Download Educator`s Guide

Educator’s Guide
Synopsis
Nine animated songs introduce the parts of speech in the English language. Memorable lyrics and a variety of
examples help students learn about the function of nouns, verbs, adjectives, adverbs, pronouns, conjunctions,
interjections, and prepositions.
Program Objectives and Standards
The program addresses the following objectives and standards:
Students will:
• be introduced to the parts of speech in the English language (noun, verb, adjective, adverb,
pronoun, conjunction, interjection, and preposition).
• understand the function of each of the parts of speech.
• recognize the subject and predicate of a sentence.
• recognize examples of each of the parts of speech.
Language Arts Standards (McREL).
Song
Grade Level
Standard
Unpack Your Adjectives
K and up
Grammar and Usage, Level I, 5, Understands the concept of an adjective
Lolly, Lolly, Lolly Get Your Adverbs Here K and up
Grammar and Usage, Level I, 6, Understands the concept of an adverb
Conjunction Junction
3 and up
Grammar and Usage, Level II, 7, Understands the concept of a coordinating conjunction
Interjections!
6 and up
Grammar and Usage, Level III, 7, Understands the concept of an interjection
Rufus Xavier Sarsaparilla
3 and up
Grammar and Usage, Level II, 2, Understands the concept of a pronoun
Verb: That’s What’s Happening
K and up
Grammar and Usage, Level I, 4, Understands the concept of a verb
A Noun Is A Person, Place Or Thing
K and up
Grammar and Usage, Level I, 3, Understands the concept of a noun
Busy Prepositions
6 and up
Grammar and Usage, Level III, 6, Understands the concept of a preposition
The Tale of Mr. Morton
3 and up
Grammar and Usage, Level II, 4, Understands the concept of subject-verb agreement
Preview Questions
1. What do you think of when you hear the word ‘grammar?’
2. What is a noun? What is a pronoun?
3. What does a verb do? What does an adjective do?
4. What are some examples of conjunctions? What role do they play in a sentence?
Postviewing Questions
1. The parts of speech include nouns, pronouns, verbs, adjectives, adverbs, conjunctions,
prepositions, and interjections. Why do you think we spend time in school learning about them?
2. What’s the difference between an adjective and an adverb?
3. Why are pronouns useful?
4. Do you ever use interjections? Give some examples.
Teacher Guide: Schoolhouse Rock Grammar © Disney
1
DVD Activities
These activities are designed to accompany specific songs on the DVD. First play the song, then do the activity.
Grades K-5
All About You: [Play the song “Unpack Your Adjectives”] Name the adjectives in the song “Unpack Your Adjectives.”
Do any of these words describe people you know? Write and illustrate a list of adjectives that best describe you.
Present your list to the class.
Grades 6 and up
A World Without Pronouns: [Play the song “Rufus Xavier Sarsaparilla”] To see how useful pronouns can be, try
having a class discussion without using pronouns at all.
Suggested Classroom Activities
Grades K-5
Picture It
Divide the class into pairs of students and give each pair a picture from a magazine. Have students write down a list of adjectives that describe the pictures. Without showing their pictures to the class, ask students to present their lists and see if the class can figure out what they are describing.
Adjective Charades
On index cards, write down adjectives that students can act out, such as happy, sad, scared, excited, angry, silly, clumsy, quick, slow, and tired. Have students take turns selecting an adjective to act out.
Grades 6 and Up
Marvelous Menus
Have students use adjectives to write descriptions of food items on a menu. Encourage them to use a variety of unusual adjectives.
Pronouns, Prepositions, and Interjections, Oh, My!
Have students write and act out a short skit that incorporates a variety of pronouns, prepositions, and strong and mild interjections, such as:
Strong: Aha! Aw! Brrr! Eeeek! Help! Hey! Rats! Shhh! Wow! Yay!
Mild: oh, say, well
Teacher Guide: Schoolhouse Rock Grammar © Disney
2
Resources
Books
Cleary, Brian P. Under, Over, by the Clover: What Is a Preposition? Carolrhoda Books, 2002.
Grades 2-4. Cleary introduces prepositions with illustrations that show prepositions in action.
Dahl, Michael. If You Were an Adjective. Picture Window Books, 2007.
Grades 1-3. Using simple phrases, examples, and full-page illustrations, Dahl introduces comparative, proper, and
superlative adjectives. Includes an activity, a glossary, and additional resources.
Dahl, Michael. If You Were an Adverb. Picture Window Books, 2007.
Grades 1-3. Dahl defines and gives examples of adverbs.
Dahl, Michael. If You Were a Noun. Picture Window Books, 2007.
Grades 1-3. Dahl defines and gives examples of nouns.
Dahl, Michael. If You Were a Verb. Picture Window Books, 2007.
Grades 1-3. Dahl defines and gives examples of verbs. Covers past, present, and future tense.
Heller, Ruth. Fantastic! Wow! and Unreal!: A Book About Interjections and Conjunctions. Putnam Juvenile, 2000.
Grades 2-5. Using rhyming text and vibrant illustrations, Heller introduces interjections and conjunctions. Includes a full
explanation of types of conjunctions.
Heller, Ruth. Kites Sail High. Putnam Juvenile, 1998.
Grades K-6. Using rhyming text and vibrant illustrations, Heller introduces verbs.
Heller, Ruth. Many Luscious Lollipops. Putnam Juvenile, 1998.
Grades K-2. Heller introduces adjectives and their functions.
Heller, Ruth. Merry-Go-Round. Putnam Juvenile, 1998.
Grades K-6. Heller defines and illustrates all types of nouns: common, proper, abstract, concrete, compound, and collective,
as well as singular, plural, and possessive forms.
Heller, Ruth. Mine, All Mine! Putnam Juvenile, 1999.
Grades 1-5. Heller introduces pronouns: personal, possessive, demonstrative, indefinite, reflexive, intensive, interrogative,
and relative. Each pronoun is highlighted in bright blue.
Heller, Ruth. Up, Up, and Away. Putnam Juvenile, 1998.
Grades 2-4. Heller uses playful rhymes to introduce adverbs.
Loewen, Nancy. If You Were a Conjunction. Picture Window Books, 2006.
Grades 1-3. Loewen defines and gives examples of conjunctions.
Loewen, Nancy. If You Were an Interjection. Picture Window Books, 2007.
Grades 1-3. Loewen introduces interjections with various examples.
Loewen, Nancy. If You Were a Preposition. Picture Window Books, 2007.
Grades 1-3. Loewen defines and gives examples of prepositions.
Loewen, Nancy. If You Were a Pronoun. Picture Window Books, 2007.
Grades 1-3. Loewen defines and gives examples of pronouns.
Internet
Disney Educational Productions
http://www.disneyeducation.com
PBS Between the Lions: Word Play
http://pbskids.org/lions/games/wordplay.html
At this website, students click on a verb to animate it.
PBS Online NewsHour: The Vanishing Verb
http://www.pbs.org/newshour/media/verb/index.html
This website examines the changing language of TV news.
Purdue University Online Writing Lab: Grammar, Punctuation, and Spelling
http://owl.english.purdue.edu/handouts/grammar/
A resource for handouts and exercises on grammar, spelling, and punctuation.
Teacher Guide: Schoolhouse Rock Grammar © Disney
3
Schoolhouse Rock: Grammar
Sing Along Lyrics: Conjunction Junction
Conjunction Junction, what’s your function?
Hookin’ up words and phrases and clauses
Conjunction Junction, how’s that function?
I got three favorite cars that get most of my job done
Conjunction Junction, what’s their function?
I got “and,” “but” and “or” they’ll get you pretty far
“And,” that’s an additive like “this and that.”
“But,” that’s sort of the opposite.
“Not this, but that.”
And then there’s “or,” “O-R” when you have a choice, like “this or that.”
“And,” “but” and “or” get you pretty far!
Conjunction Junction, what’s your function?
Hookin’ up two box cars and makin’ ‘em run right
Milk and honey, bread and butter, peas and rice
Hey, that’s nice
Dirty but happy, diggin’ and scratchin’
Losin’ your shoe and a button or two
He’s poor but honest, sad but true.
Boo-hoo-hoo-hoo-hoo
Conjunction Junction, what’s your function?
Hookin’ up two cars to one, when you say something like this choice
Either now or later or no choice.
Neither now, nor ever.
Hey, that’s clever.
Eat this or that, grow thin or fat
Never mind. I wouldn’t do that.
I’m fat enough now!
Conjunction Junction, what’s your function?
Hookin’ up phrases and clauses that balance, like
Out of the frying pan and into the fire
He cut loose the sandbags, but the balloon wouldn’t go any higher
Let’s go up to the mountains or down to the seas
You should always say thank you or at least say please
Conjunction Junction, what’s your function?
Hookin’ up words and phrases and clauses and complex sentences, like
In the mornings when I’m usually wide awake,
I love to take a walk, through the gardens and down by the lake
Where I often see a duck and a drake
And I wonder as I walk by
Just what they’d say if they could speak,
Although I know that’s an absurd thought.
Conjunction Junction, what’s your function?
Hookin’ up cars and makin’ ‘em function
Conjunction Junction, how’s that function?
I like tyin’ up words and phrases and clauses
Conjunction Junction, watch that function?
I’m gonna get you there, if you’re very careful
Conjunction Junction, what’s your function?
I’m going to get you there if you’re very careful
Conjunction Junction, what’s your function?
I’m going to get you there, if you’re very careful.
Teacher Guide: Schoolhouse Rock Grammar © Disney
4