Educator Resource Database

Developed by partners in the Alaska CoastWatch for Action Project

Marine and coastal K-12 educators collaborated to create this database. It is designed to help teachers and informal community educators engage youth in community resiliency, climate change adaptation, and mitigation of coastal hazards.

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  • Next Generation Science Standards—NGSS alignments are available for most lesson plans and activities
  • Grade level
  • Topic—coastal hazard types and other topics
  • Resource type—lesson plan, citizen science data collection protocol/data sheet, poster

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Partners and funding

Friends of the Sea

Students discuss stewardship actions and develop an action plan that they will carry out as a class. They host a “Friends of the Sea” party to involve the school and community in their stewardship efforts and to share the results of their investigations.

Link: Visit website

NGSS PE(s):
Grade Band(s): 3-5
Topic(s): Community Involvement
Lesson Type(s): Activity

Geology & Tectonic Plates (CACS CoastWatch Curriculum)

Lesson plan, including a brief hands-on demonstration, to introduce students to the idea of tectonic plates, subduction zones, and the story of one specific type of rock in southcentral Alaska.

NGSS PE(s): MS-ESS2-2
Grade Band(s): 3-5, MS
Topic(s): Geology
Lesson Type(s): Activity
Download

GLOBE Arctic Bird Migration Protocol

Students select a common and easily identifiable bird species in their region and observe when the bird species first arrives. Students use binoculars or telescopes to scan a study site and count how many they see. They continue to observe every other day until few or none of the selected species can be seen. More information about training opportunities at https://www.globe.gov/get-trained. More information about the GLOBE Program and training opportunities on the GLOBE website.

Link: Visit website

NGSS PE(s): K-ESS3-1
Grade Band(s): All Ages
Topic(s): Changes in Biodiversity, Making Observations, Phenology
Lesson Type(s): Activity, Citizen Science, Data Set, Data Sheet/Protocol, Field Trip, Lesson Plan
Download

GLOBE Cloud Protocol

Students observe which types of clouds are visible, how much of the sky is covered by clouds, and the opacity of clouds. They also report on surface and sky conditions, information complementary to the satellite view. Data can be recorded using the free GLOBE Observer app. Find out how to get the app at https://observer.globe.gov/about/get-the-app. More information about the GLOBE (Global Learning & Observations to Benefit the Environment) Program and training opportunities on the GLOBE program website. .

Link: Visit website

NGSS PE(s): K-ESS2-1, MS-ESS3-3
Grade Band(s): All Ages
Topic(s): Making Observations, Weather
Lesson Type(s): Activity, Data Set, Data Sheet/Protocol, Lesson Plan

GLOBE Macroinvertebrate Protocol

Students will collect, sort, identify, and count macroinvertebrates from a variety of habitats. More information about training opportunities at https://www.globe.gov/get-trained. More information about the GLOBE Program and training opportunities on the GLOBE website.

Link: Visit website

NGSS PE(s): MS-ESS3-3
Grade Band(s): All Ages
Topic(s): Changes in Biodiversity, Making Observations, Pollution
Lesson Type(s): Activity, Citizen Science, Data Set, Data Sheet/Protocol, Field Trip, Lesson Plan
Download

GLOBE Mosquito Habitat Mapper

Students identify potential breeding sites for mosquitoes, sample and count mosquito larvae, and use optional equipment to examine, photograph and identify the genus of your specimens, you will be enabling scientists to verify predictive models of mosquito population dynamics. Data can be recorded using the free GLOBE Observer app. Find out how to get the app at https://observer.globe.gov/about/get-the-app. More information about the GLOBE (Global Learning & Observations to Benefit the Environment) Program and training opportunities on the GLOBE website.

Link: Visit website

NGSS PE(s): MS-ESS3-3
Grade Band(s): All Ages
Topic(s): Changes in Biodiversity, Making Observations, Phenology
Lesson Type(s): Activity, Citizen Science, Data Set, Data Sheet/Protocol, Field Trip, Lesson Plan

GLOBE Weather Monitoring

Lesson plan and introduction to a wide variety of GLOBE weather monitoring protocols teachers can use to engage students in collecting data on various aspects of weather. More information about the GLOBE Program and training opportunities at https://www.globe.gov.

Link: Visit website

NGSS PE(s): 3-ESS2-1, MS-ESS3-2
Grade Band(s): 3-5, HS, MS
Topic(s): Weather
Lesson Type(s): Activity, Citizen Science, Field Trip
Download

Graphing Marine Debris (CACS CoastWatch Curriculum)

Lesson plan for a graphing activity that can be used after students conduct a marine debris clean up.

NGSS PE(s): MS-ESS3-3
Grade Band(s): 3-5, HS, MS
Topic(s): Marine Debris, Marine Shipping
Lesson Type(s): Activity
Download

Greenhouse Lesson

The principles behind greenhouses and how to make greenhouses made from salad containers.

NGSS PE(s): HS=ESS3-4, MS-ESS3-3
Grade Band(s): 3-5, HS, MS
Topic(s): Adaptations to Increase Food Security
Lesson Type(s): Activity
Download

Harmful Algal Blooms in Alaska

Facts about harmful algal blooms in Alaska that can be used for student research projects: What are they? Why are they becoming more common? How are Alaskans responding? Why should the public care? Includes links to the symptoms related to specific toxic organisms and how to report illness related to toxic algae.

Link: Visit website

NGSS PE(s):
Grade Band(s): HS, MS
Topic(s): HABs
Lesson Type(s): Article, Weblink