12 Present Your Point

CHAPTER TWELVE Present Your Point Scientific Presentation (noun). This is when scientists go to conferences and communicate their findings. Usually, this is done by giving a presentation with a visual slideshow. It's always a good idea to know how to present or persuade others of your position. As a kid, sometimes you need to present the reasons why you absolutely need that new rock polisher or chemistry set. "YOU'RE GOING TO WORK on your presentations today in class," said Mrs. Eberlin. It was Tuesday, three days before we were supposed to go on the field trip. "I want you all to have your research done before we even cross our state line. Think about how much better your experience will be when you finally meet your animal at the aquarium." "You mean if we meet our animal at the aquarium," said Memito. Earlier that morning he had shared the good news about his grandma being able to go. "We're still one chaperone short though." "After school, I'm going to talk to the principal and figure this out," said Mrs. Eberlin.

I could feel eyes on me. And my face became beet red. You'd think I'd get used to hearing teachers and kids mention the principal. But I never do. It always makes me feel a little awkward and uncomfortable. "We can solve this," said Mrs. Eberlin. "Now let's focus back on your presentations. You've all been working so hard on your research, I can't wait to hear all of the information you've gathered." I tried to be happy about focusing on my sea lion talk. After all, it's important for me to practice giving oral presentations. Since that's what scientists often do when they go to conferences. I tried to focus on how lucky I was to get to work on my very own presentation. But as Mrs. Eberlin passed out our Chromebooks, I kept on worrying about the field trip. Usually, everyone gets really excited whenever we get to work on something cool like slides. But today, everyone was sluggish and slow. I guess they were as worried as me. "Oh, I wanted to say something about the photographs for your presentations," said Mrs. Eberlin. "It's okay to cut and paste them on your slides. But you can only use Creative Commons images. I'll show you how to do that in a moment.

However, I would encourage all of you to consider making original drawings as well." "I'm definitely making drawings," said Birdie. "Same with me," said Julia. "I want to make my penguins magenta. I think that will look cute." Magenta. There were no such things as magenta penguins. "Violet would be good too," Julia said. "Penguins are black and white," I said quietly. "It helps disguise them from predators when they're swimming. Although some also have yellow, orange, and slate blue colors. But not magenta." "But magenta is cheerful," said Julia, "and it sounds good too. Purple penguins." She smiled. "It's not scientifically accurate," I explained. Was she serious? Yes, they have orange beaks and cute yellow tufts on their heads, but nowhere on planet Earth are there magenta penguins. "Kate," said Mrs. Eberlin in her perfectly mastered teacher voice. "We're now working on putting headings on our slides in the seven different sections of our reports. Do you remember what order to put them in?" "Um, kind of." I shrugged. "I don't think you do, because you weren't paying attention." She glanced across the room. "Avery, can you tell Kate what they are?"

"Sure," said Avery. "Overview. Description. Habitat. Diet and behavior. Plus, present status." "Okay, I knew that," I said in a quiet voice. "And the three super-duper facts we learn at the aquarium." "I hope I find out that magenta penguins are real," said Julia. "At the aquarium, that is." I started twitching in my seat. And gritting my teeth. Birdie gave me a warning look. I wanted to yell at Julia that if she had already done her research, she would know that there are no purple penguins at the Shedd Aquarium. But I knew that wouldn't be a smart choice. Instead, I remembered what my dad taught me to do when trying to make wise choices. I closed my eyes and took three very slow, very deep breaths. That always made me feel better. I started working on my slides, along with everyone else. I looked up more facts about sea lions for my behavior section and found out that sea lions can dive and stay underwater. Sometimes for up to twenty minutes! They just have to exhale first before they dive below the water's surface. I thought about how cool it would be to swim around the bottom of the ocean for twenty beautiful, uninterrupted minutes. Mom says she always gets fresh new thoughts whenever she's around the water. That's why we go to

Lake Michigan whenever she has free time in the summer. But my thoughts weren't refreshing. They were just staying on the same worry that I'd had for the past two weeks. "How will we find our three super-duper facts from the aquarium if we don't go?" I asked Mrs. Eberlin. "What if we don't get our chaperones?" "Well, Kate," said Mrs. Eberlin. "I have confidence that we'll figure out the chaperone issue." "Couldn't we just go with three chaperones?" asked Avery. "I'm afraid not," said Mrs. Eberlin. "Those are our school rules." "A lot of good it does to have the principal's daughter in our class," moaned Jeremy. "Wait. It's just about lunchtime. I could ask my mom right now." Everyone turned to look at me. "Maybe I could ask my mom to get a staff person who doesn't need a substitute. Like one of our library clerks or office assistants?" "Yes, that was my plan," said Mrs. Eberlin. "Great minds think alike." "Let me ask her now," I said. "I know exactly where she takes her lunch. I'm sure she will say yes." Everyone looked at me with hopeful eyes. When Mrs. Eberlin handed me a pass to go to the office, I

crossed my fingers and said a silent prayer. Hurrying down the hall to the office, I thought very positive thoughts. Then as I rounded the corner, I smacked into something very solid. Well, not something. Someone. An official- looking somebody with a walkie-talkie crackling on her hip. That somebody was the principal, Terri Crawford. My mother. "Mom!" I said, glancing up at her. "Oh, I'm sorry for bumping into you. I wasn't looking and—what are you doing here?" Not that I really should have been surprised. After all, she runs Rosalind Franklin Elementary School. "Honey," she said. "I just was going to see you." "That's funny. I was just going to find you." Immediately, I asked if our class could have three chaperones instead of four. And she immediately responded that it "wouldn't work." Then I told her about my idea of using a staff member who didn't need a sub. And how Mrs. Eberlin had the same idea. "Say yes, please, Mom. I think it makes a lot of sense."