An essential component of NOAA Ocean Exploration’s mission is to enhance ocean science literacy and understanding of why it is important to explore our little-known ocean world. To help fulfill this mission, NOAA Ocean Exploration offers professional learning opportunities for educators to dive deeper into ocean science and exploration topics.
Learn how to bring deep-sea topics alive in the classroom at one of our professional development workshops for educators (grades 6-12). Workshops introduce participants to ocean exploration tools and technologies, demonstrate a variety of hands-on lessons and student investigations designed to guide students’ sensemaking of deep-sea phenomena, and explore additional free, online ocean exploration education resources. Our professional development workshops are offered around the country in cooperation with our Education Alliance Partners.
Life Beyond Light:
Chemosynthetic Communities of the Deep Ocean
Professional Development for Educators of Grades 6-12
Join our team and fellow educators at an Education Alliance Partner site nearest you for a full-day, in-person professional development workshop to learn about hydrothermal vents and cold seeps, two deep-sea ecosystems with dense biological communities fueled by chemosynthesis. Together we will dive into phenomena-based student investigations, hands-on standards-based lessons and activities, and associated implementation strategies to bring the excitement of ocean science and exploration into your classroom.
Exploring the Deep Ocean with NOAA
Professional Development for Educators of Grades 6-12
This full-day, in-person professional development workshop to learn about why and how we explore the deep sea will return in the Fall of 2025.
Past Online Opportunities (2020 - 2023)
Deep Dives with Ocean Exploration Experts
View the collection of past Deep Dives
This series of previously recorded ~90-minute online professional learning events features intriguing and informative interviews with experts in specific fields of ocean science including cold seeps, ocean technologies, and maritime heritage.
And, to bring these deep-sea topics and others alive in your classroom, check out our classroom-ready educational materials, organized by Ocean Exploration Topical Themes!
Past Onsite Opportunities (Lesson packages from retired PDs)
NOAA Ship Okeanos Explorer Education Materials Collection (2010 - 2017)
Volume I: Why Do We Explore?; Volume II: How Do We Explore?
This lesson collection was developed to encourage educators and students to become personally involved with the voyages and discoveries of the Okeanos Explorer – the only federal vessel dedicated to exploring our largely unknown ocean for the purpose of discovery and the advancement of knowledge about the deep ocean.
Learning Ocean Science through Ocean Exploration (2003 - 2010)
This popular lesson package (last updated in 2006) provides educators with a comprehensive scope and sequence through a variety of ocean exploration subject areas.
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