We’re excited to debut Teacher Resources for CoastWatch in the Schools (CWIS), a new chapter in Oregon Shores’ long-standing commitment to coastal stewardship and education. Through these curated CWIS lessons, students will experience the wonder and science of Oregon’s coast firsthand with engaging, hands-on lessons inspired by our CoastWatch community science initiative.

Each season, students will dive into new modules exploring different aspects of coastal phenomena, reflecting the kind of data and observations CoastWatch volunteers collect in their Mile Reports. These lessons provide meaningful, place-based learning opportunities that deepen students’ connection to Oregon’s coastal environments while fostering a sense of stewardship and curiosity about the natural world.

A key highlight of CWIS is our collaboration with community organizations and local experts. These experts bring valuable insights and resources to the classroom, making each lesson dynamic and inspiring. Together, we’re cultivating the next generation of coastal stewards, empowering students to understand and protect these vital ecosystems.

Our first lesson is “Investigating Sea Level Rise” from our partners at NOAA. When selecting a lesson, we have two major questions to consider;

What do students want?

  • Students want to be part of a larger community, engage in relevant learning, and make a difference. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s (NOAA) Data in the Classroom resource Investigating Sea Level guides students as they monitor sea level rise, a critical issue in coastal communities. Students can then ask their own questions and launch their own investigations using historical and real-time NOAA data to explore the phenomenon of sea level rise and its significance as a climate change indicator.

What do teachers need?

  • Teachers need quality, peer-reviewed materials that are adaptable to age and skill levels and easy to understand and implement. While working at the NOAA booth at the National Science Teaching Association conference and throughout my year as a NOAA Teacher at Sea Alumni Association Fellow, I met many teachers from across the country who use NOAA Data in the Classroom resources because they address current, pressing research issues, include stepped-up levels of engagement, and build students’ abilities to understand, interpret, and think critically about historical and real-time data.

Are your students interested in investigating sea level rise? Email Denise (denise@oregonshores.org) to get connected.

Explore Resources

  • CoastWatch