For Teachers
The Office of National Marine Sanctuaries and Gray's Reef National Marine Sanctuary work with partners to provide education materials and resources for teachers, informal educators, and the public. Here you will find curriculum, lesson plans, and activities that will excite your students about science, technology, and conservation.
Education Materials
Gray's Reef has developed many education publications that are free for use. More documents will be available as we work to make them accessible to all audiences. We ask for your patience during this process.
Posters
Decorate your classroom with the wonders of the sanctuary from our poster collection.
Lesson Plans
Gray's Reef Virtual Reality Activities
Explore the sanctuary using 360° photos of the reef and learn about the research happening around the sanctuary and the many species of fishes that live there.
The Office of National Marine Sanctuaries offers additional virtual reality lesson plans through the Sanctuaries 360 collection.
Ocean Sounds
Explore a collection of NOAA videos, lesson plans, webinars, web stories, virtual reality, and much more. Gray's Reef National Marine Sanctuary also conducts ongoing studies of sounds in the sanctuary.
Assorted Lessons from across National Marine Sanctuaries
The Office of National Marine Sanctuaries offers free lesson plans about coral reefs, whales, and other ocean topics.
Oceans of Possibilities
Explore a variety of games, fun activities, coloring pages, puzzles, and more!
NOAA Teachers at Sea
NOAA hosts teachers from across the country to join research expeditions and experience life at sea to bring back to their students. View the NOAA Teacher At Sea website to learn about the call for applications issued early each year.
In 2012, Deborah Campbell was selected by the National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration to participate in their annual Teacher At Sea program. Campbell, a seventh grade science teacher at Locke Elementary School in Chicago, IL, spent two weeks onboard the NOAA Ship Nancy Foster during the Gray's Reef Expedition 2012 - Leg I.
Following her experience as a NOAA TAS, Campbell applied for and was awarded a grant from ECOLAB in Elk Grove Village, Illinois, via a program called "Visions For Learning" to provide oceanography materials for her 7th grade students to do oceanography labs, study the ocean floor using a 3D map, participate in activities that allow them to role play, write, do artwork, and create a newsletter. Students will also dissect a shark to learn about the anatomy and physiology of this ocean creature.
Explore the Teacher at Sea StoryMap about Deborah's experience on the NOAA Ship Nancy Foster.
Currently, Gray's Reef does not organize educational day trips on sanctuary boats. Other opportunities for these day trips may be offered through the University of Georgia Skidaway Institute of Oceanography or UGA Marine Extension and Georgia Sea Grant.