Getting roughly 80 first, second, third, and fourth graders to line up for a photo is like...hearding cats.

But the teachers of Vista got it done. These are the kids of Patrick's house at school. They collected pajamas for needy children in Vermont.

When the pajama photo op was finished it was time for Patrick to take the floor. He has spent nearly a month thinking, dreaming, planning, preparing, and researching for a presentation on beavers. With some parental coaching along the way he completed his preparations and then asked his teacher for an opportunity to present to the class. He was given an opportunity to present to his entire house.

He had a PowerPoint presentation and some very real props including this log, clearly chewed by beavers and the bowl of woodchips left behind by the beavers. (please note that the gentleman in the back (in the red tie) is Patrick's principal.

Patrick made his presentation to nearly silent audience...that's nearly 80 squirmy first through fourth graders on their last day of school for the week, in the final thirty minutes of the day.

He even had a chance to field several questions from the audience.

Patrick enjoyed doing his presentation so much that before we could even get out of the school he had already started thinking of what his next presentation would be about.

December 18, 2009