Our PTO doesn't plan many evening meeting programs, but I know many of you are always looking for ideas. Lots of us sometimes use student based programs - mostly music - as a draw.

Has anyone considered using one of the kids' educational presentations?

I served as a parent volunteer today in my daughter's sixth grade class. The class was divided into 4 teams, each of which had to present a formal position on the fictional request to build a oil rig/refinery plant. Five parents served as the town's planning commission and listened to the arguments from the:

Townspeople For
Townspeople Against
Environmentalists
Oil Company

Each team had to do extensive research, use visual aids, and present their argument in 10 minutes or less. It was wonderful! The kids were incredible in the effort they had made. Each had a PowerPoint presentation. Some of their visual aids were truly unique. I wished more parents could have seen it.

A few years ago, I attended something similar when a 3rd or 4th grade class had to present the "Trial of Goldilocks" with members of the class serving as defense attorney, prosectuing attorney, judge, witnesses, narrator, jury. It was held during class time. Again it was incredible to watch (and hilarious).

I just wondered if anyone had considered using these type of presentations as programs and what the response had been like.