Professional Development for Educators of Grades 6-12 

Educators of grades 6-12 are invited to join a NOAA Ocean Exploration facilitator on February 21, 2026 at the Aquarium for a full-day, in-person professional development workshop. Together we will explore and investigate the geologic and physical processes associated with seamounts and the rich biological communities that inhabit them. 

This fun-filled, full-day workshop will include: 

• A brief introduction to NOAA Ocean Exploration; 
• Several phenomena-based student investigations and hands-on activities that support science standards and classroom pedagogy to help students understand the formation of seamounts and how and why deep-sea communities thrive there; 
• Reflection and discussion with peer educators about how to implement these materials in the classroom; and 
• A guided tour of additional free, online ocean education resources available from NOAA Ocean Exploration and the Deep Ocean Education Project website

Registration is required and space is limited. Registered educators will receive a collection of classroom-ready resources to continue exploring habitat complexity, seamounts, and deep-sea corals in their classrooms that includes student investigations, videos, fact sheets, and more. Additionally, educators that attend the full day, in-person workshop will receive a NOAA Ocean Exploration Certificate of Participation, and a $100 stipend. 

This NOAA Ocean Exploration professional development for educators is offered in partnership with the Georgia Aquarium and the National Marine Sanctuary Foundation. 

Register