Resources for Educators

Curriculum Guides

The Center for Alaskan Coastal Studies has developed several activity guides and curriculums. In addition, we have planning guides, science content guides, and other educational media to help teachers prepare for a field trip to one of our facilities or integrate exciting, hands-on environmental education activities into their classroom.

All activities in our activity guides are aligned with Alaska State Science Standards.

Sea Ducks of Alaska Activity Guide

Journey into the world of sea ducks with a hands-on Activity Guide for grades 4-6. Lessons are aligned with Alaska State Standards. A sea duck education kit is also available for loan from CACS and has all of the resources needed to conduct the activities including a collection of sea duck decoys that students can handle, observe and use as a learning tool.

Endangered Species Activity Guide

Learn about wildlife population dynamics, the factors that may place species at risk, and efforts by people to help wildlife species recover. Introduce the concepts of "biodiversity" and "endangered" to your students (K-8) in a hands-on interactive way.

Alaska CoastWatch Curriculum

Welcome to the Gulf of Alaska CoastWatch, an inquiry-based educational experience for students in grades 5-12 who are eager to learn about the rocky intertidal environment and the Gulf of Alaska marine ecosystem that is an important part of our extensive Alaskan coastline.

Invasive Plants Curriculum Guide

This guide for grades K-6 allows students to be active citizen scientists, problem solvers, and participants in conservation efforts while learning about invasive plants and their impact on biodiversity and ecosystem health.

Teaching Kits

Our Teaching Kits go hand-in-hand with our Curriculum Guides, and are available for check-out at our Headquarters. Kits may be checked out for up to 10 days, with check-out renewal available by phone. Contact us to reserve your kit.

  • (Grades K-12) Hands-on activity to explore recycling and the art of papermaking. Kit contains all materials needed to make recycled paper (includes blender, screens, paper, fine mesh bag, towels, sponges). Includes step-by-step instructions and resource materials on recycling.

  • (Grades K-12) Hands-on activity to explore the art of gyotaku (fish printing) and extend learning on fish morphology. Kit contains all materials needed to make fish print art (includes latex fish molds, rice paper, newsprint, paint, burlap, butcher paper). Includes step-by-step instructions, a lesson plan with gyotaku background information, and 2 laminated fish anatomy posters.

  • (Grades K-8) Hands-on activity to explore the the impact that fire has on Alaskan natural resources. Kit contains all materials needed to teach students about wildland fire ecology, behavior, and management, and how to make our homes “Firewise.”

Activity Guides

Whether you are a teacher or a parent seeking hands-on activities that encourage outodoor and environmental exploration and learning, the activity guides and videos below will help foster inquisitive minds.

Stewardship and Taking Care of our Environment

Observing our Environment

Marine Debris

Forest Animals & Ecology

Weather, Currents & Tides

Plankton & Other Ocean Life