🌍 Discover how Presidential Award winner Helen Corveleyn revolutionizes elementary STEM education through international fieldwork and outdoor learning! From swimming with whale sharks in Baja to studying orangutans in Borneo, Helen brings real-world science experiences to her K-5 classroom.

In this inspiring interview, Helen shares her innovative teaching strategies that transform student engagement and motivation. Learn how she takes students outside 50% of the time, integrates social-emotional learning with STEM, and creates authentic fieldwork experiences using professional scientific tools. Her approach to active learning and student participation has earned recognition from the White House!

🔥 What You'll Learn:
• How to increase student engagement through outdoor education
• Effective teaching strategies for inspiring students in STEM
• Professional development opportunities through Project Dragonfly
• Innovative teaching methods that connect classroom to real world
• Student motivation techniques using hands-on experiences
• Lesson planning ideas that promote student participation
• Education strategies for whole child development

Chapters:
0:00 Introduction to Helen Corveleyn
2:08 Helen's Educational Background & Inspiration
5:16 The STEM Education Crisis: Only 17 Minutes Daily
9:14 Reimagining School: Indoor vs Outdoor Learning
12:23 Creating STEM Units with NGSS Standards
17:42 Presidential Award Application & White House Experience
22:41 Outdoor Learning Philosophy: 50/50 Indoor/Outdoor Split
23:51 Project Dragonfly International Fieldwork Program
26:57 Swimming with Whale Sharks in Baja, Mexico
28:04 Life-Changing Moment in Borneo Rainforest
30:49 Bringing International Experiences to Elementary Students
34:58 Call to Action: Global Conservation & STEM Pipeline
39:00 Closing Thoughts & Appreciation

• STEM
• Presidential Awards for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching (PAEMST)
• NGSS (Next Generation Science Standards)
• Hopewell Valley Education Foundation & Nature Harmony Project
• Colby Cedar Smith - Call Me Athena: Girl From Detroit
• National Science Foundation
• Project Dragonfly through Miami University of Ohio
• Presidential Awards for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching (PAEMST) (2022)

Helen's Publications:

• The Promise of Pickles: Hydroponics in the Classroom
• Growing Environmental Hope Amid a Pandemic

When coaches, teachers, administrators, and families work hand in hand, it fosters a school atmosphere where everyone is inspired and every student is fully engaged in their learning journey.