Unit 1
"Something That Doesn't Exist"
This song includes fifth grade vocabulary words that students are likely to encounter on state tests. It teaches the following words: alternate, bland, convert, intense, navigate, pedestrian, require, retire, revert and sparse. This song teaches you that you don’t need a white lab coat to be an inventor. All you need are some clever ideas!
Intro
"Okay! Flocabulary!"
Think of something that just doesn’t exist and say,
"Why not?" (Why not?) "Why not?" (Why not?) (x4)
Come on!
All the things that you use on the daily,
Didn’t always exist; man, it’s crazy.
Like someone once invented a shoe,
Invented a cup, invented some glue.
One day some dude taking a stroll with a scroll,
Thought, "Having one long page gets in the way,
I’m like a ship that’s lost, can’t navigate,
Can’t find my favorite passage on the page."
So he thought for a minute, took a long look,
Then that dude invented the book!
And you can do it too; your mind’s free,
Just think, "What do kids require and need?"
When you make that thing, you’ll find fame,
And if it becomes big then you’ll get paid.
Like I was drinking a soda; it was kind of bland,
The taste wasn’t strong, then I hatched a plan.
I mixed some juice with some fruits and some candy too,
I call it Fruit Candy Juice®; you’ll be buying it soon.
My inventions aren’t normal, they’re not pedestrian,
I want to make something to help pedestrians,
The people who walk on sidewalks; well, I’ll make
A sidewalk that moves like an escalator. "Uh-huh!"
So you can sip your Fruit Candy Juice®
While the sidewalk moves—tell me that’s not cool!
Think of something that just doesn’t exist and say,
"Why not?" (Why not?) "Why not?" (Why not?) (x4)
Come on!
A rapper raps, an inventor invents,
Air conditioners make the heat less intense,
Less strong; that’s perfect since the rhymes I’ve got
Could leave the whole studio feeling sweaty and hot.
But lucky for me, that invention was made
Many years before my hot songs were played.
But if I quit rap or if I retire,
I’d invent a machine to change ice to fire.
And not only would it be able to change and convert,
It would also do the opposite and revert.
Yeah, that’s right, it would be so nice,
My machine would turn fire back into ice.
"Yeah, machines like that are sparse,
There aren’t many around, I mean, near or far."
But what I do wish I could have right now
Is a new alternate way to get around.
A different way than a train or car,
Like a backpack-jet that would take me far.
Or maybe a jacket that comes with wings,
I think that would be such an awesome thing.
Think of something that just doesn’t exist and say,
"Why not?" (Why not?) "Why not?" (Why not?) (x4)
Come on!
Have you ever invented anything? You might have some idea that being an inventor means wearing a white lab coat and spending time tinkering with something in a dusty basement. But that's not true at all. The power of invention is in all of us. As Robert Kennedy once famously said, "There are those who look at things the way they are, and ask 'why?'...
I dream of things that never were, and ask 'why not?'"You'll learn these words: alternate, bland, convert, intense, navigate, pedestrian, sparse, require, retire, revert.
I dream of things that never were, and ask 'why not?'"You'll learn these words: alternate, bland, convert, intense, navigate, pedestrian, sparse, require, retire, revert.
navigate (verb)
1. To move or direct (a ship or plane) along a certain path. In her new ship, the captain carefully navigated the river.
2. To make one's way. It was so crowded that it was difficult to navigate through the crowd.
Other forms: Thanks to our navigation (noun) system, we knew just where to go.
1. To move or direct (a ship or plane) along a certain path. In her new ship, the captain carefully navigated the river.
2. To make one's way. It was so crowded that it was difficult to navigate through the crowd.
Other forms: Thanks to our navigation (noun) system, we knew just where to go.
require (verb)
To need or demand. My school requires you to get good grades if you want to go to the winter dance.
Other forms: My mom said, "Cleaning up after yourself is one of the requirements(noun) of getting older."
To need or demand. My school requires you to get good grades if you want to go to the winter dance.
Other forms: My mom said, "Cleaning up after yourself is one of the requirements(noun) of getting older."
bland (adj)
Lacking a strong flavor. That taco is so bland; I swear there's more flavor in a cup of water.
Lacking a strong flavor. That taco is so bland; I swear there's more flavor in a cup of water.
pedestrian (adj)
Dull or lacking imagination. Tommy looked like a rock star, but his songs were pedestrian.
Dull or lacking imagination. Tommy looked like a rock star, but his songs were pedestrian.
pedestrian (noun)
A person who is walking; someone traveling on foot. The mayor wanted to close some streets to cars to make the city more friendly to pedestrians.
A person who is walking; someone traveling on foot. The mayor wanted to close some streets to cars to make the city more friendly to pedestrians.
intense (adj)
Very strong; very great. Brandon likes movies, but not flicks in which the violence is too intense.
Other forms: Calvin started the work with real intensity (noun).
Very strong; very great. Brandon likes movies, but not flicks in which the violence is too intense.
Other forms: Calvin started the work with real intensity (noun).
retire (verb)
To stop working. My grandfather worked for the post office until he retired last year.
To stop working. My grandfather worked for the post office until he retired last year.
convert (verb)
1. To change from one form to another. They converted the old school into an apartment building.
2. To change someone's religion, opinion, or beliefs. When I opened the door, there was someone trying to convert me to his religion.
(noun) One who has been converted. I didn't think I liked jazz, but after seeing Branford Marsalis perform, I'm a total convert. (Note: In its noun form, convert is usually pronounced CON-vert.)
1. To change from one form to another. They converted the old school into an apartment building.
2. To change someone's religion, opinion, or beliefs. When I opened the door, there was someone trying to convert me to his religion.
(noun) One who has been converted. I didn't think I liked jazz, but after seeing Branford Marsalis perform, I'm a total convert. (Note: In its noun form, convert is usually pronounced CON-vert.)
revert (verb)
To go back to an earlier condition, often one that is not satisfactory. The basketball team got along well when they won, but when they lost, they reverted to yelling at each other.
To go back to an earlier condition, often one that is not satisfactory. The basketball team got along well when they won, but when they lost, they reverted to yelling at each other.
sparse (adj)
Small in number or extent; thinly scattered. Our class trip to the farm was canceled because interest was so sparse.
Small in number or extent; thinly scattered. Our class trip to the farm was canceled because interest was so sparse.
alternate (adj)
1. Happening or appearing in turns; every other. Spring and fall are alternate seasons.
2. Being a choice between two or more things. The highway was closed so we took an alternate route through the city.
(verb) To change back and forth; take turns. The young lion cub alternated between sleepiness and playfulness..
1. Happening or appearing in turns; every other. Spring and fall are alternate seasons.
2. Being a choice between two or more things. The highway was closed so we took an alternate route through the city.
(verb) To change back and forth; take turns. The young lion cub alternated between sleepiness and playfulness..
Like us? Like us.
