VIRTUAL PROGRAMS FOR K-12 STUDENTS
“You were amazing!! That was better than an Ariana Grande concert!!” — student who attended the presentation, Penguin Rescue!
Is your school looking for a unique and exciting speaker who will engage, educate, and inspire your students – as well as their teachers? Noted for her extensive knowledge and contagious enthusiasm, penguin expert, TED speaker, and award-winning author Dyan deNapoli (AKA The Penguin Lady), has been capturing the imagination of audiences worldwide for 25 years. Most of the virtual programs below can be tailored to suit different age groups. Custom presentations can also be created for your group. Programs meet all current curriculum standards.
VIRTUAL PRESENTATIONS ABOUT PENGUIN BIOLOGY, BEHAVIOR, AND CONSERVATION
“Thank you so much for making penguins and Antarctica so fun and accessible to kids! Mia initially had zero interest in the topic, but thanks to you, she’s completely changed her mind.” — parent of 2nd-grade student after virtual classroom visit
All About Penguins!
** NEW PROGRAM, BASED ON DYAN’S NEW CHILDREN’S BOOK **
Best for: 1st through 5th grade (with variations for different age groups)
Based on her new best-selling book about penguin ecology for young children, Dyan takes the students on a virtual voyage with her to Antarctica and beyond, sharing stunning photos and videos she has taken on her four expeditions to the region. Next, she shows selected pages from her book, All About Penguins, and shares her own photos and stories that illustrate the topic on each page, bringing each lesson about penguin biology and behavior vividly to life for the students. Plenty of time is set aside for Dyan to answer the students’ questions after her presentation. This program is already receiving rave reviews from students, teachers, and parents!! (Comment from the parent of a 2nd grader who attended this virtual program: “Thank you again so much for making penguins and Antarctica so fun and accessible to kids! Mia initially had zero interest in the topic, but thanks to you, she’s completely changed her mind.”)
Penguin Rescue!
Best for: 5th through 12th grade (with variations for different age groups)
Learn about the dramatic rescue of 40,000 penguins from the Treasure oil spill in South Africa from someone who was actually there! Dyan was a rehabilitation supervisor during this historic event, which still stands as the largest and most successful animal rescue ever undertaken. This informative and highly requested talk not only covers penguin ecology and conservation – it highlights the importance of teamwork, collaboration, leadership, and community service. More than 12,500 inexperienced volunteers helped the experts save a species from near extinction! This presentation is based on Dyan’s inspirational TED talk, The Great Penguin Rescue, which has been viewed nearly 500,000 times on TED.com.
Penguins! Fascinating Facts & Tantalizing Trivia
Best for: 1st through 4th grade
Dyan’s most popular program for grammar school students. Do penguins have knees? How deep can they dive? Do all penguins live in Antarctica? How do penguins recognize and find each other in the crowded colonies? The basics of penguin biology, behavior, and ecology are brought to life in a fun, interactive game-show format, which helps students (and teachers) remember the many penguin facts they’ve learned long after The Penguin Lady’s show has ended.
Antarctic Journeys
Best for: 2nd through 12th grade (with variations for different age groups)
What’s it like to step foot on the Earth’s coldest, driest, and windiest continent? And how in the world do penguins survive in such an unforgiving place? In this multi-media talk, Dyan shares her adventures and what she’s learned during her multiple trips to Antarctica – several as a lecturer for National Geographic. Through stunning photos and fascinating stories, Dyan brings this mysterious frozen continent – and the four penguin species that live there – to life!
Global Warming: A Problem for Penguins
Best for: 5th through 12th grade (with variations for different age groups)
Of the 19 penguin species living on earth today, 14 are currently listed as Vulnerable, Near-threatened, or Endangered. And climate change tops the list as the number one threat to nearly all penguins on our planet – but there is still hope! This informative talk covers the various impacts of global warming on different penguin species, while also providing information about what we all can do to help penguins survive.
Penguins in Peril: A Conservation Crisis
Best for: 5th through 12th grade (with variations for different age groups)
Even though popular culture depicts penguins as happy-go-lucky birds living in enormous, gregarious colonies, the truth is that their populations are crashing at an alarming rate. And humans are the culprit. Penguins are the proverbial ‘canary in the coal-mine’ for our oceans, so if they’re in trouble, it means our oceans are in trouble. In this eye-opening presentation, Dyan explains the various threats to all 19 penguin species, and shares action steps that each of us can take to make a difference.
Penguin For a Day
Best for: Kindergarten students
This interactive program introduces young students to basic penguin anatomy and behavior in a fun and memorable way. While acting out various penguin behaviors with the children, Dyan compares and contrasts human anatomy and behavior with penguin anatomy and behavior. For example, the children not only learn HOW to walk like a penguin – they learn WHY penguins waddle when they walk. They’ll also learn how to talk like the 3 penguin species found at the New England Aquarium. (This program requires a larger space for the students to move around in.)
INSPIRATIONAL PRESENTATIONS
“The key to creating the future you want lies within you.” – Dyan deNapoli, The Penguin Lady
Shackleton’s Remarkable Journey: Lessons in Leadership, Teamwork, and Perseverance
Best for: 6th through 12th grade (with variations for different age groups)
Students will learn about the inspiring strength of character exhibited by Ernest Shackleton during his extraordinary rescue mission, in which he sailed a 22-foot skiff across 800 miles of the most violent seas on earth to save his men, who were stranded on an uninhabited island after their ship was crushed in the Antarctic ice. Following this presentation, there will be an interactive discussion with the students about how Shackleton and his men relied upon these crucial traits during their 2-year-long struggle, and how the students can also benefit from applying the characteristics of leadership, teamwork, and perseverance to their own lives. This presentation includes photos and videos taken by Dyan on her voyage to Antarctica and South Georgia Island, during which their ship traced Shackleton’s route. This program also includes the topics of geography, Antarctica, penguins, polar regions, and ocean science.
Girls and Women in STEM / STEAM: Inspiring Female Leaders and Role Models
Best for: female students in 5th through 12th grade (with variations for different age groups)
Even though research shows that girls and young women are just as capable at math and science as boys and young men (and even test better in these subjects), a long-held cultural gender bias still exists. In this inspiring presentation, Dyan shares stories of female role models (both girls and adult women) who have made great strides historically, and who are making a difference today in STEM / STEAM fields. (Students might even be surprised by some of the fun careers that fall under this heading!) The journeys and careers of these female leaders will inspire young girls and young women to realize that they too have a place in STEM / STEAM, that they can be successful in this arena, and that nothing should hold them back from pursing a STEM / STEAM career.
Who Inspires You? Why Heroes, Role Models, and Mentors Matter
Best for: 5th through 12th grade (with variations for different age groups)
In this presentation, Dyan shares the importance of seeking out the right heroes, role models, and mentors. Until she was in her 30’s, the career she’d dreamed of since the age of 5 seemed totally out of reach. But eventually, Dyan found mentors and role models who inspired her to pursue her goals and who helped her achieve her wildest dreams…plus even more than she had ever dreamed of. With the right people inspiring and supporting their development, students can all achieve far more than they probably believe is even possible! And they don’t have to wait until they’re in their 30’s. They can start right now! This presentation is based on Dyan’s TEDx Youth talk at Drew Middle School in Fredericksburg, VA.
“Our heroes show us the path to our heart’s desire; our role models inspire us to be more like them; and our mentors help us to uncover and unleash our true potential.” – Dyan deNapoli, The Penguin Lady
Spread Your Wings and Fly: Bringing Your Dreams to Life
Best for: 7th through 12th grade (with variations for different age groups)
We all have dreams about what we want to do and who we want to be. But what if one’s dreams seem a little, well, unrealistic? In this inspiring and uplifting talk, Dyan shares with students how she finally managed to overcome her insecurities and challenges (including undiagnosed ADD), and found the confidence to pursue her seemingly impossible dream of working with dolphins – which eventually and unexpectedly led to working with penguins. Dyan shares tips and strategies to help students banish self-doubt and self-defeating habits, so they can learn to believe in themselves and their dreams (or can even allow themselves to begin to dream). This presentation is based on Dyan’s TEDx Youth talk, which was given at the Spence School for Girls in Manhattan, New York.
VIRTUAL APPEARANCE DETAILS
Speaking fees for in-person appearances at grade schools and libraries normally start at $495 per presentation. Virtual visits currently start at $250 per presentation. Please contact Dyan for a quote based on your needs for your school, library, or other institution.
Dyan speaks locally, nationally, and internationally. Her local range includes MA, NH, ME, VT, RI, and CT, within an hour and a half drive of her home-base on the North Shore of Boston. For presentations outside of this driving range, the hosting institution is expected to cover all lodging and travel expenses. For appearances requiring a flight, the hosting institution will cover all travel costs, including lodging, airfare, and meals.
Current fees for schools are $495 per presentation. When giving two or more presentations at the same school back-to-back, there is a 10% discount on each of the subsequent shows. For example, when doing two shows in a row, the second show is 10% off, bringing the total for both shows to $940 (a savings of $50). NSAC (North Shore Arts Council) members receive an additional discount on all bookings. For questions about appearances, contact Dyan via the contact form below, or by calling 978.352.2235.
Dyan also provides educational and inspirational lectures for adults and university students. Contact her below or click on the Universities/Adults tab for presentations for older audiences.