CZ Tip of the Month for October, 2003
Coastal and Marine Educational Resources

The coast and the oceans offer abundant opportunities for environmental education. Here is a listing of web-based resources for educators interested in coastal and marine issues.

Government Websites

• The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's (NOAA) Education Resources web page includes information for students and teachers on weather, climate change, oceans and coasts, and other scientific topics.
• The NASA Ocean Surface Topography from Space website's education page includes educational resources on weather, climate, and ocean sciences.
• The NOAA National Ocean Service Education page provides educational materials about oceans, coasts, and charting and navigation.
• The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers' online Education Center includes teachers' resources and information on environmental protection, coastal hazards, and water resource management.
• The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Region 1 (which includes New England) has a Students & Teachers page with information on an artists program, internships, resource guides, videos, grants, and curricula.
• The U.S. Geological Survey's The Learning Web is a web page dedicated to K-12 education and lifelong learning. It includes project ideas, lesson plans, and web-based resources.

Education Websites

• Bridge: Ocean Science Teacher Resource Center is a portal to web-based marine education materials.
• The Gulf of Maine Marine Education Association website has information about conferences and educational resources for the region.
• The Massachusetts Marine Educators homepage has information on marine education in the state.
• The National Marine Educators website focuses on marine and aquatic studies nationwide.
• WhaleNet is an interactive educational website focusing on whales and marine research.

Ocean/Coastal Research Websites

• The MIT Sea Grant K-12 Programs web page has an aquaculture curriculum, current project, fun facts, and other information.
• The University of Southern California Sea Grant maintains an Education and Ocean/Coastal Information Resources listing.
• Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution's (WHOI) Education web page has K-12 educational resources, including Turnstone Science kits.

Other Related Information

• The Boston Harbor Islands National Park Area Island Learning Center provides information for students and teachers on the islands, including school programs and curriculum units.
• COASTSWEEP, the statewide beach cleanup held in Massachusetts each September and October as part of the International Coastal Cleanup welcomes teacher, student, and classroom volunteers.
• Exploring Biodiversity: A Workbook provides information on investigating a range of species in Massachusetts.
• The Gulf of Maine Aquarium's website has educational materials on many of the species in the region, the Gulf of Maine watershed, and other coastal issues.
• The Gulf of Maine Council on the Marine Environment (GOMC) has produced a bathymetric map showing the underwater topography of the Gulf, which extends from Cape Cod to Nova Scotia. For a copy of the map, email your request and mailing address to czm@state.ma.us. Also see the companion educational website for additional information.
• The New England Aquarium's For Teachers page provides information on educational resources, summer enrichment programs for teachers, field trips, school programs, a teachers listserve, and the beach detectives tidepool program.
• The Schooner Ernestina, the official vessel of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, provides a variety of education programs.
• The Teacher at Sea Program allows teachers to volunteer as research assistants on NOAA vessels.

Online Curricula

• The Boston Harbor Islands National Park Area online curriculum units provide a framework for teachers to incorporate the islands into educational plans.
• Turning the Tide on Trash: A Learning Guide on Marine Debris is an interdisciplinary marine debris curriculum.