Wayzata Student Writes Earth Science Textbook, Inspires Younger Kids

All summer long, students have packed into Plymouth Creek Elementary, home to the Wayzata School District’s Camp Explore educational summer camp.

Megan Helm, an incoming senior at Wayzata High School, is one of the people who made frequent visits there this summer. But she isn’t there in a learning capacity — she’s leading the classroom.

Helm is teaching an Earth science curriculum she knows intimately. After all, she wrote the textbook for it.

A self-described “science nerd,” Helm began working on her book as a high school freshman and officially got it published this year. The book, titled “Earth Science: An Introduction to How Our World Works,” features structured lessons, interactive games and hands-on activities — like using Play-Doh to teach kids about rock formations.

The book is specifically designed to make science enjoyable for students in grades four through seven.

“I just wanted to design a book that would give kids access to knowledge that oftentimes they can’t find online, or it’s too complicated for them,” Helm said. “I just wanted to break it down in a way that would make sense for them.”

Helm noticed that many young students find science intimidating due to how it is traditionally taught.

“I feel like science is often one of those dreaded topics,” Helm explained. “I feel like a lot of kids think it’s pretty daunting, especially because there’s so much to learn, and textbooks typically overcomplicate things and use a lot of jargon that’s hard for kids to understand. And I just wanted to break it down so kids can have fun with the subject.”

Megan Helm showcases the tilt of the Earth’s axis in different hemispheres to students in Wayzata’s Camp Explore.

Bridging the Age Gap in the Classroom

Recognizing her initiative, Wayzata School District leaders gave Helm the unique opportunity to teach her Earth science curriculum to local fourth and fifth graders this summer.

The arrangement has been a massive hit, not just with the younger campers, but with district staff who are watching Helm in action.

“It’s wonderful to have our older students working with our younger students and bringing in such a different connection than a teacher can in some ways,” said Patti Lang, a Wayzata School District teacher. “It’s fun for the kids to see.”

Ultimately, Helm hopes her book will help kids move past memorization and spark a genuine, long-term curiosity about the world around them.

Though the summer session is still underway, she is already seeing the fruits of her labor.

“Initially, they were kind of more shy, and they didn’t really ask many questions,” Helm said. “But now we’re having full classroom discussions about things, and kids are asking me questions about science that aren’t even related to what I’m teaching them.”

Helm hopes this early boost in engagement will pay off in the upcoming school year, improving both student confidence and test scores. For her, the reward is deeply personal.

“I was once in their shoes and I remember wishing that there were always more opportunities. I always wanted to learn more,” Helm said. “So bringing that to the kids means the world to me.”

While Helm is currently undecided on where she will attend college after her senior year, she knows exactly where she wants her love for science to take her: she hopes to one day become a dermatologist.

You can find Helm’s book on Earth science on Amazon. In addition to the book, she’s also created a website where people can learn more about careers in health care.

Megan Helm began writing “Earth Science” during her freshman year of high school.

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