NOAA's new animated series takes kids on educational, climate-weather adventures!
Teek and Tom Explore Planet Earth is a five-part animated educational series with ten accompanying lesson plans that takes young viewers on an exploration of the ocean’s influence on Earth’s weather and climate and demonstrates how NOAA uses high tech tools to gather information about our changing planet. Through the actions and inquisitiveness of main characters Teek, a student from the planet Queloz, and Tom, a NOAA climate scientist, this series provides a hopeful climate narrative.
If your students love NOAA Ocean Today videos, they’re going to really love this new five-part animated series all about the ocean-weather-climate connection!
Watch all 5 action and science packed videos!
Check out all 10 amazing lesson plans!
Schedule the series in the Spring when weather and climate are always in the news!
Feedback has been all positive. Teachers and students love Teek and Tom. Early feedback from educators indicates that the series will become a valuable classroom tool. Museums and other learning venues have asked to show the series to school groups and use the lessons as part of their professional development programming.
Kelley Hodges: Patronis Elementary School
FLDOE School of Excellence
This (series) will have a big impact on so many kids for a long time! When the videos are used as a sequence of learning, students will build on their knowledge about weather, climate, and climate change. The videos provide the science content in a way that is easy to understand while being fun. The lesson plan on weather and climate connects nicely with the Teek and Tom video on weather and climate. The lesson plan guides students to think critically by analyzing maps and data. I can see students having an "aha" moment while looking at the maps between 2010 and 2020. Through the use of the video and the lesson plan, I can see students developing a deep understanding about the difference between weather and climate. I will recommend these videos to other teachers and share them with our district science leadership. I think they will benefit our students as they learn about climate change, weather, climate, and the water cycle.
Laura Cummings, M. Ed.: Sunset Beach Elementary School, Haleiwa, HI. NOAA Climate Educator Fellow
I would recommend these videos to other educators teaching earth science to students. As an educator in a state that has adopted and implemented the Next Generation Science Standards, these videos either directly or implicitly address multiple standards, and they introduce several NOAA tools and data that can be explored further. As an educator, I appreciate that these lessons include content delivered by subject area experts. Also, starting each video by activating students' prior knowledge and ending with a summary of all the main points from the video, as well as a hint as to what is coming next, are effective pedagogical strategies to build connections between what students already know and new content to enhance understanding and retention. There are no free resources that I currently know of that address these specific concepts so thoroughly.
The integration of live-action performance with animation, combined with humor and storytelling, sets a new standard for engaging educational content from NOAA. And Tom’s ability to bridge the gap between expert and entertainer ensures the series resonates with its audience.
 NOAA created the Teek and Tom collection for an upper elementary to middle school audience, including students, educators, and families. We designed the five videos and ten accompanying lesson plans to align with the Next Generation Science Standards, Common Core Math and Common Core English and Language Arts Standards at the fourth-through-sixth-grade level. The accessibility of these resources ensures that students from diverse socioeconomic backgrounds can benefit equally, bridging gaps in educational resources.
By making climate science accessible and engaging, the series inspires curiosity and encourages students to pursue careers in STEM fields. Educators benefit from an innovative, classroom-ready resource that aligns with educational standards and enhances their ability to teach complex topics. Parents gain a deeper understanding of climate issues alongside their children, fostering family discussions about environmental stewardship.
For the past 6+ years, educators have been asking NOAA for content on the ocean-weather-climate connection. So, we set out to create this project to fulfill that request.
Scientific literacy among young audiences is critical for building a society equipped to address pressing environmental challenges, including climate change. However, communicating the intricacies of earth systems, weather, and climate science in a way that resonates with children has long been a hurdle. Traditional educational tools often lack the humor, creativity, and relatability needed to capture and maintain young viewers’ attention. NOAA needed a fresh, innovative approach to not only explain these topics but also inspire meaningful engagement and future action.
We aimed to have a lasting impact, encouraging young people to pursue careers in science and fostering greater appreciation for NOAA’s vital role in safeguarding our planet’s future.
Help us get the word out about Teek and Tom. Share this email far and wide. Thank you for all you do to help young students learn more about the ocean-weather-climate connection.
Sincerely,
The Ocean Today Team at NOAA
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