NOAA Live! Webinars
March 2020 - April 2022
Features
• Different NOAA expert and topic with each webinar
• Moderated Q&A webinars with the scientists
• Geared toward Grades 2-8
• Archive of past webinars with English captions and Spanish subtitles
• Why do we make an Indigenous Land Acknowledgment?
• FREE NOAA Live! iron-on patch. Fill out this form to get it in the mail.
• Lesson activities based on NOAA Live!
Sponsors
• National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
• National Sea Grant College Program
• NOAA Office of Education
• Woods Hole Sea Grant
• Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution
Find out about other Woods Hole Sea Grant programs on our social media channels!
Upcoming webinars
We do not currently have any upcoming webinars scheduled.
About NOAA Live! webinars
NOAA Live! Webinars were created in response to COVID-19-related school closures. Conducted from March 2020 to present, the webinars are the result of a partnership between NOAA’s Regional Collaboration Network, Woods Hole Sea Grant, and the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution. These webinars provided students access to scientists, real-life examples of possible career paths, and the opportunity to have fun interacting with others outside their home in a safe way.
Archive
You can search the archive using a keyword or topic filters to the left. NOTE: The NGSS and MA STE standards search function is currently under construction.
Refine by:
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ASL
¡Hola!, aqui NOAA
Juan Pablo Hurtado Padilla, NOAA’s Science on a Sphere in Falls Church, VA and Rafael de Ameller, NOAA’s National Environmental Satellite Data and Information Services in Bethesda, MD
Español: Acompáñanos en nuestro primer programa en español donde junto al experto Rafael de Ameller aprenderemos más sobre NOAA. Juntos exploraremos todos los lugares donde podemos encontrar a los empleados de NOAA y como esta agencia federal nos permite observar y entender desde la superficie del Sol hasta las profundidades del Océano. Finalmente crearemos un cuaderno de campo con papel y lápiz para recordar este viaje con NOAA.
English: Join us in our first program in Spanish where, along with the expert Rafael de Ameller, we will learn more about NOAA. Together we will explore all the places where we can find NOAA employees and how this federal agency allows us to observe and understand from the surface of the Sun to the depths of the Ocean. Finally, we will make a NOAA field notebook with paper and a pencil to record our journey.
Resources to access at home:
» NOAA Data in the Classroom: Find fun activities designed for teachers and their students! – English only. Encuentra entretenidas actividades diseñadas para maestr@s y sus alumnos. – Solo en Inglés.
» NOAA SciJinks: NOAA webpage for kids with activities, videos and games – English only. Página web para niños de NOAA con actividades, videos y juegos. – Solo en Inglés.
» NOAA SciJinks Youtube page: Youtube channel explaining NOAA science for kids. – English only. Canal de Youtube para niños que explica la ciencia de NOAA. – Solo en Inglés.
» Aprendiendo con Mamá: Hands-on activities to better understand weather phenomena – Spanish Only. Actividades manuales para entender mejor fenómenos del clima – Solo en Español.
Born is the Coral Polyp, A Creation Story from Hawai’i
Malia K. Evans, NOAA’s Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument in Wai’anae, Hawai’i
Emerging from the deep darkness was the tiny coral polyp, the first life form born in the Kumulipo, a Hawaiian creation story. The 2,100 line chant establishes and reaffirms the family relationships Native Hawaiians maintain to the natural environment, to each other and to our oldest ancestor the coral polyp. This presentation and hands-on activity will explore this sacred origin story as we deepen our understanding of Native Hawaiian oral traditions, basic coral polyp anatomy and the practice of mālama ‘āina, to care for and respect the natural world around us. ACTIVITY DURING THE WEBINAR: We made our own coral polyp art during the webinar. Click here for instructions and a full materials list! Submit your artwork here for us to post on our website!
Resources to access at home:
» Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument main page: This site has a map of the Monument, links to education resources, virtual visits, voices of Papahānaumokuākea, and more.
» Native Hawaiian Cultural Heritage: Native Hawaiians still remain deeply connected to Papahānaumokuākea on genealogical, cultural, and spiritual levels. This website dives into the cultural research and significance.
» Mai Ka Pō-Return to the Source: Read about Maliaʻs journey into the sacred space of Papahānaumokuākea in July 2019.
» Layne Luna mural: Identify some of the spectacular wildlife in Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument that depend on healthy coral reefs.
» Hawaiian Place Names map: Learn the ancestral Hawaiian names of these islands & coral atolls and their locations within Papahānaumokuākea.
» Poster map of the Hawaiian Archipelago – The eldest island in the Hawaiian archipelago; Hōlanikū is over 28 million years old while the youngest is an active underwater volcano named Kamaʻehuakanaloa.
» Beyond Science Into Pō – Learn how Native Hawaiians reconnect and build relationships with ancestral islands in Papahānaumokuākea (story map)
» Hidden picture activity – Find some of the unique creatures that live in the Papahanaumokuakea Marine National Monument on the first page, then learn about them on the second page!
» Journeybook-print.pdf – Learn a few traditional Hawaiian proverbs paired with organisms that make their home in Papahānaumokuākea in this activity book.
» 15 min video of a coral reef – Join aquarist and educator Michael Caban on an underwater search to explore a shallow coral reef ecosystem, and learn about various organisms, coral bleaching and steps you can take to be a good reef steward.
» Maze activity – Discover what makes Papahānaumokuākea special. The correct answers will guide you through the islands and coral atolls of the Hawaiian archipelago.
» Recent Nautilus live expeditions into Papahānaumokuākea:
Luʻuaeaahikiikalipolipo – Mapping Liliʻuokalani Seamounts in Papahānaumokuākea MNM October 24-November 13, 2021
Luʻuaeaahikiikapapakū – Ancient Volcanoes in Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument November 15-December 6, 2021
Luʻuaeaahikiikekualonokai – Chautauqua Seamounts December 8-20, 2021
Turning Up the Heat: Fish and sea turtles in a warming world
Vincent Saba, NOAA’s Northeast Fisheries Science Center in Woods Hole, MA and NOAA’s Geophysical Fluid Dynamics Laboratory at Princeton University in Princeton, NJ
From microscopic plants to large whales, climate change is affecting all ocean life. There are many ways in which climate change can affect ocean ecosystems but during this webinar, we will investigate the effects of warming temperatures on marine fish and sea turtles. Marine fish spend all of their life in the water but did you know that sea turtles must lay their eggs on beaches? We’ll explore how our warming planet affects fish and sea turtles in very different ways.
Resources to access at home:
» NOAA Fisheries article: Climate Change in the Northeast U.S. Shelf Ecosystem
» Overview of how climate change affects sea turtles
» Project marine species range shifts by selecting the species, time frame, and variable such as temperature, salinity, etc. (This is for more advanced students and adults)
» NASA climate kids -the climate time machine: See into the past and look ahead to the future of amounts of sea ice, the sea level, carbon dioxide, and global temperature
» NASA climate kids – a kids guide to climate change including how the changing climate affects the ocean
Help from above – using planes, drones, and satellites to study and protect plants and animals **Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum NOAA Family Day**
NOAA Live! All Stars:
Katie Sweeney, NOAA’s Alaska Fisheries Science Center in Seattle, WA
Allison Henry, NOAA’s Northeast Fisheries Science Center in Woods Hole, MA
Brandon Krumwiede, NOAA’s Office for Coastal Management in Duluth, MN
Jennifer Stock, NOAA’s Cordell Bank National Marine Sanctuary in Point Reyes, CA
In partnership with the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum. This webinar features NOAA experts discussing the ways NOAA aircraft, satellite tracking, and drone technology help us understand marine species and support conservation efforts along our ocean and coasts. How do we use drones to observe northern fur seals, airplanes to identify and count endangered North Atlantic right whales, aerial imagery to manage manoomin (wild rice), and satellite tags to follow seabirds? Learn about the unique tools we use to collect high-quality environmental data to better understand these important species and aid in conservation efforts.
Resources to access at home:
» Soar Together @ Air and Space NOAA Family Day event page: This has links to other live events and fun activities to do with your family
» Arctic UAV’s Game App: Up for a hands-on game challenge? Navigate a flying quadcopter during stormy Alaska weather, catch the perfect aerial shot of rare wildlife, and uncover trails through rough sea ice, all in this mobile app game, Arctic UAVs
» NOAA right whale id matching game- Can you identify the right whales by their callosity? Try it out with these: match the animal cards and answer key
» Seabird and Shorebird Activity Book– The Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary put together this fun book. Seabirds secret code, shorebirds word find, seabirds mobile, and more!
» Do a virtual Albatross Bolus dissection– Albatross throw up what they can’t digest. Measure and count natural and non-natural items in this virtual bolus dissection activity.
» Fur seals on Bogoslof Island: Post 4- Evolving Science on an Evolving Island – Katie’s team tested two camera systems on drones on Bogoslof Island in Alaska in September 2019
» New Drone Technology Could Revolutionize Marine Mammal Monitoring
» Association for Unmanned Vehicle Systems International – Student Unmanned Aerial Systems Competition
» Examples of using Unmanned Aerial Systems in NOAA research – NOAA Unmanned Aerial Systems Program
» North Atlantic right whale catalog: The catalog contains all the photographed sightings of right whales from the North Atlantic.
» Stellwagen Bank National Marine Sanctuary Shearwater Tagging Project
» Efforts to Restore Native Wild Rice in the St. Louis River Estuary
» Makani: The albatross that cares for the land: An interactive activity/story book about a Laysan Albatross (pdf download)
» Telepresence technology uses a high-bandwidth satellite connection to allow anyone with an Internet connection to virtually participate in ocean research and exploration expeditions. Join one here and learn more about telepresence here.
Videos
- PBS Wisconsin Education video: This ~4-minute video follows Fred Ackley Jr. from the Sokaogon Chippewa Community of Mole Lake as he harvests and processes manoomin, or wild rice.
- Mapping the Invisible: Introduction to Spectral Remote Sensing: NEON Science video overview of spectral imagery and its use to identify differences between different parts of the electromagnetic spectrum
- Investigating Steller Sea Lion Populations: Join scientists on a research vessel to western Aleutian Islands—closer to Russia than mainland Alaska. Here, they investigate what’s going on with endangered Steller sea lions, some populations of which are declining, while others are thriving
- Henry Wood Elliott: Defender of the Fur Seal: In the twenty years following the United States’ acquisition of the Alaska territory (1867), revenues from the Pribilof Island fur seal harvest paid off the 7.2 million dollar purchase price. This documentary uncovers this little-known piece of American history told through the story of Henry Wood Elliot
- Northern Fur Seal Migrations: Every year, northern fur seals migrate 6,000 miles round-trip from their summer breeding grounds on the Pribilof Islands in the Bering Sea. Learn about the scientists at NOAA who are tracking these seals on their incredible migrations, and where the seals go during the winter
- B-Roll: Northern Fur Seal Research on Bogoslof Island: Select footage of northern fur seal research on Bogoslof Island, an active volcano that erupted from December 2016 – August 2017. This footage was taken August 12-16, 2019, along with some reference match frames that were filmed on July 12, 2005
- NOAA Ocean Today Endangered Ocean: There are several short videos on topics ranging from the endangered species act, manatees, North Atlantic right whales, and more.
- Watch A Perfect Day for an Albatross and Other Seabird Tales, a book reading of Caren Loebel-Fried’s childrens book with special highlights shared from her trip to the Albatross breeding colony on Midway Atoll National Wildlife Refuge and seabird highlights from the Papahanaumokuakea Marine National Monument, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and Cordell Bank National Marine Sanctuary.
- “This is NOAA” video (~3 min): This video describes NOAA’s role as a global leader in environmental science and technology, working to address our Nation’s most pressing challenges and advance our mission of science, service, and stewardship
Previous NOAA Live! Webinars by these experts
- A Bird’s Eye View of Whales with Allison Henry
- Flying Beneath the Clouds at the Edge of the World with Katie Sweeney
- Winged Ambassadors: Ocean Travelers with Jennifer Stock
- Drones, Scat, and the Joys of Marine Mammal Fieldwork in Alaska with Katie Sweeney
- Fresh Coast: Where Food Grows on the Water with Brandon Krumwiede
The Crab-tivating Life of Crustaceans: Where do they go? How do they grow? What do we know?
Erin Fedewa and Leah Zacher, NOAA Fisheries Alaska Fisheries Science Center’s Kodiak Laboratory in Kodiak, AK
How much do you know about Alaskan crab? Join us as we learn to identify crustaceans found in Alaskan waters and talk about crab biology with live appearances from some “crabby” guests. We’ll even find out how to tag a red king crab and explore how researchers use these tags to study where crab live and how they move!
Resources to access at home:
» A Sneak Peek inside the Kodiak Lab Aquarium
» NOAA Live! Alaska Webinar 80: A Dive into Daily Life at the Alaska Fisheries Science Center’s Kodiak Lab
» NOAA Live! Alaska Webinar 43: The Crab-tivating Life of Crustaceans: diving into Alaskan snow crab and red king crab biology
» Red king crab life stages – a short course
» Crab education pages
» New Studies Raise Questions About Crabs’ Adaptability
» Dutch Harbor Snow and Tanner Crab Growth Study – a science blog
» NOAA Fisheries Species Pages:
Killer Whale Tales: Environmental Science through Storytelling
Lynne Barre, NOAA Fisheries West Coast Regional Office and Jeff Hogan, Killer Whale Tales in Seattle, WA
How can you help recover endangered orcas? Join Lynne Barre, NOAA’s Recovery Coordinator for endangered killer whales, and Jeff Hogan, Executive Director of Killer Whale Tales, to learn about the Southern Resident population of killer whales, the challenges they face, and what you can do to be a steward for the whales and help conserve their habitat.
» Download the datasheet used during the webinar
Resources to access at home:
» Saving the Southern Resident Killer Whales NOAA website: This includes an introduction to southern resident orcas, threats they face such as contaminants, vessel noise, and prey availability, and the work being done on recovery of the species
» Killer Whale Tales Activity Guide and Orca Research Sheets: This has a word search, turn your family tree into a pod, fun facts, behavioral datasheets, and more.
» NOAA Fisheries Orca Outreach and Education Materials: This website includes a fin matching activity, be whale wise poster, and how to take action.
North to the Future: Alaskan sharks in a changing ocean
Cindy Tribuzio, NOAA Fisheries Alaska Fisheries Science Center in Juneau, AK, and Sabrina Garcia, Alaska Department of Fish and Game in Anchorage, AK
Scientists at the Alaska Fisheries Science Center conduct research and assess the stocks of many species of sharks in Alaskan waters. Join us for a discussion of the different sharks found in Alaskan waters, some fantastic research partnerships and how we use research to conserve and manage the species into the future.
Resources to access at home:
» NOAA Fisheries – Fish and Sharks webpage
» Fun Facts about Shocking Sharks
» Shark Research in Alaska: NOAA Fisheries
» Alaska Department of Fish and Game – The Undersea World of Salmon and Sharks (@ADFGUnderseaWorldOfSalmonAndSharks): Facebook page with exciting scientific research on Alaskan salmon, sharks, and their ecosystems and ecology!
» Salmon Shark Tagging in the Bering Sea: Alaska Fish & Wildlife News
» Gills Club: STEM-based education initiative dedicated to connecting girls with female scientists around the world to inspire shark and ocean conservation
Fishy Business: NOAA Office of Law Enforcement and Healthy Resource Management
Alex Perry, Wynn Carney, and Amy Anderson, NOAA Office of Law Enforcement in Anchorage, AK
Have you ever wondered what would happen to our animal populations without managing their harvest? How do we keep our fisheries and marine mammal populations healthy, and make sure that we manage our marine resources so that we have enough to eat? NOAA Fisheries Office of Law Enforcement – Alaska Team is ready to answer your questions and help you understand how our work helps safeguard the future of sustainable resources.
Resources to access at home:
» NOAA Enforcement Deploys Remotely Operated Vehicles to Patrol the Seas
» Introduction to NOAA’s Office of Law Enforcement – video
» NOAA Law Enforcement Investigative Work – video
» Cracking the Research Set-Aside Case – video
One Fish, Two Fish, This Fish, Not That Fish
Noelle Yochum, NOAA Fisheries Alaska Fisheries Science Center in Seattle, WA, and Michelle Dyroy, Alaska Pacific University in Anchorage, AK
Do you want to be an honorary Conservation Engineer? Don’t know what that is? Come find out! Learn about exciting research on how fish behave inside fishing gear and how we can improve our fisheries.
Resources to access at home:
» Loggerhead Escape: This National Geographic activity is for grades 4-11.
» Fishing Gear: Turtle Excluder Devices
» History of Turtle Excluder Devices
» Turtle Excluder Devices – video
» Tackling Bycatch in U.S. Fisheries – video
» What is a Barbless Circle Hook?
» NOAA’s National Bycatch Reduction Strategy
Fin-tastic Fun with Coral Reef Fish Surveys in South Florida and the Caribbean
Erin Cain and Jay Grove, NOAA’s Southeast Fisheries Science Center in Key Biscayne, FL
Take a dive with us into coral reef fish communities and learn all about how we identify, survey, and help inform managers about reef fish populations through NOAA’s National Coral Reef Monitoring Program (NCRMP). Using engaging, interactive photos and videos, we will help hone your investigative skills to identify fish parts and learn that appearances aren’t just skin deep. If all goes swimmingly, you should learn about the importance of counting fish, the coral reef ecosystem, and your role in their future.
Resources to access at home:
» The Coral Reef Conservation Program’s efforts to increase fisheries sustainability
» NOAA’s Interactive Reef: As you run your mouse over this image, species will light up and you can click on them to open a feature page with an image and information.
» NOAA’s Activity Book on coral reefs: This activity booklet is aimed at grades 3-5.
» NOAA’s Fishwatch.gov: Get the most up-to-date info on popular seafood harvested or farmed in the US to help you made educated seafood choices.
» NOAA’s National Coral Reef Monitoring Program Status Reports: Referenced in the webinar, you can find the most recent status report on the coral reefs at Flower Garden Banks, Florida, Puerto Rico, U.S. Virgin Islands, and Pacific locations.
» What you can do to help coral reefs?
Needle in a haystack: Studying the world’s rarest large whale
Dana Wright, University of Washington, Cooperative Institute for Climate, Ocean, and Ecosystem Studies (CICOES) and Duke University Marine Laboratory, working with NOAA Fisheries Alaska Fisheries Science Center in Seattle, WA
How does one study the rarest whale on earth in one of the most remote places in the ocean? Come learn how scientists use a variety of tools, including sound recordings, to research the rarest population of whales today – the North Pacific right whale.
Resources to access at home:
» Understanding Why North Pacific Right Whales Are Endangered
» Interesting Facts About North Pacific Right Whale
» North Pacific Right Whale Research in Alaska
» North Pacific Right Whale – fact sheet
» First Recording of North Pacific Right Whale Song
» Spotlight on the North Pacific Right Whale – An Interview with NOAA Fisheries Marine Mammal Scientist Jessica Crance – video
» ‘Song’ of Rare Whale Recorded for the First Time – CNN
» New Study Sheds Light on Mysterious Movements of Rarest Great Whale
Texas Corals, and Mantas, and Sharks, Oh My!
Kelly Drinnen, NOAA’s Flower Garden Banks National Marine Sanctuary in Galveston, TX
Did you know that there are coral reefs off the coast of Texas? These amazing reefs are part of Flower Garden Banks National Marine Sanctuary in the Gulf of Mexico. Join us to learn more about these reefs and the wonderful sea creatures that live there. From tiny corals and shrimp, to sponges, fish, sea turtles, manta rays, and whale sharks, you’ll discover why coral reefs are home to 25 percent of all ocean life.
Resources to access at home:
» Flower Garden Banks National Marine Sanctuary: For Teachers – Curriculum, lessons, activities, and posters
» Flower Garden Banks National Marine Sanctuary: For Kids – Did You Know?, word puzzles, activities, holiday fun
» Flower Garden Banks National Marine Sanctuary: Coral Basics
» Dive in and find the National Marine Sanctuary closest to you
» Flower Garden Banks National Marine Sanctuary Coral Reef Word Search used in the webinar.
» Relevant NOAA Live! Webinars: “Dive In and Explore Coral Reef Ecosystems”
» Flower Garden Banks National Marine Sanctuary species list
» Flower Garden Banks National Marine Sanctuary videos of reef creatures
» Stories from the Blue: Lt. Dustin Picard: This 4-minute video features diving in Flower Garden Banks National Marine Sanctuary
What do you know about Alaska salmon? Exploring the job of a salmon biologist
Joshua Russell, NOAA Fisheries Alaska Fisheries Science Center in Juneau, AK
What do you know about Alaska salmon? Join us to learn about salmon lifecycles, what daily research looks like at a fish weir, Alaska salmon management, and the importance of stewardship.
Resources to access at home:
» Alaska Native Science and Engineering Program (ANSEP)
» Annual Study of Salmon in Southeast Alaska – science blog» Stop Aquatic Hitchhikers!
» Alaska Salmon Travels – science blog
» Yukon River Salmon Survey – science blog
» Salmon Research in Alaska
» Alaska Native Women in Bristol Bay Salmon Fisheries – science blog
» Auke Creek Research Station
» Alaska Fisheries Science Center Auke Bay Laboratories
Kelp Farming in Coastal Waters
Anoushka Concepcion, NOAA’s Connecticut Sea Grant in Groton, CT in partnership with Holly Turner-Moore, Bridgeport Regional Aquaculture Science and Technology Education Center in Bridgeport, CT
Ribbons of algae are springing up in coastal waters around the world as ocean farmers start to explore seaweed aquaculture. In this webinar, meet Anoushka Concepcion, a biologist from Connecticut Sea Grant who focuses on this emerging industry every day. She will introduce you to the world of kelp farming alongside Holly Turner-Moore, teacher and hatchery manager at Bridgeport Aquaculture High School in Connecticut, where students there have been growing kelp since 2010.
Resources to access at home
» NOAA Fisheries Aquaculture Materials: Fact sheets, FAQs, videos, and more
» NOAA Ocean Today Every Full Moon: The Future of Ocean Farming. This series of short videos give a great introduction to marine aquaculture or ocean farming. Bonus video 2 is focused on Alaska Kelp Farming
» NOAA infographic: Aquaculture grows resilient coastal communities. The infographic is a nice visual showing oyster, mussel, and algae aquaculture methods that generate local seafood, improve water quality, protect against storm surge, and provide essential habitat.
» Bridgeport Regional Aquaculture Science and Technology Education Center in CT
A Dive Into Daily Life at the Alaska Fisheries Science Center’s Kodiak Lab
Alaska Fisheries Science Center’s Kodiak Lab in Kodiak, AK
Come along for a virtual tour of the NOAA Fisheries Alaska Fisheries Science Center’s lab in Kodiak, Alaska! Visit our touch tank and meet our resident critters. Dive into Alaska waters with our dive operations research team! Take a look at juvenile red king crab as we investigate the impacts of ocean acidification. This NOAA Live! Alaska Webinar is part of our NOAA Open House Series during which we will “travel” (virtually) across the country to showcase some of the amazing places our NOAA scientists, engineers, educators, technicians, and interns work.
Resources to access at home:
» A View From Inside the Kodiak Lab Aquarium – science blog
» NOAA Live! Alaska webinar – The Crab-tivating Life of Crustaceans
» Ocean Science Discovery Program
» Meet Switgard Duesterloh – Alaska Ocean Acidification Network
March 2021 Open House Series
NOAA’s Nose Knows: A day in the life of a Seafood Inspector
NOAA’s Seafood Inspection Facility in Long Beach, CA
What does fresh, high-quality, safe-to-eat fish smell like? How does it make its way from the ocean to your dinner plate? Come with us as we follow some of your favorite seafood off a fishing boat, into a processing facility, and through the hands of a NOAA Seafood Inspector. Help us inspect seafood live from NOAA’s inspection laboratory in Long Beach, California, and learn some tips and tricks for inspecting your dinner, too! This NOAA Live! Webinar is part of our NOAA Open House Series during which we will “travel” (virtually) across the country to showcase some of the amazing places our NOAA scientists, engineers, educators, technicians, and interns work.
Resources to access at home:
» Contact Your Local Seafood Inspection Office
» Fishwatch.gov: Find out what makes U.S. seafood sustainable and get up-to-date information on the status of some of the fish harvested and farmed in the U.S.
» Seafood Commerce & Certification Site: There are several feature stories about seafood testing, the seafood inspection services portal where people sign up for an inspection and more
» NOAA Fisheries: Fun Facts about Luscious Lobsters. This includes “If lobsters mole, why have I never seen a cast-off shell”, “How old is a one-pound lobster”, “What color is a lobster’s blood”, and more!
» Virtually explore the deep sea by scrolling down to discover which animals and plant life live at which depths in the oceans.
March 2021 Open House Series
Hitching a Ride: How to Spot and Stop Marine Invasive Species
Jasmine Maurer from NOAA’s Kachemak Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve in Kachemak Bay, AK
How do invasive and exotic marine species arrive and spread in Alaska? We will talk about how to monitor and identify European green crab and tunicates, how they affect ecosystems, and what actions to take before the summer season to prevent marine invasive species from impacting your community.
Resources to access at home:
» Community Monitoring – Kachemak Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve
» Invasive Species – Alaska Department of Fish and Game
» Stop Aquatic Hitchhikers!
» Invasive Species – U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
» Kachemak Bay Environmental Education Alliance – Grab & Go Educational Resources
» Invasive and Exotic Marine Species – NOAA Fisheries
» What is an Invasive Species? – NOAA’s National Ocean Service (video)
Dive into NOAA’s Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary
at the Sanctuary Exploration Center in Santa Cruz, CA
Dive into kelp forests, explore the deep sea, come up close with a leatherback sea turtle, and listen to the sounds of animals underwater, all virtually while touring the Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary Exploration Center in Santa Cruz, CA. This NOAA Live! Webinar is part of our NOAA Open House Series during which we will “travel” (virtually) across the country to showcase some of the amazing places our NOAA scientists, engineers, educators, technicians, and interns work.
Resources to access at home:
» NOAA National Marine Sanctuary Video: The Pacific Leatherback Sea Turtle (~8 minutes long)
» NOAA Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary (MBNMS) Virtual Dive Gallery: Sea lions swim through the kelp, sea of orange cucumbers, and more.
» MBNMSS Virtual Dive Scavenger Hunt: This is a fun activity for kids.
» Learn More About Deep-Sea Habitats on the West Coast
» MBARI Listening Room: Access to a live stream and library of recorded underwater sounds
» Davidson Seamount: Oasis in the Deep: Explore an Octopus garden and whale fall in this story and accompanying videos
» Dive in and find the National Marine Sanctuary closest to you
March 2021 Open House Series
Cold Dark Secrets: Discovering Alaska’s Deep-Sea Corals and Sponges
Pam Goddard, Vanessa Lowe, Rachel Wilborn, Pat Malecha, and Jerry Hoff at NOAA Fisheries Alaska Fisheries Science Center in Seattle, WA
Did you know that corals live in the deep, cold waters of Alaska? Come learn about deep-sea corals and sponges, and their importance for underwater communities in Alaska. We will talk about how we study these cold water creatures, how they have adapted to this environment and how they eat and grow.
Resources to access at home:
» Deep-Sea Corals and Sponges of Alaska (Story Map)
» Deep-Sea Corals and Sponge Research in Alaska
» Coral Forests of the Deep (2 min video)
» Deep-Sea Coral Habitats (National)
» NOAA Deep-Sea Coral Data Portal (Digital Map & Database – Worldwide)
» National Marine Sanctuaries (America’s West Coast)
From Eyes in the Sky to Action on the Ground
at NOAA’s Satellite Operations Facility in Suitland, MD
Get a rare chance to come inside “mission control” at NOAA’s state-of-the-art Satellite Operations Facility in Suitland, Maryland, where we command NOAA’s satellites and collect the bulk of the data from earth and space observations. Learn what it takes to receive massive amounts of information in this round-the-clock operation and how it helps save lives – from weather forecasting to search and rescue! This NOAA Live! Webinar is part of our NOAA Open House Series during which we will “travel” (virtually) across the country to showcase some of the amazing places our NOAA scientists, engineers, educators, technicians, and interns work.
Resources to access at home:
» 1 minute NOAA satellites video: This is a great video that explains the difference between polar orbiting satellites, geostationary satellites, and deep space satellite.
» Making a Weather Forecast with GOES-R: This animated, kids video is about 3 1/2 minutes long.
» GOES-R Gets Launched!: This animated, kids video is ~2 minutes long.
» Introduction to Copas-Sarsat: This 1-minute video is about a satellite-based search and rescue distress alert detection system.
» NASA Launches NOAA Weather Satellite to Improve Forecasts (JPSS-1 Launch) (Credit: NASA): 5-minute video of the launch
» NOAA Ocean Today: This 3-minute video is about NOAA’s environmental satellites that provide data from space.
» See actual live data from NOAA satellites:
https://rammb-slider.cira.colostate.edu/
https://www.star.nesdis.noaa.gov/goes/
March 2021 Open House Series
How Old Is That Fish? And What Fish Ear Stones Can Tell Us
Craig Kastelle, NOAA Fisheries Alaska Fisheries Science Center in Seattle, WA
What does a fish use its otoliths (ear stones) for and what can we learn from them? Join us to learn how we can tell how old a fish is, and other ways that scientists can use otoliths to study fish.
Resources to access at home:
» National NOAA Fish Age and Growth Page and Alaska Age and Growth Procedures for Otolith Examination
» Fish Age and Growth Research in Alaska
» Microworlds: How Old is a Fish? – video
» Microworlds: What do Marine Mammals Eat? – video
150 Years and Counting: Studying Fish, Fisheries and More
at the NOAA Fisheries Woods Hole Laboratory and Aquarium in Woods Hole, MA
The village of Woods Hole, Massachusetts is home to an amazing collection of marine science institutions. In this webinar, we will introduce you to the NOAA Fisheries Northeast Fisheries Science Center Woods Hole Lab. We will “walk” down main street, explore a NOAA research vessel, examine otoliths in our age & growth lab, and go behind the scenes at the Woods Hole Aquarium. This NOAA Live! Webinar is part of our NOAA Open House Series during which we will “travel” (virtually) across the country to showcase some of the amazing places our NOAA scientists, engineers, educators, technicians, and interns work.
Resources to access at home:
» Northeast Fisheries Science Center: Explore the center that the Woods Hole Lab and Aquarium belong to.
» Woods Hole Science Aquarium: Meet the residents, the history of the aquarium, and more. Test your knowledge by taking these quizzes about marine mammals, invertebrates, sea turtles, ocean processes, and fish & sharks.
» “Woods Hole, MA, Birthplace of NOAA Fisheries” and “NOAA Fisheries Birthplace Celebrates 150th Anniversary: NOAA Fisheries Science Shines On in the Northeast” web stories
» Coasts, Oceans, and Stewardship Program (COAST): Lesson plans for teachers based on research at the Northeast Fisheries Science Center.
» Northeast Fisheries Science Center Sounds Page: Listen to the underwater sounds of marine mammals, fish, and humans.
» R/V Gloria Michelle Home Page
» NOAA Ship Henry B. Bigelow Home Page
» National NOAA Fish Age and Growth Page and NOAA’s Northeast Fisheries Science Center’s (NEFSC) Age and Growth Studies in the Northeast
» Would you like to determine the age of fish using otoliths? (Learn how during the webinar) Visit the NOAA NEFSC otolith reference collection to look at haddock or shad ear bones, make your guess, and then click on the “show annotated” button to see the answer.
March 2021 Open House Series
That’s the Seal-iest Thing I’ve Heard: Studying Ice Seals in Alaska
Erin Moreland, Cynthia Christman, and Heather Ziel, from NOAA Fisheries Alaska Fisheries Science Center in Seattle, WA
What are ice seals and how do we study them? Join researchers from the Polar Ecosystems Program at NOAA Fisheries’ Alaska Fisheries Science Center to learn about bearded, ringed, spotted, and ribbon seals in Alaska and the methods we use to learn more about where they live, how many there are, and where they go.
Resources to access at home:
» Ice Seal Research in Alaska
» Protected Threatened Ice Seals – video
» Developing Artificial Intelligence to Find Ice Seals and Polar Bears from the Sky
» Ice-Associated Seal Ecology Research Survey in the Bering Sea – science field blog
» Joint U.S.-Russian Aerial Surveys for Ice-Associated Seals in the Bering Sea
Lose the loop: How did entangled Steller sea lions lead to Alaska’s first Ocean Guardian schools?
Kim Raum-Suryan, NOAA Fisheries’ Alaska Region in Juneau, AK
Join us as we learn about how marine debris impacts Steller sea lions, how we disentangle Steller sea lions, and how this helped us bring NOAA’s Ocean Guardian School Program to Alaska. Explore more about the Ocean Guardian School Program, how you can get this program started in your school, and concrete steps you can take right now to reduce marine mammal entanglements and marine debris.
Resources to access at home:
» Marine Mammal Stranding Program (Stranding Hotline: 877-925-7773)
» NOAA article: “Pinniped entanglement in marine debris”. (pinnipeds are seals, sea lions, and fur seals)
» AK Department of Fish and Game article: “Tangled sea lions get help, biologist team up for capture and aid”
» Entanglement in Marine Debris – Alaska Department of Fish and Game
» Keep the Sea Entanglement Free! – brochure
» Learn how to become an Ocean Guardian School
» Juneau Empire article: “Juneau schools launch ocean guardian program to combat marine mess.”
» Juneau Empire article: “Planet or plastic? Students do their part to protect oceans.”
It’s Not Easy Being Shelled: The Ocean Acidification Blues
Meg Chadsey, NOAA’s Washington Sea Grant and the NOAA Pacific Marine Environmental Lab in Seattle, WA
Excess carbon dioxide (CO2) isn’t just warming the planet; it’s also reacting with seawater and making the oceans more corrosive—a process known as ocean acidification. This slight increase in acidity doesn’t change the way the ocean looks or feels to us—but it’s a big deal for marine species with hard parts made of calcium carbonate, like pteropods, whose delicate shells begin to dissolve when exposed to acidified seawater. Meg Chadsey will demonstrate how ocean acidification is stressing her favorite local shellfish species—oysters—and explain why some shellfish farmers are turning to kelp for help.
Resources to access at home:
» Lego Calcification Challenge Activity
» Red Cabbage Ocean Acidification in a Cup Activity
» Rosemary Mosco’s Ocean Acidification Cartoon: pretty much everything you need to know about OA in 8 panels
» What is Ocean Acidification: A Crash Course – a 2-minute animated video, drawn by Sherman’s Lagoon cartoonist Jim Toomey
» Washington Sea Grant Ocean Acidification webpage
» The Power of Kelp: a 6-minute video about the benefits of kelp farming
» Washington Sea Grant’s Kelp Aquaculture webpage: a deep dive into the many uses for farmed kelp
» Tracking Ocean Acidification in Puerto Rico Video: this 8-minute video is in Spanish with an English subtitle option
» Ocean Acidification and Clownfish: This is a ~5-minute video
Let’s Talk about Fish Food: Zooplankton in the Eastern Bering Sea
Deana Crouser, NOAA Fisheries Alaska Fisheries Science Center in Seattle, AK
What do you think fish eat in the ocean? A lot of fish eat zooplankton in the Bering Sea. Join us to find out how zooplankton response to climate change can affect what fish are available for us to eat!
Resources to access at home:
» NOAA Ecosystems & Fisheries-Oceanography Coordinated Investigations (EcoFOCI) Website. Find out more about the research and data that is collected.
» Plankton Portal. This website gives you an opportunity to do some citizen science and ID plankton!
» Climate Drives Change in an Arctic Food Web
» Lawrence Hall of Science – Ocean Currents Animation – see how ocean circulation changes when air temperature and salinity change
» Aquatic Food Webs – NOAA Education Resource Collection – lesson plans, activities, and more!
Salmon in the Winter: Anadromous fish under ice
Coowe Walker and Jacob Argueta, NOAA’s Kachemak Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve in Kachemak Bay, AK
What do you know about baby salmon? Join us to learn about where salmon spend their early life stages, and how they survive in watersheds blanketed with snow and ice. We will talk about the importance of groundwater on baby salmon survival, and how watersheds and estuaries are nurseries that prepare salmon to hit the high seas.
Resources to access at home:
» Anchor River on Ice Video
» Overwintering juvenile coho salmon study-Alaska Sustainable Salmon Fund
» Kachemak Bay NERR – NOAA Office of Coastal Management
» Kachemak Bay NERR – Education and Outreach
» Salmon: A Student Journal – activity book
» An Incredible Journey – curriculum about issues affecting salmon and how to become a salmon steward
Dambusters at Work: Restoring Habitat for Migratory Fish
Eric Hutchins, NOAA Restoration Center in Gloucester, MA
Soon after the Pilgrims landed at Plymouth Rock they began to build dams on Town Brook in Plymouth, Massachusetts. Every dam built impacted the migratory pathway of American eel and river herring which need to reach fresh water streams to complete their lifecycle. This talk will describe efforts by the Town of Plymouth and NOAA to remove or modify dams on Town Brook to restore habitats for migratory fish….and wait until you hear what they found when they tore down those dams!
Resources to access at home:
» Meet Eric Hutchins, Habitat Restoration Biologist Feature Story
» U.S. Fish and Wildlife: Teaching kids about fish migration. There is a fun lesson, “Designing fish-friendly culverts (and bridges)” lesson for grades 5-8.
» U.S. Fish and Wildlife: Environmental education resources for teachers, parents, and kids. Activities range from the “ABCs of fishing” coloring book, word searches, migration station, and more.
» NOAA Fisheries article, “You can help scientists count migrating river herring – virtually”
» U.S. Fish and Wildlife: Teaching kids about fish migration. There is a fun lesson, “Designing fish-friendly culverts (and bridges)” lesson for grades 5-8.
» U.S. Fish and Wildlife: Environmental education resources for teachers, parents, and kids. Activities range from the “ABCs of fishing” coloring book, word searches, migration station, and more.
» Help count the river herring:
–Mystic River, Massachusetts Herring Counter, https://www.mysticherring.org/video#/
–Town Brook, Plymouth Massachusetts Herring Counter https://www.plymouthriverherring.org/
» Watch Live Fish Cameras:
–Herring Creek on Martha’s Vineyard https://wampanoagtribe-nsn.gov/naturalresourcedepartment
–Town Brook, Plymouth Massachusetts Herring Counter https://www.plymouthriverherring.org/
» Other relevant NOAA Live! Webinars: Swimming Upstream with River Herring OR Leaping for Atlantic Salmon: Protecting endangered species
Alaska Marine Science Symposium in Anchorage: Cutting-Edge Science Connecting with Education
Elizabeth Siddon, NOAA Fisheries Alaska Fisheries Science Center in Juneau, AK, and Mark Van Arsdale, Eagle River High School in Eagle River, AK
Every January in Anchorage, scientists, educators, resource managers, students, and the public come together at the Alaska Marine Science Symposium (AMSS) conference to discuss the latest marine research being conducted in Alaska waters. Join us to talk with Elizabeth Siddon from NOAA Fisheries Alaska Fisheries Science Center about her ecosystem research and education work, and Mark Van Arsdale, a high school teacher in Eagle River, Alaska, about his takeaways from the AMSS and how he brings the science back to his classroom.
Resources to access at home:
» Alaska Marine Science Symposium
» North Pacific Research Board
» SouthEast Exchange
» Meet Elizabeth Siddon, one of 2019’s PECASE WInners
» Mark Van Arsdale’s Teacher at Sea Blog from 2018
It Takes a Village to Save the Hawaiian Monk Seal
Stacie Robinson, NOAA Fisheries Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center in Honolulu, HI and Wendy Marks, the Marine Mammal Center in Kona, HI
Did you know that Hawaiʻi is home to the world’s only tropical seal – the Hawaiian monk seal? You’ll learn about these highly endangered marine mammals, where they live, and the conservation efforts to protect them. We’ll follow monk seals on an underwater foraging adventure using cameras worn by the seals! You can see the methods the seals use to explore their environment and search for food. We will also highlight the partnership between NOAA and The Marine Mammal Centerʻs Ke Kai Ola Hospital. Located in Kona, on Hawaiʻiʻs Big Island, Ke Kai Ola is a place where sick and injured Hawaiian monk seals are brought for treatment and rehabilitation. We will be sharing some seal patient stories and how we help seals both in the hospital and out on the beaches.
Resources to access at home:
» Marine animal stranding network: You can find your region and the number to call if you see a marine animal.
» NOAAʻs Hawaiian Monk Seal Coloring Book
» NOAA Fisheries Hawaiian Monk Seal Species Page
» The Marine Mammal Center – Online Learning Resources
» Aloha ʻĀina Activity about littering and marine debris
» Mālama i nā ʻĪlioholoikauaua about sustainability
» Marine Mammal Monday: Saving Species recording and activity
» Some Ocean Optimism Ep. 6: Hawaiian Monk Seals, 6-minute video
Some Like It Hot, Some Like It Cold: Monitoring Fish and Ecosystems With Bottom Trawl Surveys in Alaska
Sean Rohan from NOAA Fisheries Alaska Fisheries Science Center in Seattle, WA
How do bottom trawl surveys help monitor fish populations and ecosystems in Alaska? Learn about the diverse marine life we see, the data we collect, and what it’s like to be a scientist at sea.
Resources to access at home:
» Fishing Gear: Bottom Trawls
» Alaska Fisheries Science Center Fisheries Research Surveys
» Eastern Bering Sea Shelf Survey – 2017 science blog
» Fish Fetch – fish population estimation activity
Whale and Seek: The Underwater Lives of Whales
Dave Wiley, NOAA Stellwagen Bank National Marine Sanctuary in Scituate, MA
How do you know what whales do in the wild? They are too big for an aquarium and disappear from view at every dive. New technologies let scientists attach body movement and acoustic (sound) or video recording tags to whales to watch and listen as they go about their underwater lives. The results surprised even the scientists that had spent their whole lives studying the animals!
Resources to access at home:
Activities
» NOAA National Marine Sanctuaries (NMS) Humpback Whale Migration Game (online)
» New Bedford Whaling Museum Whale Activities
» Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary Activity Book you can print out. This includes a whale identification activity, word search, connect the dots, and more.
Videos and Background
» Dive in and find the National Marine Sanctuary closest to you
» NOAA Oceans Today 4-minute video and short story: Ocean as a Lab: Whale Tagging in Antarctica
» NOAA NMS 45 second video: Tagging Humpback Whales in Stellwagen Bank National Marine Sanctuary
» DE Sea Grant 15 Second Science Videos: All about whales with Bob Rocha, New Bedford Whaling Museum
» NOAA NMS: Dive into Stellwagen Bank National Marine Sanctuary with these short videos on topics such as humpback whales, sand lance, Christmas bird count, gray seals, and more!
» NOAA NMS story: High-Tech Whale Tagging featuring Dave Wiley
» NOAA actions taken to reduce ship strikes
Abalone: Gardeners of the Kelp Forest
David Witting, NOAA’s Restoration Center in Long Beach, CA
We will learn more about abalone, a group of large snails that live in kelp forest habitats around the world. These humble snails “garden” the kelp forest and ensure there is space for the other plants and animals living there. For thousands of years, people living on the California Coast have harvested this beautiful animal and we will explore how they were used for food, tools, jewelry, and cultural ceremonies. We will end by looking at the status of abalone today, with 2 species on the endangered species list and the others in such low numbers they can no longer be fished. We will learn how NOAA and its dedicated partners are teaming up to save this important animal.
Resources to access at home:
» Aquarium of the Pacific kids song/video: “I Love Abalone”
» NOAA Fisheries Feature Story: “Divers Release Endangered Abalone into the Wild for First Time, Boosting Odds of Recovery ”
» NOAA Fisheries Feature Story: “White Abalone: Why You Should Care About This Critter”
» NOAA white abalone “Species in the Spotlight” video
Seeing the World Through a Sea Turtle’s Eyes
Samir Patel, NOAA Fisheries Northeast Fisheries Science Center in Woods Hole, MA
Sea turtles are considered living dinosaurs in that they have remained relatively unchanged for over 100 million years and yet continue to thrive in our world’s ocean. How are turtles able to do this? We use several camera techniques to film sea turtles as they swim through the ocean diving, foraging, and avoiding predators to understand how they are able to survive and thrive in their preferred habitats.
Resources to access at home:
» Sea turtle stranding network: You can find your region and the number to call if you see a stranded sea turtle.
» NOAA Education sea turtle page: Find information about the six species of sea turtles found in U.S. waters, stories, background material, videos, and classroom lesson plans and activities.
» Sea Turtle identification guide for the Northeast US
» National Marine Life Center in MA: Their virtual discovery zone has a sea turtle puppet craft, live patient updates on their sea turtles currently in rehab, and many videos.
» NOAA’s Activity Book on sea turtles: This activity booklet is aimed at grades 3-5.
Saving Corals: A Day in the Life of a Coral Reef Scientist
Derek Manzello, NOAA’s Atlantic Oceanographic and Meteorological Laboratory in Miami, FL
The mission of NOAA’s National Coral Reef Monitoring Program is to provide information to help improve and sustain coral reef health throughout the world. Meet Derek Manzello, a NOAA coral reef scientist, who dons scuba gear when heading to his office – the world’s most beautiful ecosystem and a place that most people only see when they are on vacation. Look at the world through his eyes (or scuba mask) as he shows us the tools they use, shares his favorite fieldwork experience and helps us understand the challenges coral reefs face today.
Resources to access at home:
» NOAA Coral Reef Conservation Program Education Page
» NOAA National Ocean Service Corals Tutorial
» Interactive Reef Virtual Dive – Explore this virtual reef and learn more about corals
» Bleached Reef Virtual Dive – In early 2015, coral bleaching started in the Airport Pool on Tutuila. This image shows the staghorn corals in the midst of the severe bleaching event.
» How do corals build their reefs? Visit this California Academy of Sciences Page to learn more. (Dana shows the video from this page during the webinar)
» National Marine Sanctuaries Virtual Dives of different reefs
» NOAA Ocean Today Coral Comeback Videos: There are 9 short videos- Rainforests of the sea, the coral and the algae, corals under threat, what can we do, and more.
Science on the Half Shell: Behind the Scenes at the Milford Fisheries Laboratory
Mark Dixon and Gillian Phillips, NOAA Northeast Fisheries Science Center in Milford, CT
Have you ever wondered what kind of science is conducted at a fisheries laboratory? Meet NOAA scientists from the Northeast Fisheries Science Center’s Laboratory in Milford, CT, who study shellfish and investigate questions that help shellfish growers around the world. You will learn about what oysters eat, how they are helping make a cleaner Long Island Sound, and see, through real fish surveillance, how shellfish farms can become habitat for other species.
Resources to access at home:
» Current research at Milford
» Fish printing is usually a popular station: Read this article on the educational uses of gyotaku or fish printing. Try it at home after watching this video (for older kids) or this video (for younger kids). Remember – you can use a rubber fish and even print onto clothing.
What’s in the Kelp Forest? Exploring the Shore and Diving Underwater in Kachemak Bay, Alaska
Kris Holderied, NOAA Kasitsna Bay Laboratory, NOAA Ocean Service and Katie Gavenus, Center for Alaskan Coastal Studies
Come find out about the unique ecology and research in Kachemak Bay, Alaska! Kachemak Bay is home to a wide variety of animals — sea stars, nudibranchs, anemones, clams and snails, octopus, crabs, all sorts of fish, and even marine mammals like whales and sea otters! Join us to learn more about this special estuary and explore how researchers and community members study the underwater ecosystem.
Resources to access at home:
» NOAA Ocean Service: What is the intertidal zone?
» Alaska Department of Fish and Game: Tidepooling in Alaska including an overview, tidepool etiquette, etc.
» Center for Alaskan Coastal Studies Educator Resources
» Video: Science and Stewardship: Keys to Restoring Kachemak Bay
» Kasitsna Bay Lab Dive Class “Movie Trailer”
» Activities: Life in the Intertidal Zone
Oysters: Nature’s Vacuum Cleaners
Harriet Booth, NOAA’s Woods Hole Sea Grant and Cape Cod Cooperative Extension in Barnstable, MA
Have you ever seen or eaten an oyster? How is it different from a clam? Did you know they can filter 1.3 gallons of water per hour and are often put in bays and salt water ponds to clean up the water? Do you know how they spawn (reproduce)? Who eats them (hint -we do) and what research do we do to support shellfish farmers or wild harvesters? Learn all this and more during this NOAA Live! webinar.
Resources to access at home:
» Oyster Life Cycle: This is a short 2-minute video that walks you through the oyster life cycle.
» NOAA K-12 Science Module – “Oysters in the Chesapeake Bay”: This has curriculum for elementary, middle school, and high school grade lessons. This is relevant regardless of where you live.
» Oyster Reef Habitat – This NOAA Fisheries website has valuable information about oyster reefs.
» Marine Biological Laboratory Demonstrates How Oysters Filter Water: This is a short 2 minute that shows oysters filtering algae out of the water.
» Cape Cod Cooperative Extension Publications and Resources: Publications include “Tips for fresh and tasty shellfish”, “Easting shellfish as part of a healthy diet”, “Safe shellfish for recreational harvesters”, and more.
» Octonauts – Learn about shellfish: In this video Octonauts are learning all about shellfish! Lobsters, shrimp, crabs, and more.
Deep and Creepy: Things that go Bump in the Deep Sea
Kasey Cantwell, NOAA’s Office of Ocean Exploration and Research in Silver Spring, MD
A special Halloween edition of NOAA Live! – “Creatures of the Deep” will explore the fascinatingly creepy creatures of the deep ocean. Join us to learn more about the unique animals that exist in the deep sea and the different adaptations that make it possible to live in this extreme environment!
» NOAA Ocean Exploration and Research Education Page: This includes lesson plans, multimedia interactive activities, career information, and more
» NOAA Exploring Deep-Ocean Art: Coloring book and coloring pages.
» Bioluminescence, Deep-sea Corals, and Cold Seeps, : Videos, past expeditions, lesson plans, and more.
» Benthic Deepwater Animal Identification Guide: Explore this amazing collection of images from the Deep Discoverer remotely operated vehicle.
» NOAA Build an Underwater Robot: This is a guide to making a simple version of an underwater remotely operated vehicle.
» NOAA Ocean Today/Creep into the Deep: There are some great videos on how animals in the deep sea have evolved to breed, feed, and survive in one of the harshest realms of the ocean.
» Zooplankton in the Deep Sea: This Hawaii Sea Grant video is a great introduction to zooplankton in the deep ocean.
» Ocean Exploration Facts
» Octonauts Corner: coloring pages, video tour of Okeanos for kids, and deep sea creature chart
» Dive and Discover with the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution: Hydrothermal vents animals
» Whale Times, Inc – Creep into the Deep, Journey into Midnight Cruise: There are some great coloring pages
» Ocean Explorer Make your own Deep Sea Vent activity for grades 5-6.
Ping! – Using sound to map Alaska’s seafloor
Jessica Murphy and LTjg Michelle Levano, NOAA’s Office of Coast Survey in Seattle, WA
Like marine mammals using sound to “see” their underwater environment, scientists also use sound to determine what the seafloor looks like! Mapping the seafloor provides information for many purposes, including safe navigation of fishing vessels and helping pinpoint where marine animals call home. Join us as we discuss the tools of the trade for mapping the seafloor and the many ways that data is used by scientists for everything from charting the ocean to understanding habitat.
Resources to access at home:
» NOAA’s Office of Coast Survey Educational Activities: Learn more about the seafloor and nautical charting through posters, interactive activities (check out the digital terrain activity!), and hands-on activities you can do at home.
» Alaska Surveys Storymap
» Finding Nautical Charts
» Travel the Seas Video
» Plumbing the Deep: Using Sound Waves to See
Exploring the Ocean Seafloor: Underwater Volcanoes and their Habitats
Colleen Hoffman, Cooperative Institute for Climate, Ocean, and Ecosystem Studies and NOAA Pacific Marine Environmental Lab in Seattle, WA
Come learn about the explosive world of underwater volcanoes! Alien looking organisms, robots and submarines, and eruptions are all part of the fun in studying these systems 10,000-13,000 feet below sea level. Narrated by a marine geochemist, we explore an underwater volcano habitat and how we collect samples from the deep.
Resources to access at home:
» Videos used in the talk: Volcanic eruptions on the seafloor, Life at a Hydrothermal Vent, and What it is like to go down in HOV Alvin
Videos:
» Demo for Oreo plate tectonics
» Last 40 years of hydrothermal vent explorations (video showing all the different types of systems)
» C-DEBI deep-sea lesson plans
» NOAA Ocean Today Every Full Moon: Deep Sea Dive Collection
» NOAA Ocean Explorer: Hunting for Alien Life at the Bottom of the Arctic Ocean
» NOAA Ocean Explorer: Hydrothermal Vents: 2016 Deepwater Exploration of the Marianas
» NOAA Ocean Explorer: Education Therme: Vents and Volcanoes lesson plans
» HACON – Hot Vents in an Ice-Covered Ocean
Books:
» Exploring the Deep, Dark Sea by Gail Gibbons.
» Alien Deep: Revealing the Mysterious Living World at the Bottom of the Ocean (National Geographic Kids) by Bradley Hague.
» Discovering the Deep by Jeffrey A. Karson, Deborah S. Kelley, Daniel J. Fornari, Michael R, Perfit, and Timothy M. Shank.
Dolphin Tales – Stories and facts about dolphins and marine mammal strandings in the Southeast US
Blair Mase, NOAA Fisheries Southeast Fisheries Science Center in Miami, FL
Is it a fish or is it a mammal? Tune into this presentation full of fun facts about dolphins, their biology, and how we study them. Find out about marine mammal strandings (what is that and why does it happen?), what NOAA does in response to one of these events, and how to find out more about the stranding network in your area. This webinar will be recorded and posted here (with English captions and Spanish subtitles) after going live. (Grades 2-8 but all ages will enjoy)
Resources to access at home:
» Marine Mammal Health and Stranding Response Program: Learn more about the volunteer stranding and entanglement networks and find your regional program.
» Report a Stranded or Injured Marine Animal
» FAQs about why it is illegal to feed or harass a marine mammal in the wild.
» Video used during the talk: Dolphin Sounds – Sounds of Nature
» NOAA National Marine Sanctuaries Outreach Corner: Marine mammal and sea turtle viewing guidelines, see and id smartphone apps, fact sheets and more.
» NOAA Marine Debris Activities and Curricula: Activity books, bookmarks, magnets, and more.
The crab-tivating life of crustaceans: diving into Alaskan snow crab and red king crab biology
Erin Fedewa and Leah Zacher, NOAA Fisheries Alaska Fisheries Science Center’s Kodiak Laboratory in Kodiak, AK
Join us as we learn about red king crab and snow crab, two species of crab found in Alaskan waters. Guest appearances from live crab at the Kodiak Fisheries Research Center and a virtual dissection will help us explore crab biology and life stages. This webinar will be recorded and posted here (with English captions) after going live. (Grades 2-8 but all ages will enjoy)
https://seagrant.whoi.edu/wp-admin/post-new.php?post_type=noaa_live_webinar
Resources to access at home:
» Red king crab life stages – a short course
» Crab education pages
» NOAA Fisheries – Red King Crab
» NOAA Fisheries – Snow Crab
» New Studies Raise Questions About Crabs’ Adaptability
» Dutch Harbor Snow and Tanner Crab Growth Study – a science blog
Baby Beluga in the Shallow Gray Sea – looking for newborn whales with drones in Cook Inlet, Alaska
Kim Goetz, NOAA Alaska Fisheries Science Center in Seattle, WA
Learn about the endangered population of Cook Inlet beluga whales which regularly swim past local Anchorage landmarks such as the Port, Kincaid Park, the airport, and Bird Point in Turnagain Arm. We will talk about how belugas live, see cool photos of them taken from a drone that we use to recognize newborn baby whales, and listen to them buzz and chomp on a fish! This webinar will be recorded and posted here (with English captions) after going live. (Grades 2-8 but all ages will enjoy)
Resources to access at home:
» Studying Endangered Cook Inlet Belugas in Alaska
» Beluga Whale Hexacopter Survey – Science Blog
» Belugas Count! video
» Species in the Spotlight: Cook Inlet Beluga Whale
» Plumbing the Deep: Using Sound Waves to See
The Wonderful World of Plankton: The Tiny Animals of the Sea
Colleen Harpold and Alison Deary, NOAA’s Alaska Fisheries Science Center in Seattle, WA
Come learn about the exciting world of plankton! Everything from baby fishes, crab and octopus to animals like copepods and krill that spend their entire lives floating in the ocean. Narrated by two marine scientists with different career tracks, explore the tiny animals that live in our ocean and how they are collected from the seas of Alaska. The webinar will last about 45-60 minutes with moderated questions and answers throughout. This webinar will be recorded and posted afterward. (Grades 6-8, but all ages will enjoy)
Resources to access at home:
» NOAA Ecosystems & Fisheries-Oceanography Coordinated Investigations (EcoFOCI) Website. Find out more about the research and data that is collected.
» Plankton Portal. This website gives you an opportunity to do some citizen science and ID plankton!
Exploring Olympic Coast National Marine Sanctuary – Virtual Tour and Trivia BINGO
Jacqueline Laverdure, NOAA’s Olympic Coast National Marine Sanctuary in Port Angeles, WA
Explore the wonders of America’s Ocean and Great Lakes Treasures – Our national marine sanctuaries! Join us for this fun and interactive virtual tour as we visit our national marine sanctuaries and dive deep into Olympic Coast National Marine Sanctuary. This journey includes a trivia BINGO game as we explore the rich abundance of marine life that thrive in these magnificent waters of the Pacific Northwest from the rocky shores to the deep sea. The webinar will last about 45-60 minutes with moderated questions and answers throughout. This webinar will be recorded and posted afterward. (Grades 6-8, but all ages will enjoy)
Wait! Is that a Real Jellyfish?
Michael Ford, from NOAA Fisheries in Silver Spring, MD
Let’s face it. Jellyfish can be annoying sometimes when we’re on the beach. However, many oceanographers think jellyfish might play an important role in the ocean food web. When we explore the Earth’s oceans from ships and with unmanned Remotely Operated Vehicles (ROVs), we actually see lots and lots of jellyfish. So, when we are not at the beach, we turn on our ROV, dive down into the ocean, and study them. There are so many kinds of jellyfish! Actually, “jellyfish” is a common word used to describe many types of animals that are gelatinous (made of jelly-like tissue.) These animals come in a very wide variety of shapes, sizes, and colors. Join oceanographer Mike Ford from NOAA Fisheries to learn about jellyfish in the deep ocean as seen from recent ROV dives in the ocean. (Grades 2-6 but all ages will enjoy)
Resources to access at home:
» The Smithsonian website on jellyfish and comb jellies. This includes their role in the food web, reproduction and life cycle, human connections, and more. Click here.
» Interesting web articles with photo and video content that Mike wrote with colleagues and folks from Ocean Exploration:
» Explorations Far Above the Musician Seamounts: A Crescendo for Midwater Explorers
» The Gelata of Océano Profundo 2015 (available in English and Spanish)
» Cyclocanna welshi
» Dive 05: Twirling Jelly
» Trawling for Plankton (and Plastic) on the Way Home from Indonesia
From Training to Underwater Exploration: Take a Deep Dive the NOAA Diving Center
Jessica Keller and Zachary Hileman, both from the NOAA Diving Center in Seattle, WA and Stephanie Gandulla, NOAA’s Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary in Alpena, MI
Follow the pathway to become a NOAA diver and beyond! Scientific diving is one of the main types of diving conducted throughout NOAA, and the NOAA Diving Center trains scientists in how to work safely underwater. Join us as we discuss how we conduct science in the underwater environment. After training, NOAA divers go into the field and collect data in cool locations like Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary! Thunder Bay will highlight the projects and science conducted by NOAA divers in the Great Lakes. (Grades 2-6 but all ages will enjoy)
Resources to access at home:
» Learn more about the NOAA Diving Program (NDP). View NOAA diving forms, regulations, training, and more. Click here.
» The NOAA Office of Marine and Aviation Operations website. There is a lot of information as well as featured stories and videos.
» A map of the NOAA diving program units and sub-units (where are our trained divers).
» Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary education website. There are links to NOAA’s online games, an encyclopedia of the sanctuaries, and more.
» NOAA National Ocean Service “Dive in: underwater adventure” website. This shows you the diving opportunities in NOAA’s national marine sanctuaries and estuarine research reserves.
» Map of Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary
» Immerse yourself in the ocean and your national marine sanctuaries without getting wet! These virtual reality voyages use 360-degree images to highlight each national marine sanctuary.
» National Park Service Junior Ranger Underwater Explorer Program.
Fishing for Food and Facts
Anna Mercer, NOAA’s Northeast Fisheries Science Center in Narragansett, RI
Did you know that U.S. fisheries produce over 9 billion pounds of seafood every year? Join this webinar to learn how NOAA Fisheries works with fishermen to produce sustainable seafood that feeds people all over the world. In this webinar, you will learn about the species that are harvested in the northeast U.S., how they are caught, and how NOAA Fisheries helps fishermen develop tools to fish more effectively and collect data for science. (Grades 2-6 but all ages will enjoy)
Resources to access at home:
» U.S. Seafood Facts at Fish Watch
» Fisheries of the United States
» NOAA Fisheries Cooperative Research
» National Marie Sanctuaries Fish and Fishery Facts in California. This has some great information on where fishing occurs, the different fisheries, fishing vessel types, fishing gear, seafood markets, and more.
» Seafood Nutrition Partnership Website. NOAA Fisheries is a partner and you can find seafood 101, the science of seafood, and more.
Giant Seabass, Kings of the Kelp Forest
Ryan Freedman, NOAA’s Channel Islands National Marine Sanctuary in Santa Barbara, CA
Giant Seabass are a species of large fish that live in the cool waters off the coast of California. Thanks to government protections in California, this top predator of the kelp forest is beginning to return to the Channel Islands National Marine Sanctuary and NOAA is working with other groups to study them. Giant Seabass are unique because scientists believe they use sounds to communicate. NOAA is working to record these sounds in the wild and study how these fish move around Santa Barbara Island, a small offshore island in the sanctuary. (Grades 2-6 but all ages will enjoy)
Resources to access at home:
» “Return of the King” – An article on how researchers track giant sea bass populations in the Channel Islands National Marine Sanctuary
» Channel Island National Marine Sanctuary education page. This includes an encyclopedia of sanctuaries, marine reserves interactive map, and more.
» Map of the Channel Islands National Marine Sanctuary.
Blue Blood, Green Eggs, and Red Knots: The amazing story of the horseshoe crab
Chris Petrone, NOAA’s Delaware Sea Grant in Lewes, DE
About 20 million years ago, the horseshoe crab, as we know it today, evolved. Members of Family Limulidae, which include four extant species of horseshoe crabs, have relatives—the trilobites—that existed on Earth over 500 million years ago! In North America, just one species of horseshoe crabs crawls upon the seafloor eating small clams, crustaceans, worms, and algae. Horseshoe crabs, which are more closely related to scorpions and spiders than true crabs, are incredibly important to the environment and humans. Join us to learn more about this incredible animal and develop your own “Limulus Love.” (Grades 2-6 but all ages will enjoy)
Resources to access at home:
» Delaware Sea Grant’s Horseshoe Crab 15 Second Science YouTube playlist. These short videos are fun, quick, and informative.
» Delaware Sea Grant article: Scientists develop an artificial bait that reduces the need to harvest horseshoe crabs
» The Horseshoe Crab – information about the horseshoe crab.
» The Delaware Bay Horseshoe Crab Survey
» NOAA’s Ocean Today video on horseshoe crabs – “Blue Blood Battles Bacteria”
» Estuaries 101 “Hooray for Horseshoe Crabs” lesson plan
» Horseshoe Crab Origami
» Migrating Shorebirds and Horseshoe Crabs video (~36 seconds long)
» Just flip ’em music video
» Videos Chris shows during his webinar, “egg video” and “feeding video”
» NOAA Ocean Today the Remarkable Horseshoe Crab Videos: There are 5 short videos- The remarkable horseshoe crab, blue blood battles bacteria, and more.
Coastal Marshland in My Texas Backyard
Nikki Fitzgerald, NOAA’s Texas Sea Grant in Anahuac, TX
Let’s explore Nikki’s backyard coastal marsh together in the ‘Alligator Capital of Texas’! She will take us on a journey while kayaking or riding on the back of a marsh buggy. Have you ever heard a baby alligator chirp before? No worries, Nikki will let you hear one chirp! Watch as she shows us how to catch a blue crab or go seining in the bay. You will get to learn the many purposes of a Marsh with live demonstrations and hands-on activities. Learn about the importance of our coastal marshes and discover the many different animals that call it home. (Grades 2-6 but all ages will enjoy)
Resources to access at home:
» Texas Parks and Wildlife page on Coastal Wetlands. You can see pictures of some of the animals that live in Texas’ coastal wetlands.
» Anahuac National Wildlife Refuge
» Texas Parks and Wildlife video: Gulf Coast Prairies Eco-Region (6 minutes long)
» Texas Parks and Wildlife video: Crabbing the Coast at Sea Rim State Park (3 minutes long)
» Beaumont Texas Cattail Marsh Scenic Wetlands and Boardwalk 2017 video (3 minutes long)
» Anahuac National Wildlife Refuge Travel Video (4 minutes long)
» Pond Management with Jefferson/Chambers County Agent Nikii Fitzgerald (7 minutes)
» What are watersheds? video with Nikki (5 minutes long)
» Types of weathering video with Nikki (3 minutes)
Following ‘Ō‘io: The Life of Hawaiian Bonefishes
Keith Kamikawa, NOAA Fisheries Pacific Islands Regional Office in Honolulu, Hawai’i
It’s easy to follow friends and family who are important to us through social media. But there is no Facebook for fish. So how do we keep track of fish species that are important to our fisheries? Hawai‘i is home to two species of bonefish, including one found nowhere else in the world. Let’s take a look at ‘ō‘io (bonefishes) in Hawai‘i, a favorite catch for local anglers, and follow them throughout their lives. By building their life history “profile,” we can learn how to protect their habitat and fish sustainably so that the next generation can enjoy a future where fishing traditions―and fish―thrive. (Grades 2-6 but all ages will enjoy)
Resources to access at home:
» Habitat Mapping Activity – Color your way through ‘ō’io habitat by hand or on a computer or tablet.
» Pre-spawning aggregation video. (Keith shows a clip in the webinar)
» Bonefish Reproduction Research Project video – You can view a female releasing her eggs.
Fish with Care
» Be a FAST (Fishing Around Seals and Turtles) responder! It’s OK to call for help! If you’re not in Hawai‘i, learn about protected animals in your area and what to do if you see a stranded marine mammal or sea turtle.
» Measure your catch! Check out the Hawai‘i Nearshore Fishes Measuring Guide to figure out which fish to keep or release, or find out about fishing in your area. Download the Fish Rules App for saltwater fishing regulations in Federal and State waters from Maine to Texas.
Get to Know NOAA Habitat Restoration in Your Area
» Fish depend on healthy habitat! Check out the NOAA Habitat Restoration Atlas to find out about restoration projects in your area. The searchable map highlights projects across the nation, including community-based restoration projects.
Winged Ambassadors: Ocean Travelers
Jennifer Stock, NOAA’s Cordell Bank National Marine Sanctuary in Olema, CA
Seabirds that live their entire lives at sea (except for one very special time of the year!) have tremendous stories to tell about the health and ecology of the global ocean. What makes a seabird a seabird? How do we know where they live and travel on the ocean? What does your wingspan say about you? What can you do to help seabirds? Learn about the amazing travels of Black-footed and Laysan Albatrosses in the Pacific Ocean. (Grades 2-6 but all ages will enjoy)
Resources to access at home:
» Dive in and find the National Marine Sanctuary closest to you.
» Storymap about Birds throughout National Marine Sanctuaries – This includes migration routes, bird research, a bird tour, an interactive bird map, and more!
» Bird Watching at Stellwagen Bank National Marine Sanctuary -This includes a guide to sanctuary birds and a chart of seasonal sightings.
» Winged Ambassadors: Ocean Literacy through the Eyes of Albatross (predominantly for teachers, but includes photos, ppts, videos) http://www.
» National Geographic’s Laysan Albatross virtual bolus dissection – Kids can use online videos and photo galleries to conduct s virtual bolus dissection.
» Seabird and Shorebird Activity Book– The Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary put together this fun book. Seabirds secret code, shorebirds word find, seabirds mobile, and more!
» Makani Interactive Workbook- Makani: The albatross that cares for the land- interactive story about Laysan Albatross and ocean conservation.
» Ocean Guardian Kids Club – The Kids Club offers children a stimulating opportunity to express their insights, observations, and understanding of their natural environment through the creation of original stories, poetry, and visual art. All K-8 students are eligible and encouraged to join!
» Cornell’s Bird Cams: A virtual window into the natural world of birds.
» Nesting Albatross video that Jennifer shows during her presentation
» A Perfect Day for an Albatross by Caren Loebel-Fried: Download the free teacher’s guide that features activities that target national science, math, writing, and art education standards for grades 1-3.
What’s in that Mouthful of Seawater: Introducing the Ocean’s Microscopic World
Vera Trainer, NOAA’s Northwest Fisheries Science Center in Seattle, WA
The ocean’s microscopic single-celled organisms produce over half the world’s oxygen. These phytoplankton provide clean air, draw down carbon dioxide responsible for climate change, and are a major source of food for marine creatures. However, some phytoplankton can produce chemicals that are poisonous to humans, marine mammals, and birds. These harmful algal blooms are responsible for shutting down shellfish harvest and causing fish kills around the world. This talk will provide an introduction to the beauty and danger of the microscopic marine world. (Grades 2-6 but all ages will enjoy)
Resources to access at home:
» NOAA Northwest Fisheries Science Center’s video, “Science at Sea – The Hunt for Killer Algae.” (20 minutes long)
» Why Do Fish Get Sick? youtube video
» Tabs on Habs Videos– These are an introduction to Harmful Algal Blooms and their Identification. There is a beginner, intermediate, and advanced series of videos.
» The National Ocean Service’s Harmful Algal Blooms (HABs) website. There is regional information so you can look up HABs in your area, resources such as how we forecast HABs, frequently asked questions, and more!
» Nature Video’s “Five Reasons to Thank Plankton” that Vera showed during her webinar. Find out how much you owe these little guys.
» WHOI website on harmful algae blooms. This resource has maps, species, impacts, and more.
» Download the “Phyto” app for free on your smartphone. You can access a series of flashcards with both freshwater and marine phytoplankton. Learn to identify phytoplankton and their proper pronunciation.
Dive In and Explore Coral Reef Ecosystems
Dana Wusinich-Mendez, NOAA’s Coral Reef Conservation Program in West Palm Beach, FL
Coral reefs are the rainforests of the ocean. They are beautiful, diverse, and extremely important for healthy ocean ecosystems and strong communities. Learn all about coral reef ecosystems, why they matter, and what you can do to help them. (Grades 2-6 but all ages will enjoy)
Resources to access at home:
» NOAA Coral Reef Conservation Program Education Page (Dana referred to this page and it has the 3D polyp and other activities)
» NOAA National Ocean Service Corals Tutorial
» A glimpse inside the “Valley of the Giants” shows coral heads like “Big Momma” that are protected within the National Marine Sanctuary of American Samoa on Ta’u. Big Momma is more than 500 years old and over 6 meters high, and has a circumference of 41 meters. This Porites coral may be the largest one in the world!
» Interactive Reef Virtual Dive – Explore this virtual reef and learn more about corals
» Bleached Reef Virtual Dive – In early 2015, coral bleaching started in the Airport Pool on Tutuila. This image shows the staghorn corals in the midst of the severe bleaching event.
» How do corals build their reefs? Visit this California Academy of Sciences Page to learn more. (Dana shows the video from this page during the webinar)
» The coral reef economy. NOAA’s page that explains how coral reefs support jobs, tourism, and fisheries. (Dana shows the video from this page during the webinar)
» The nation’s database on sustainable seafood Fishwatch.gov
» National Marine Sanctuaries Virtual Dives of different reefs
» NOAA Ocean Today Coral Comeback Videos: There are 9 short videos- Rainforests of the sea, the coral and the algae, corals under threat, what can we do, and more.
Sharks Make Sense
Chris Flight, NOAA’s Mississippi-Alabama Sea Grant Consortium at the Dauphin Island Sea Lab in Dauphin Island, AL
Sharks are some of the most successful predators in the ocean. There are hundreds of different species that come in all sorts of shapes and sizes. Have you ever wondered what makes them so good at what they do? We will examine several different species of sharks, talk about the variety of senses that sharks use to find their food, and get up close and personal with the jaws of one of the most common sharks swimming around Mobile Bay Alabama. (Grades 2-6 but all ages will enjoy)
Resources to access at home:
» OCEARCH Tracker Page – This map of tagged sharks shows you real-time, up to date locations on a variety of tagged sharks
» Dauphin Island Sea Lab archived Facebook Live Events– These videos cover a variety of topics. Some examples are, stingrays, alligators, crustaceans, lionfish, and many more!
» Atlantic White Shark Conservancy – This site lists all of the AWSC shark enrichment programs during school closures.
» Shark vocabulary that Chris used during his webinar.
» NOAA story: 12 Shark Facts that May Surprise You
Swimming Upstream with River Herring
with Abigail Archer, NOAA’s Woods Hole Sea Grant and Cape Cod Cooperative Extension in Barnstable, MA
Most fish live only in freshwater or only in saltwater, but some special fish can swim back and forth between both! How do they do it? Why do they do it? Tune in to learn the answers and meet the awesome Alewife (also known as river herring), one of these special fish that is swimming upstream in rivers right now along the US Mid-Atlantic and New England Coasts. (Grades 2-6 but all ages will enjoy)
Resources to access at home:
» NOAA Fisheries article, “You can help scientists count migrating river herring – virtually”
» U.S. Fish and Wildlife: Teaching kids about fish migration. There is a fun lesson, “Designing fish-friendly culverts (and bridges)” lesson for grades 5-8.
» U.S. Fish and Wildlife: Environmental education resources for teachers, parents, and kids. Activities range from the “ABCs of fishing” coloring book, word searches, migration station, and more.
» Help count the river herring:
–Mystic River, Massachusetts Herring Counter, https://www.mysticherring.org/video#/
–Town Brook, Plymouth Massachusetts Herring Counter https://www.plymouthriverherring.org/
» Watch Live Fish Cameras:
–Herring Creek on Martha’s Vineyard https://wampanoagtribe-nsn.gov/naturalresourcedepartment
–Town Brook, Plymouth Massachusetts Herring Counter https://www.plymouthriverherring.org/
Leaping for Atlantic salmon: Protecting endangered species
Sarah Bailey, NOAA’s Greater Atlantic Regional Fisheries Office in Orono, ME
Once found as far south as Long Island Sound, today only the state of Maine still has wild runs of endangered Atlantic salmon. In Orono, Maine, NOAA Fisheries has a collection of Researchers, Engineers, and Managers that all work toward saving these fish and the ecosystems that support them. If you have ever wondered about how science helps support how we manage a species-tune in! (Grades 2-6 but all ages will enjoy)
Resources to access at home:
» Northeast Fisheries Science Center: Salmon Team: This is the Northeast Salmon Team website and has important information about the work being done by the group.
» NOAA Species in the Spotlight video on Atlantic salmon.
» Sea-Run, Go! Wild Atlantic salmon app for classrooms and home. After watching Sarah’s webinar you are ready to play! This activity comes with Sea-Run, Go! QR cards that you print out and place around your house! Tape the QR codes up around your house or yard and then have your child play through the app. They go through 11 challenges (QR codes) and get points. They can even compete with their friends (that do the challenges at their own houses).
» U.S. Fish and Wildlife: Teaching kids about fish migration. There is a fun lesson, “Designing fish-friendly culverts (and bridges)” lesson for grades 5-8.
» U.S. Fish and Wildlife: Environmental education resources for teachers, parents, and kids. Activities range from the “ABCs of fishing” coloring book, word searches, migration station, and more.
Alaska Week: Uncovering the Seafloor – Charting Alaska’s Waters
Lieutenant (junior grade) Michelle Levano and Pete Holmberg, both from NOAA’s Office of Coast Survey in Seattle, WA
How do we collect information on ocean depths, and how does that information get on paper? It’s important for us to measure water depths and features to keep ships safe and help them navigate and sometimes we even find shipwrecks! Together we will walk through how we measure and map the seafloor. (Grade 2-6 but all ages will enjoy)
Resources to access at home:
» NOAA Office of Coast Survey educational activities. Explore the depths of the ocean with animations, interactive games, activities, coloring pages, and more. This includes “seafloor mapping” and “ocean in a bottle” activities.
» How to make a sounding box activity.
» Finding nautical charts.
» Search for a shipwreck game.
» StoryMap on charting in Alaska
Alaska Week: Flying Beneath the Clouds at the Edge of the World
Katie Sweeney, NOAA’s Marine Mammal Lab in the Alaska Fisheries Science Center in Seattle, WA
Do you have a toy drone at home? Join in to learn about how the Marine Mammal Lab is using drones for learning more about wildlife. The Alaska Ecosystem Program studies Steller sea lions in Alaska using drones and we’re just figuring out how we can use them to learn more about northern fur seals! (Grade 2-6 but all ages will enjoy)
Resources to access at home:
» Video that shows how the hex drone works (Katie uses this video in her webinar)
» Southern Ocean seal monitoring: Help monitor populations of seals across the world by tagging time-lapse and drone photographs.
» Science blogs on using drones:
Fur seals on Bogoslof Island: Post 4- Evolving Science on an Evolving Island – Katie’s team tested two camera systems on drones on Bogoslof Island in Alaska in September 2019
New Drone Technology Could Revolutionize Marine Mammal Monitoring
Investigating Steller Sea Lion Declines on Remote Aleutian Islands – Science Blog – fieldwork from 2016
Endangered Steller Sea Lions Get a Closer Look from Online Community of Citizen Scientists
Association for Unmanned Vehicle Systems International – Student Unmanned Aerial Systems Competition
Examples of using Unmanned Aerial Systems in NOAA research – NOAA Unmanned Aerial Systems Program
Welcome Aboard!
Commander Colin Little, Acting Commanding Officer aboard NOAA Ship Okeanos Explorer currently moored in Norfolk, VA
This webinar will introduce you to another one of NOAA’s commissioned officers and a day in his life aboard the NOAA Ship Okeanos Explorer, one of 16 research vessels in NOAA’s fleet, dedicated to exploration and discovery. Tour the bridge, mess deck, galley, staterooms, engine room, and more. (Grades 2-6 but all ages will enjoy)
Resources to access at home:
» Okeanos Explorer Home Page with information about the ship, the team, and expeditions.
» Submersibles Page. Commander Colin mentions remotely operated vehicles in his talk and you can learn all about them here!
» NOAA Office of Ocean Exploration and Research teams up with Octonauts. Check out Octonauts and NOAA Ship Okeanos Explorer!
» Tour of the Okeanos Explorer (6 minutes)
Saildrones – Sailing the Seas for Science
Heather Tabisola, NOAA’s Pacific Marine Environmental Laboratory in Seattle, WA
Have you ever seen a drone? Some people think they look like helicopters. But not all drones fly! Some sail across the water, powered by wind, collecting information on the ocean and atmosphere as they go. In this webinar, you will talk to a NOAA scientist who works with saildrones. This tough robot can spend up to a year at sea, travels through the water at up to 8 knots, and has a range of more than 16,000 nautical miles. (Grade 2-6 but all ages will enjoy.)
Resources to access at home:
»Since 2015, the Innovative Technology for Arctic Exploration program at PMEL has kept a blog during the saildrone Arctic field season, you can find 2019’s here: https://www.pmel.noaa.
» NOAA Saildrone Research 2016 – Live Broadcast Kickoff: https://youtu.be/EholPRD-UJ4
» Experience the Saildrone Antarctic Circumnavigation with your students via a series of classroom lessons developed by Saildrone and the 1851 Trust, an innovative UK education charity committed to inspiring young people to become innovators of the future and stewards of the environment. Each lesson is tailored to fit into any STEM curriculum and supported by Saildrone’s live mission updates and regular blog posts. The lessons are free for use by teachers and educators. https://www.
» Several science blogs on saildrones:
Detecting Fish from Ocean-Going Robots to Complement Ship-Based Surveys, Detecting Fish from Ocean-Going Robots to Complement Ship-Based Surveys, Unmanned Surface Vehicles Track Marine Mammals on Extended Foraging Trips for the First Time, and Saildrones Head to the Arctic for an Arctic cod survey
Can You Hear Me Now? Marine Mammals and Sound
Genevieve Davis, NOAA’s Northeast Fisheries Science Center in Woods Hole, MA
Have you ever wondered what a humpback whale sounds like? How dolphins communicate? Learn from a member of our bioacoustics team about how sound travels through the ocean, what makes underwater sounds and how we listen in. Discover why marine mammals make sound and how we use their sounds in marine mammal conservation (and hear some pretty cool sounds). (Grades 2-6 but all ages will enjoy)
Resources to access at home:
» Visit the NFSC sounds page to listen to marine mammals and learn more about them.
» Right Whale Listening Network: Learn about North Atlantic Right Whales and how acoustic buoys can help prevent ship strikes.
» Voice in the Sea Call Matching Game
» Discovery of Sound in the Sea (DOSITS): A plethora of information, videos, and resources about the science and uses of sound in the sea.
» Macaulay Library: Cornell University’s extensive archive of audio and video recordings for all types of animals.
» Noise Tube: You can use your smartphone to monitor noise pollution yourself by participating in this research project started at the Sony Computer Science Laboratory Paris.
Onward and Downward! Exploring the Deep Ocean
Catalina Martinez, NOAA’s Office of Exploration and Research (OER) in Narragansett, RI
The world ocean is essential to all life on earth, covers more than 70 percent of the planet’s surface, drives global weather patterns, regulates temperature, and is a bridge that connects all continents. Throughout history, the ocean has been a vital source of sustenance, transport, commerce, joy, fear, mystery, and inspiration. Yet for all of our reliance on the ocean, more than 90 percent of this vast realm remains unexplored. Join us to learn how and why NOAA explores the deep ocean! (Grades 5-8)
Resources to access at home:
» Nautilus Live: Explore the ocean with Dr. Robert Ballard and the Corps of Exploration. View photos, videos, and more from Nautilus expeditions.
» Inner Space Center: A diverse team of ocean scientists, engineers, educators, and video producers at the University of Rhode Island’s ISC to share underwater exploration in real time. Access live video feeds and a video gallery.
» NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information Story Map: Understanding Our Ocean with Water-Column Sonar Data
» NOAA Office of Ocean Exploration and Research teams up with Octonauts. Check out Octonauts and NOAA Ship Okeanos Explorer!
» An article and 13-minute video- Ten years of collection ocean exploration data from the NOAA ship Okeanos Explorer.
» NOAA Ocean Today Ocean Exploration and Bioluminescence: There are several short videos here.
A Bird’s Eye View of Whales
Allison Henry, NOAA’s Northeast Fisheries Science Center in Woods Hole, MA
Whales are among the largest and oldest animals on earth and belong to a group of marine mammals called cetaceans. Talk to a member of NOAA’s North Atlantic right whale aerial survey team and learn how they do science from the sky. (Grades 2-6)
Resources to access at home:
» Picture Matching- Right Whales: COAST Program activity used in our lesson to match North Atlantic right whale drawings to the real right whale picture. Answer key
» North Atlantic right whale catalog: The catalog contains all the photographed sitings of right whales from the North Atlantic.
» Right Whale Listening Network: Learn about North Atlantic Right Whales and how acoustic buoys can help prevent ship strikes.
» Northeast Regional Office- North Atlantic right whale lesson: Discover the world of the North Atlantic right whale through lessons and activities on the biology, ecology, and conservation of this endangered species (Grades 6-8).
» NOAA Right Whale Sighting Advisory System – Interactive map of North Atlantic right whale sightings.
» National Geographic- Blue Whale Migration Activity: This activity allows you to map blue whale migration and develop stories to explain their behavior.
» NOAA Ocean Today Endangered Ocean: There are several short videos on topics ranging from the endangered species act, manatees, North Atlantic right whales, and more.
Marine Mammals in Our Backyard
Grace Simpkins, Woods Hole Sea Grant and Northeast Fisheries Science Center in Woods Hole, MA
Whales are among the largest and oldest animals on earth and belong to a group of marine mammals called cetaceans. Seals are known to be the clowns of the sea and belong to a group of marine mammals called pinnipeds. Interested in learning more about marine mammals? Tune in to find out what makes a mammal a mammal and fun facts about those found around Cape Cod. (Grades 2-6) » View recorded webinar (subtitles available in English and Spanish)
Resources to access at home:
» Southern Ocean seal monitoring: Help monitor populations of seals across the world by tagging time-lapse and drone photographs.
» NOAA Office of Education: This resource collection on marine mammals includes valuable videos, background, activities, and more.
» Science Kids: Plant & Animal Differences Game – This game allows you to sort plants and animals into different categories such as birds, insects, mammals, etc.
» NOAA Fisheries Office of Protected Resources: Whale species information pages.
» Explore.org: watch orcas, manatees, belugas, gray seals, and more (some cameras may only function during a certain season). Explore with dozens of other live cams!
» NOAA Ocean Today: Learn about some of the many species in your local waters and all over the world. Fun and informative 2-minute videos from learning about the North Atlantic right whales to feeding giant octopuses!
» NOAA Ocean Today Endangered Ocean: There are several short videos on topics ranging from the endangered species act, manatees, North Atlantic right whales, and more.