This photo of Earth taken in December 1968 by the Apollo 8 astronauts was the first time humans were able to see our home planet as an isolated sphere in space.

The Quick Start Guide lists examples of NASA datasets and imagery that could be used for student investigations related to content and practices in the Framework for K-12 Science Education.    This Guide is part of an educator toolkit that features resources for grades K-12 that can support and frame student investigations with NASA data and content. Check out the toolkit and samplers for elementary, middle, and high school at https://www.strategies.org/education/educators-toolkit/.

My NASA Data has recently released several new resources, story maps, for use in educational settings.

Analyze these satellite images comparing Ocean Chlorophyll Concentrations with Sea Surface Temperatures beginning with the North Atlantic region, then expanding global patterns of these phenomena.  Credit: NASA Earth Observatory

Review the animation showing seasonal chlorophyll concentration as it relates to net radiation.

In this mini lesson, students explore the relationship of chlorophyll and solar radiation by analyzing line graphs from the North Atlantic during 2016-2018.

Students can interact with NASA data to build a custom visualizations of of local, regional, or global plant growth patterns over time.  Use the Earth System Data Explorer to generate plots of satellite data as you develop models of this phenomenon.

See the following datasets in the Earth System Data Explorer:

• Monthly Leaf Area Index
• Monthly Normalized Difference Vegetation Index

Examine a model and answer questions about dust transport around the world.

Students review the NASA video showing biosphere data over the North Atlantic Ocean as a time series animation displaying a decade of phytoplankton blooms and answer questions that follow.

Observe the seasonal global images of the chlorophyll data from 2017 and put in chronological order.