National Marine Sanctuaries
Resources for Teachers

teachers seating on the beach with their instructors

NOAA's Office of National Marine Sanctuaries provides teachers with resources and trainings to support ocean literacy in America's classrooms. You will find curriculum, lesson plans and activities that will excite your students about science and technology.

Brochures

cover image of a whale and calf from the cover of the brochure

Sanctuary Site

This brochure provides highlights on the Hawaiian Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary , the National Marine Sanctuary System, and the North Pacific humpback whales that migrate to Hawai`i each year.


Information Sheets & Fact Cards

Humpback Whale Behavior Sheet

Humpback whales can be seen in Hawai`i's nearshore waters during the winter and their impressive acrobatic displays are often visible from miles away. View this information sheet to learn about their behaviors and also to learn other basic facts about the sanctuary.

Humpback Whale Fact Card

Want to know more about humpback whales ? How big they are? What they eat? Check out this fact card.

Marine Protected Species of Hawaii Cards

These cards feature information on Hawai`i's Marine Protected Species. Learn about their biology, behavior, research efforts, and more. The cards were produced by the sanctuary with assistance from other NOAA and State of Hawai`i partners.

Coral of Hawaiʻi

Hawaiian Monk Seal

Hawaiian Spinner Dolphin

North Pacific Humpback Whale

Sea Turtles of Hawai’i

Posters

National Marine Sanctuary System 50th Anniversary Series

Hawaiians managed natural resources in ahupua’a, which are land divisions that run from the mountains to the sea. The sanctuary follows this traditional wisdom that recognizes what happens on the land (mauka) impacts the ocean (makai). Within the ocean, koholā serve as ambassadors for collaborative, holistic management to address local and global stressors and protect habitat mauka to makai across the Hawaiian Islands. Illustrated by Matt McIntosh/NOAA

Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary Posters

collage of different species in hawaii humpback whale national marine sanctuary

View pdfs of sanctuary posters by artist Roger Hall

Cultural Posters

Explore this Koholā poster and its informational one-pager to gain insights into koholā (humpback whales) from Hawaiian cultural perspectives and values.

Koholā Poster

Koholā Poster Informational One-pager

View two different versions of the Sanctuary's Cultural Poster.

Cultural Poster with Text

Cultural Poster without Text

Marine Mammal Poster

View this poster which shows illustrations of the marine mammals that visit Hawai`i. The back of the poster features information on each of the animals.