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Coastwatch Classroom

Coastwatch Classroom is an educational resource for teachers and students that offers new lesson plans. 

NC Stream Watch’s Indoor-Outdoor Classrooms

“We have goals to raise awareness about natural resource careers earlier, rather than waiting until people are in college — trying to spark those little nuggets of ‘this is a possibility’ early on.” 

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image: stream.

The Impact of Sea Level Rise on Tidal Marshes

As a former research fellow, Allie Best studied the tidal marshes of Hyde County, N.C., focusing on the habitat of swamp sparrows in the “high marsh” zone, which is affected by sea level rise. She developed a comprehensive lesson plan for high school students, featuring an interactive slideshow, map, worksheets, and educator guides to teach about these environmental changes.

Lesson Plan
The Watershed Wisdom Lesson Plan includes “River Avengers,” an animated video.

Keeping Water Renewable

Often, instructional materials incorrectly teach the water cycle, but Keeping Water Renewable offers accurate explanations and depictions. By combining hands-on projects and interactive components, this robust, blended lesson provides a thorough introduction to the water cycle and how to keep a resilient balance between human activities and natural systems.

Lesson Plan
The Watershed Wisdom Lesson Plan includes “River Avengers,” an animated video.

The Watershed Wisdom Lesson Plan

As is the case in many states, North Carolina has suffered its share of flooding, and its citizens have coped with fairly significant periods of drought and polluted waterways. With environmental issues such as extreme weather events on the rise, everyone — and especially students — should understand that water is a natural resource that needs to be valued and protected.

Lesson Plan
The Watershed Wisdom Lesson Plan includes “River Avengers,” an animated video.

Blood Draw at the Horseshoe Corral

An essential medical safety test used around the world depends on horseshoe crab blood, and scientists may have discovered the key to a sustainable supply.

Lesson Plan

Inside the Greenhouse: North Carolina’s Hottest Year on Record

In the past 30 years, North Carolina has recorded each of its five warmest years on record — along with 10 of its top 30 warmest years. Over that same time, we have recorded zero of our 30 coolest years on record.

Lesson Plan
The Whipping Creek wildfire located in the Alligator River National Wildlife Refuge in North Carolina began on Apr. 18, 2016 by a lightning strike. The Whipping Creek wildfire consumed 15, 153 acres and is 100% contained. U.S. Forest Service photo.

Plastic, Plastic, Everywhere

Plastic pollution globally taints land, air, and water. North Carolina is ramping up efforts to better understand and tackle the problem in aquatic ecosystems.

Lesson Plan
a magnifying glass over a hand showing many microplastic pieces
A magnifying glass over a hand showing many microplastic pieces

Lessons in Mariculture: Zoom in on Aquaculture

North Carolina Sea Grant has published a collection of free lesson plans on marine aquaculture, or “mariculture.” Designed for high schoolers, the activities cover a wide range of topics, such as aquaculture’s origins and the benefits of shellfish to the ecosystem.

Lesson Plans
A magnifying glass over a hand showing many microplastic pieces

Science Needs You: Monitoring and Assessing Water Quality Across the Neuse River Estuary-Pamlico Sound Continuum

For decades, researchers have been tracking the health of the second largest estuarine complex in the United States — and you can help, too.

Lesson Plan

For more free resources for teachers and students in North Carolina, visit Coastwatch Education.