits your needs!
NOAA Marine Debris Program resources
The NOAA Marine Debris Program and its partners offer free, downloadable education and outreach materials for people of all ages to learn about marine debris. Everyone has a role to play in raising awareness about this growing issue, so spread the word to help keep the sea free of debris.
NOAA Satellites: Data to predict and protect our world
The U.S. relies on NOAA satellites to predict all US and global weather. NOAA Satellites generate vital advance warnings for severe weather events helping us to make informed decisions on everything from population evacuations to flight patterns.
Ocean Exploration education themes
These education theme pages are designed to provide the best of what the Ocean Explorer website has to offer. Topics include marine archaeology, the Arctic, bioluminescence, seamounts, deep-sea canyons, deep-sea corals, cold seep, vents and volcanoes, and more!
Sanctuaries 360° virtual reality lessons
NOAA's Office of National Marine Sanctuaries just released five lessons for middle school students that align with virtual visits to our national marine sanctuaries. Follow along with the NGSS-aligned lessons that bring students into our sanctuaries to learn about America's underwater treasures. Videos can be viewed on a computer, tablet, phone, or virtual reality headset for an optimal viewing experience.
SOS Explorer®
The SOS Explorer® free app animates the world right on your smartphone or PC. As a pocket-sized version of NOAA’s Science On a Sphere®, this app invites you to zoom in on specific interests, from the squiggly warm and cold lines of the world's ocean currents to the power of tsunami waves, the effects of climate change, and a view of Saturn’s rings.
Coastal Ecosystem Learning Center Network
The Coastal Ecosystem Learning Center (CELC) Network is a consortium of 25 aquariums and marine science education centers located in the United States, Canada, and Mexico. From youth summits to multi-institution projects, the CELC Network works together to engage the public in protecting coastal and marine ecosystems. By coordinating CELC, NOAA’s Office of Education brings NOAA science, guidance, and resources to these institutions and the 20 million people they reach every year across North America.
eeBLUE offsite link
eeBLUE is a five-year partnership between NOAA Office of Education and NAAEE to help create a more environmentally literate society that has the knowledge, skills, and motivation to conserve our natural resources and build more resilient communities across the country. Partnership activities strengthen professional networks, support high-quality STEM education, and provide education and outreach for educators and other audiences.
NOAA Bay Watershed Education and Training (B-WET)
The NOAA B-WET program funds relevant, authentic experiential learning for K-12 students and educators through Meaningful Watershed Educational Experiences (MWEEs). MWEEs are multistage activities that include learning both outdoors and in the classroom and aim to increase understanding and stewardship of watersheds and related ecosystems. Whether working with students directly or providing professional development to educators, B-WET grants empower students to investigate local and global environmental issues that affect their lives, choices, and communities.
NOAA Planet Stewards
This national program provides resources (a biweekly newsletter, a book club, and more!) and funding up to $2,500 for educators working with elementary through university age students so they can build scientifically-literate communities and engage in hands-on stewardship in response to environmental challenges.