With kids home from school, you might be looking for educational activities to keep them engaged and learning. Here are some free educational resources from NOAA and its partners to help you safely hunker down while exploring the ocean and marine science.
NOAA Office of Education Science Activities for Kids
NOAA’s Office of Education has put together a quick roundup of NOAA’s most popular educational resources about the ocean and atmosphere for preschoolers through college-aged students.
Check out NOAA's most popular educational resources
NOAA Live! Webinars
This webinar series, geared toward students in grades 2-8, takes place on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays at 11:00 am EDT during school closures. Each webinar features a different NOAA expert/topic and a question and answer session. They allow students to connect with NOAA scientists and get a peek at what they do.
National Ocean Service’s Just for Kids
Explore NOAA National Ocean Service’s activities and resources for children. This page includes links to coloring sheets, origami, videos, outdoor and tabletop challenges, and other projects that are fun and educational.
Check out the National Ocean Service's Just for Kids
National Ocean Service’s Every Full Moon Series
Watch the video series “Every Full Moon” from the comfort of your home. The series features ocean discoveries, wondrous animals, and people around the world who love and care about the ocean. Every month the National Ocean Service releases a new collection of videos around a specific ocean-related topic.
NOAA Fisheries' Fun Facts about Sea Life
NOAA Fisheries answers thousands of questions every year about the oceans and the life that thrives within them. Learn fascinating information about fish and other marine animals, and dive deeper into more information on these species.
Check out NOAA Fisheries' Fun Facts
NOAA Fisheries' Educational Salmon Series
NOAA Fisheries’ educational series on salmon stewardship, "An Incredible Journey," includes a vividly illustrated children’s book, a board game, and a 10-lesson curriculum. These materials tell the story of one of the West Coast’s signature species in a way that inspires students to help protect them. They can be downloaded for free in English or Spanish.
Download the salmon stewardship series
Marine Debris Program Activities and Curricula
Download NOAA Marine Debris Program's assortment of puzzles, brain-teasers, coloring activities, and formal curricula for grades 1-12. All curricula and activities are available to download and print.
Check out the Marine Debris Program's educational resources
Satellite and Information Service’s Data in the Classroom
With NOAA’s Data in the Classroom, students use real-time ocean data to explore today’s most pressing environmental issues. They can develop problem-solving skills employed by scientists. Access online and classroom-ready curriculum activities with a scaled approach to learning and easy-to-use data exploration tools.
Check out Data in the Classroom
Zoo and Aquarium Videos and Activities
The Association of Zoos & Aquariums has put together a collection of links to fun and educational online events and educational resources from zoos and aquariums across the country. Check its calendar for live video events your whole family can enjoy. Or browse a complete list of these organizations' online educational content and activities for teachers, parents, and students.
Check out AZA's educational resources
Aquarium Online Academy
The Aquarium of the Pacific is offering a variety of live and on-demand videos and activities for all ages. Its extensive programming is designed to educate and inspire, connect science and the arts, gather experts to tackle the planet’s biggest environmental problems, and conserve endangered animals and threatened ecosystems.
Check out the Aquarium Online Academy
National Science Teaching Association
To support all educators during the COVID-19 national health crisis, the National Science Teaching Association is offering a free 30-day membership. This provides access to more than 12,000 digital professional learning resources and tools.
Sign up for a free 30-day NSTA membership
World Ocean Observatory’s Distance Learning Resources
Explore a compendium of home study tools and resources for teaching and learning about the ocean from the World Ocean Observatory organization.
Check out the World Ocean Observatory's educational resources
The Bridge Ocean Science Education Resource Center
The Bridge provides educators with a convenient source of accurate and useful information and education materials on marine science topics from many expert sources.
Check out The Bridge's educational materials
Sea Grant Education at Home Resources
Find state-specific Sea Grant educational resources for teachers, parents, and students. These sites reference a variety of activities such as lesson plans, live webinars, and games, to keep kids and families entertained and learning while at home.
Check out Sea Grant program's educational resources
Coastal Ecosystem Learning Center Network's Online Resources
NOAA’s CELC Network has put together a list of fun virtual educational activities for all ages to enjoy at home. For example, you can watch how to train sea lions, get a virtual tour of aquariums' exciting research labs and exhibits, or watch penguins take their afternoon wobble through their home.
Check out CELC's online resources
