Tuesday, April 5, 2011

SONG!: "Photosynthesis" by They Might Be Giants


Photosynthesis
Photosynthesis
Photosynthesis

Photosynthesis does not involve a camera
Or a synthesizer
Although that's interesting too
Photosynthesis is how plants take in light
From the sun and turn it into energy
It's actually a thing on which most life depends
Here on the planet Earth

Photosynthesis
Photosynthesis
Photosynthesis

With plants

Chlorophyll cells take in carbon dioxide
Now that's the air that we breathe out
Combines it with water and exposes it to sunlight
And that's how plants can make their own food
Photosynthesis is why plants need light
And photosynthesis is why humans need plants
Because through photosynthesis plants make oxygen
And humans need oxygen to breathe

Photosynthesis
Photosynthesis
Photosynthesis

SONG!: "Manifest Destiny" by MC LaLa


Here's a little story I'd like to tell about the land that we love and know so well
it started small, not much to boast, just thirteen colonies on the east coast
as time went by Europeans moved west and took native land calling it conquest
why'd they do it , it's easy to see, an idea called Manifest Destiny
Georgia, 1828, the Cherokee nation was the center of debate
they did their best to assimilate but their land was some primetime real estate
so Andrew jackson laid the feud to rest and forced them to leave in the name of progress
over 15,000 faced their fears in what later became known as the trail of tears

by 1840, we cleared the east, of native peoples may they rest in peace
with guns and steel the whites had their way
now they set their sights on Californ-i-a
see Mexico, as we know it today
is only a piece of where it used to lay
back in the day it included L.A. but expansionists had something to say
according to them, it was part of god's plan to spread our culture all across the land
our democracy was simply the best so it's only right that we take the southwest
others spoke up said let's take it slow, we need to respect the rights of Mexico
but James K. Polk took the reigns, war broke out and more land was gained

SONG!: "John Brown Rap" by MC LaLa


White skin, white beard John Brown’s the name
in the 1800’s I rose to fame.
At the time slavery was spreading west,
In 1855, Kansas was a mess.
Congress was stumped on what to do
So they pushed the Kansas-Nebraska Act through
Elections were held to decide it’s fate
Would it end up a free or slave state?
Popular Sovereignty was the intent
but they ended up with two different governments
one pro-slavery and one against
Now a voice from God told me to head out west
I must defend the abolitionist cause
and punish those who ignore god’s laws.
If I shed blood then let it be.
We’ll prove our point in Pottawatomie.

Kansas, it’s going down
get on your horse let’s ride with John Brown
The Pro-Slavery camp is going down
cause abolitionists are running this town

Border Ruffians, you’re going down
things have changed now I run this town
The Pro-Slavery Camp is going down
cause abolitionists are running this town

After Kansas, the fight won’t cease
so I carried my campaign to the east.
Harper’s Ferry was the place to meet.
a Virginia town that was packing heat
I gathered my men, we rushed like a bull
the gates of a federal arsenal.
We took control step 1 complete
A full scale rebellion would be quite a feat
But the scheme didn’t work out as well as planned
when Robert E. Lee came and took a stand.
“This lawlessness won’t be tolerated
let’s punish those who collaborated”
After my trial I was put to death
but opinions were when I took my last breath
a hero to some, others said what for?
My actions pushed the nation to war.

Virginia, it’s going down
get on your horse let’s ride with John Brown
the pro-slavery camp is going down
cuz abolitionists are running this town

All across the country, it’s going down
the north and south are ready to throw down
I’m seeing nothin but mean spirited frowns
cause any way you see it guaranteed to go down

SONG!: "The Itty-Bitty Dot" by the Rappin Mathematician


The Itty-Bitty Dot

Now what in the world is that itty-bitty dot?
Yo, I just can’t remember and it’s makin’ me distraught!
I saw it in the price of the item I just bought!
It’s the decimal point-
Yeah, now you’re getting’ hot!

When you add and subtract ‘em, there must be a rule,
So listen to my rhyme, and use it as a tool
Just line up the dot, and give it all you got!
I said line up the dot, and give it all you got!

And when you take the difference,
In other words subtraction,
Just use the same rule, and bring on the action!

Just line up the dot, and give it all you got!
C’mon line up the dot, and give it all you got!

So turn off the TV,
Forget the radio stations,
‘cause the itty-bitty dot is a math sensation!

Move it to the right, the number becomes greater-
And the itty-bitty dot, needs no translator!
Move it to the left, and the number gets smaller-
Yes the itty-bitty is an academic scholar!

So don’t forget the rule, which needs no revision-
‘Cause the itty-bitty dot is on a great big mission!

Line up the dot, give it all you got.
Line up the dot, give it all you got.

And thus this concludes,
The decimal song,
With The Rappin’ Mathematician,
You can’t go wrong!

Just line up the dot, and give it all you got!
I said line up the dot, and give it all you got!

SONG!: "So Many Lines" by the Rappin' Mathematician

Monday, April 4, 2011

Billy B. Explains the Greenhouse Effect

SONG!: "Biodiversity" by Billy B.



Bio-Bio-Biodiversity,
all life living in this community.
Bio-Bio-Biodiversity,
spaces, species, and the family tree.
Bio-Bio-Biodiversity,
all around and inside you and me.
Bio-Bio-Biodiversity,
so important to the world community.
I want, I want, I want whales in the oceans.
I want rhinos living free.
I want all forests growing.
I want Biodiversity.
We need rain forest medicine.
We need coral in the sea.
We need flower pollination.
We need Biodiversity.
Right Now!
It’s a big world we discover,
when we go out every day.
All the life forms live together,
interacting many ways.
Bees need flowers.
Flowers need bees.
That’s pollinating power!
fruit around seeds.
CHORUS
It’s a forest we discover,
when we’re there among the trees.
All the mushrooms and the beetles
and the worms under the leaves.
In the oceans, fish swim and feed
among the coral habitat they need.
CHORUS