Marine and Estuary Education Resources for Teachers and Students

1. Estuary Education: This resource helps educators bring the beauty and the importance of estuaries into classrooms and educational programs. It provides an avenue for students and teachers to learn more about estuaries and to explore NOAA’s “living laboratories” - the National Estuarine Research Reserves. Look for the new middle school curriculum to launch in the spring of 2012.

2.Global Climate Change- NASA’s Eyes on the Earth: This is a superb resource for anyone interested in climate change. This science-based site includes interactive visualization tools, data and analysis, and links to research.

3. Selected Resources and Links from Elkhorn Slough Environmental Ed Resources Directory: This directory compiles the information gathered in a survey of organizations in the tri-county area that offer environmental science related activities for school-age children. This is also accessible through a teacher link on the Elkhorn Slough NERR website.

4. California Coastal Commission Education Program and Materials for Teachers: Provides access to many free or low cost activity guides and watershed/ocean materials as well as a DVD lending library. Website announces annual events.

5. Moss Landing Marine Laboratories: Offers summer Institutes for teachers, classroom visits, webcasts, academic year support, on-site tours and programs.

6. Monterey Bay Aquarium: Offers lesson plan links, professional development, games and activities, and links to near-real time data.

7. Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary: Announces specific programs for teachers and students as well as providing links to lesson plans and activities for all aspects of marine education related to MBNMS.

8. Seymour Center: Offers field trips and educator workshops.

9. Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa- Colossal Build A Squid Project: Interactive activity. Students can create a squid and track it over the course of time.

10. Los Angeles Museum of Natural History: Provides curriculum guides, student activities, and virtual field trips.

11. Marine Mammal Center: The Center is a nonprofit organization that rescues, rehabilitates and releases injured, sick and orphaned marine mammals. Offers activities and lesson plans related to marine mammals.

12. Santa Cruz Museum of Natural History: Offers field trip opportunities and docent-led tours. Provides hands-on kits, exhibits, and slide shows to reserve and use in your classroom.

13. NatureServe: NatureServe is a non-profit conservation organization whose mission is to provide the scientific basis for effective conservation action. Offers an extensive on-line resource of more than 70,000 plants, animals, and ecosystems of the United States and Canada.

14. National Weather Service Point Forecast for Elkhorn, CA: Interactive weather forecasts and links to in-depth weather discussion.

15. Tides for Kirby Park, Elkhorn Slough with links to tides around the world.

16. MARE - Marine Activities, Resources and Education: Lawrence Hall of Science

MARE is a K–8, inquiry-based science program. Offers thematic curriculum guides, teacher resources, and professional development.

17. GEMS – Great Explorations in Math and Science: Lawrence Hall of Science

GEMS develops and publishes inquiry-based science and math curricula and offers professional development workshops and trainings.

18. Project Flying Wild: Flying WILD's focus on migratory birds is designed to inspire young people to discover more about the natural world. Attend the workshop and receive the curriculum guide.

19. The Nature Sounds Society: Thisis a world-wide organization whose principal purpose is to encourage the preservation, appreciation and creative use of natural sounds. Fantastic collection of sounds at the California Library of Natural Sounds link.

20. The Cornell Lab of Ornithology: A fantastically useful site for all things bird; calls and songs, natural history, photos, population status, etc. The site combines free and subscription access links.

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21. National Marine Educators Association: The National Marine Educators Association (NMEA) brings together those interested in the study and enjoyment of both fresh and salt water and provides a focus for marine and aquatic studies all over the world.

22. Elkhorn Slough Live WebCam: This is a current view of the slough from atop the barn.