Data resources for educators

Did you know that NOAA collects terabytes of data every day from weather stations, radar, satellites, ships, buoys, and sensors? This information isn’t just collected for our scientists to use; anyone can take on the role of scientist using our publicly available resources. But with dozens of websites and hundreds of variables to choose from, it can be tricky for educators to know how to get their students started with scientific data. This collection highlights ocean and atmosphere data sources that are easy to use and appropriate for classrooms and informal learning environments.  

Within each topic area, the resources are separated into categories based on level of content:

  • Classroom ready modules are designed with educators in mind. They use NOAA data in lesson plans and curricula for a straightforward experience. In addition to being on each topic page, all of the classroom ready resources are organized into one separate collection.

  • Easily accessible resources are often geared for researchers and come in a variety of formats. They are not associated with lesson plans. However, the ones we highlight here are user-friendly and usually address a single subject.

  • Looking for more? If you haven’t found what you’re looking for here, try exploring these major data repositories. These sites host vast troves of data from across many different subjects and disciplines.

Showing 7 of 7 Education Resource Collections
A screenshot of a web activity with introductory text on the left side and a photograph of a partially bleached coral reef on the right. Full text can be found in the Coral Bleaching module at dataintheclassroom.noaa.gov.
Classroom-ready data resources

Explore NOAA data collected around the globe in formats designed just for educators. These resources take information from our atmosphere and ocean and package it in easily accessible, classroom-friendly lesson plans, activities, and curricula.  

Focus areas:
Education
A screenshot of a web activity with introductory text on the left side and a photograph of a partially bleached coral reef on the right. Full text can be found in the Coral Bleaching module at dataintheclassroom.noaa.gov.
A map of the continental U.S. being divided with a line down the middle. West of the line shows historical temperature data and east of the line shows a modeled projection, which is much warmer.
Climate data resources

Whether you’re looking into the past or predicting the future, these resources let you work directly with the data that make up our climate record on land, in the atmosphere, and at sea. 

Focus areas:
Education
A map of the continental U.S. being divided with a line down the middle. West of the line shows historical temperature data and east of the line shows a modeled projection, which is much warmer.
A 3x6 grid of labeled images of the different types of paleoclimatology data available: boorhole, cave, coral, fauna, fire history, forcing, historical, ice cores, insect, lake, lake levels, loess, paleo modeling, paleocean, plant macros, pollen, reconstructions, tree ring
Historical data resources

Long-term data and past events offer insights into how our planet works. Peer into observations from past decades, centuries, and beyond to see what has happened on Earth, how conditions have changed, and how they might change in the future. 

Focus areas:
Education
A 3x6 grid of labeled images of the different types of paleoclimatology data available: boorhole, cave, coral, fauna, fire history, forcing, historical, ice cores, insect, lake, lake levels, loess, paleo modeling, paleocean, plant macros, pollen, reconstructions, tree ring
An international map showing the locations of buoys in the Atlantic Ocean, the Pacific Ocean, and some in inland waterways.
Ocean and freshwater data resources

We live on a water planet. Follow marine animals as they navigate the ocean, get your local tide and current predictions, or see what sea level rise may have in store for coastal communities. You can also explore river observations and trends in snow and ice.

Focus areas:
Education
An international map showing the locations of buoys in the Atlantic Ocean, the Pacific Ocean, and some in inland waterways.
NOAA’s GOES-16 satellite used its Red-Green-Blue Air Mass Band to watch several areas of low pressure rotate around each other off the coast of Chile, June 2-3, 2019.
Real-time data resources

NOAA collects real-time data from satellites, buoys, weather stations, citizen scientists, and more. See what is happening right now in this collection of ocean, freshwater, and atmospheric resources.

Focus areas:
Education
NOAA’s GOES-16 satellite used its Red-Green-Blue Air Mass Band to watch several areas of low pressure rotate around each other off the coast of Chile, June 2-3, 2019.
A screenshot from the historical hurricane tracks website (https://coast.noaa.gov/hurricanes/) showing hurricanes from the North Atlantic basin from 2000-2019.
Tiny tutorials: Get started using Earth science data in seconds

We want everyone to be able to understand and work with the data our agency collects on the ocean, atmosphere, and beyond. But we know that, when it comes to using a new online data portal, sometimes the first few clicks are the hardest.

Focus areas:
Education
A screenshot from the historical hurricane tracks website (https://coast.noaa.gov/hurricanes/) showing hurricanes from the North Atlantic basin from 2000-2019.
A screenshot of GOES East Infrared Satellite Image - Latest 24 Hours Western Hemisphere over North America from 8/16/18.
Weather and atmosphere data resources

Go beyond your local weather forecast with these tools. Watch the Earth from a satellite’s view in space, explore data collected by citizen scientists, and monitor hazards like hurricanes, wildfires, and droughts.

Focus areas:
Education
A screenshot of GOES East Infrared Satellite Image - Latest 24 Hours Western Hemisphere over North America from 8/16/18.