Biology Bob: Singing the Standards in Life Science

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Nigel Dalton
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1 Biology Bob: Singing the Standards in Life Science Robert M. Everett, Ph.D. Presented at the 15 th Annual Literacy Symposium University of Central Florida April 5, 2013

NATURE S WILD DANCE PARTY TWO LIZARDS PLAYING TRUMPETS ON THE TRUNK OF A TREE THEIR THROATS A THROBBING, HEADS A BOBBING LOOK FANCY FREE THE DRAGONFLIES THAT FLY ABOVE ARE FLYING AWAY THE PAPER WASPS

SIGNS THE RELEASE THE SPIDER SPINS ITS TANGLED WEB THE DEW MAKES IT GLOW THE INSTRUMENTS OF MOTHER NATURE TUNE FOR THE SHOW THE BUTTERFLIES ARE DOING THEIR DANCE AND FLEAS ARE TAKING A CHANCE THE

2 NATURE S WILD DANCE PARTY TWO LIZARDS PLAYING TRUMPETS ON THE TRUNK OF A TREE THEIR THROATS A THROBBING, HEADS A BOBBING LOOK FANCY FREE THE DRAGONFLIES THAT FLY ABOVE ARE FLYING AWAY THE PAPER WASPS ARE SWARMING AND THEY'RE READY TO PLAY : IT'S NATURE'S WILD DANCE NATURE'S WILD DANCE NATURE'S WILD DANCE PARTY THE ANTS ARE BUSY GETTING FOOD IT'S TIME FOR THE FEAST THE PRICKLY CATERPILLAR QUICKLY SIGNS THE RELEASE THE SPIDER SPINS ITS TANGLED WEB THE DEW MAKES IT GLOW THE INSTRUMENTS OF MOTHER NATURE TUNE FOR THE SHOW THE BUTTERFLIES ARE DOING THEIR DANCE AND FLEAS ARE TAKING A CHANCE THE PRAYING MANTIS IS HAVING A GO AND MAYBE WITH JUST A LITTLE LUCK, THE FROGS AND TOADS WILL SHOW THE BUSY BEES THEY WIGGLE WAGGLE DANCE TO THE BEAT THE CRICKETS GO TO TOWN AND CHIRP WITH THEIR TWO BACK FEET THE MILLIPEDES KEEP STUMBLING OVER MULTIPLE GEARS THE ROLY-POLIES ROLL UP WHEN THE MAMMALS APPEAR

3 MOLLUSKS SNAIL I CRAWL THROUGH THE GARDEN I DON'T CARE HOW SLOW I GO IT REALLY DOESN'T MATTER THAT MUCH TO ME AS LONG AS MY RADULA FEEDS YEAH! : SOFT BODIED GASTROPODS HEAD-FOOTED CEPHALOPODS TO NAME A FEW BIVALVE MEANS TWO WE'RE MOLLUSKS HOW 'BOUT YOU CLAM I'VE GOT A MANTLE THAT MAKES MY SHELL AND I'VE GOT A VISCERAL MASS AND A FOOT THAT MOVES ME WELL YEAH! HOLDING ON TO YOU IS VERY EASY AND SOME OF US ARE REALLY QUITE SEDENTARY OCTOPUS I DON'T KNOW WHY I SEEM SO SHY CAUSE SNEAKY INKY IS MY GAME I'VE GOT EIGHTS ARMS AND SOME WATER JETS AND HEAD-FOOTED IS MY NAME YEAH!

4 TREES GIVING SHADE AND SHELTER AND OXYGEN TO BREATHE TREES THEY MAKE A FINAL STAND WE RE LOSING WAY TOO MANY PLANTING WAY TOO FEW WE NEED TO MAKE THE WORLD UNDERSTAND OOH, FROM UPON THE HILL I CAN HEAR THAT CRACKING SOUND OOH, IT MAKES ME SAD WHEN I SEE THEM HIT THE GROUND HIT THE GROUND : WHERE WOULD WE BE WITHOUT THEM? WHERE WOULD WE BE? STOP CUTTING DOWN THE FORESTS WHY CAN T THEY SEE? WHERE WOULD WE BE WITHOUT TREES? BURNING TREES AND LEAVES WE VE GOT TO MAKE THEM STOP WE NEED TO BUILD OUR HOUSES OUT OF CLAY TREES DON T LIVE FOREVER NEITHER YOU OR I BUT WE CAN MAKE FOR A BETTER DAY OOH, FROM UPON THE HILL I CAN HEAR THAT CRACKING SOUND OOH, IT MAKES ME SAD WHEN I SEE THEM HIT THE GROUND HIT THE GROUND

5 METAMORPHOSIS GROWING UP ISN'T EASY ESPECIALLY WHEN YOU'RE NOT QUITE ALONE YOU KEEP ON CHANGING CELLS REARRANGING UNTIL YOU'VE BECOME WHAT YOU ARE WHEN YOU'RE GROWN YOU MIGHT BE A BUTTERFLY YOU MIGHT BE A BIG BULL FROG YOU MIGHT BE A FUZZY WUZZY MOTH OR YOU MIGHT BE A BUG ON A LOG OVER AND OVER AGAIN CHANGING AND CHANGING WITHIN OVER AND OVER AGAIN I KEEP CHANGING CHANGING CAUSE : EVERY METAMORPHOSIS STARTS FROM A LITTLE EGG SOME ARE INCOMPLETE NOW THEY LEAVE OUT THE MIDDLE STAGE EVEN THOUGH I'M NOT INNOCENT OF EATING EVERYTHING IN MY SIGHT IT'S TIME FOR ME TO GO AWAY BUT I'LL BE BACK ANOTHER DAY WAITING FOR A MIRACLE I FEEL MY DIVISIONS TAKE PLACE AND WHEN I EMERGE AS AN ADULT I'LL GREET THAT DAY WITH A SMILE ON MY FACE OVER AND OVER AGAIN CHANGING AND CHANGING WITHIN OVER AND OVER AGAIN I KEEP CHANGING CHANGING CAUSE

6 STEP INSIDE MY FRESH SPUN WEB I AM HUNGRY NOW SO I MUST EAT YOU WON'T EVEN FEEL A THING MY FANGS SINK IN AND THEN YOU'LL FALL ASLEEP SPIDER OOH YEAH! HERE COMES ONE NOW I'LL CATCH HIM QUICK AND THIS IS HOW : BOY THIS IS YOUR LUCKY DAY! BOY THIS IS YOUR LUCKY DAY! HEY HEY! I'M A SPIDER CAN'T YOU TELL I LOOK REAL SCARY AND I MIGHT AS WELL CAUSE NO ONE SEEMS TO LIKE MY STYLE I KEEP MY VICTIMS IN A NICE NEAT PILE OOH YEAH! HERE COMES ONE NOW I'LL CATCH HIM QUICK AND THIS IS HOW OH NO! OH YES! I'VE GOT EIGHT LEGS AND FUNNY EYES TWO BODY PARTS AND I CAN PARALYZE IF YOU'LL JUST COME UP REAL REAL CLOSE, I KNOW YOU'LL BE SURPRISED!

7 PINK PIG BLUES YOU KNOW I'M A PIG I LIKE TO ROLL AROUND IN THE MUD YOU KNOW I'M A PIG I LIKE TO ROLL AROUND IN THE MUD AND WHEN I FALL DOWN I MAKE A REAL BIG THUD I'VE GOT A FUNNY NOSE AND PEOPLE CALL IT A SNOUT I'VE GOT A FUNNY NOSE AND PEOPLE CALL IT A SNOUT AND IF YOU SQUEEZE ME, I SQUEAL BECAUSE I CAN'T SHOUT : AND I GO OINK OINK OINK OINK OINK OINK OINK OINK! OINK OINK OINK OINK OINK OINK OINK OINK! AND NO MATTER WHAT I DO I'VE STILL GOT THE PINK PIG BLUES I'VE GOT SHORT FAT LEGS AND A TEENY WEENY TAIL I'VE GOT SHORT FAT LEGS AND A TEENY WEENY TAIL WELL, I AIN'T NOBODY'S BACON BUT THEN ONLY TIME WILL TELL AND HERE COMES THE FARMER HE'S GOT A BUCKET OF SLOP HE'S GONNA FEED ME I'LL EAT AND I WON'T STOP AND THEN I'LL GET REAL DIRTY BUT REALLY I'M QUITE CLEAN I'M JUST A ROLY- POLY GRUNTIN' SNORTIN' EATING MACHINE.....

8 OH WHALE! WE ARE THE WHALES WE'RE VERY BIG WE LIVE IN THE DEEP BLUE SEA BUT WE BREATHE AIR AND SOME EAT THINGS THAT YOU CAN'T EVEN SEE AND YOU MIGHT THINK I'M LIKE A FISH BUT THERE'S MUCH MORE TO BE SAID CAUSE IF YOU LOOK FOR MY NOSE IT'S RIGHT ON TOP OF MY HEAD : OH WHALE, IT'S BETTER TO BE BIGGER WHEN WE GO LOBTAILING IN THE SEA OH WHALE, IT'S BETTER TO BE BIGGER THAT'S THE WAY IT IS AND HOW IT SHOULD BE I MIGHT BE GRAY I MIGHT BE BLUE MAYBE RIGHT OR HUMPBACK TOO THE BREACHING AND THE SOUNDING DONE ARE IMPORTANT THINGS WE DO CAUSE ALL'S NOT WELL IN OUR WORLD THERE'S DANGER ALL AROUND BUT MOST OF ALL IT'S FROM MANKIND THE SHIPS ECHO THAT SOUND YOU DON'T NEED THE THINGS YOU TAKE FOR GREED LIVING FREE IS HOW WE WANT TO BE WE ARE THE WHALES WE'RE VERY BIG WE LIVE IN THE DEEP BLUE SEA BUT WE BREATHE AIR AND SOME EAT THINGS THAT YOU CAN'T EVEN SEE AND YOU MIGHT THINK I'M LIKE A FISH BUT THERE'S MUCH MORE TO BE SAID CAUSE IF YOU LOOK FOR MY NOSE IT'S RIGHT ON TOP OF MY HEAD

OH LOVELY BUTTERFLY CHRYSTALIS GLISTENING ON A WARM SUNNY DAY YOU LL SOON EMERGE AND START TO SOAK UP THE RAYS HOLDING ON YOU

A CATERPILLAR WITH MANY LEGS EATING LEAVES YOU GREW AND YOU GREW UNTIL YOU BECAME A PUPAE ENCASED FOR A CHANGE : OH LOVELY

WHILE YOU FEED ON THE FLOWERS AND EVEN THOUGH YOU RE NOT HERE FOR TOO LONG THE WORLD GETS BRIGHTER THEN YOU RE GONE OH LOVELY

9 OH LOVELY BUTTERFLY CHRYSTALIS GLISTENING ON A WARM SUNNY DAY YOU LL SOON EMERGE AND START TO SOAK UP THE RAYS HOLDING ON YOU DRY OFF YOUR WINGS AS YOU SWING AND SWAY YOU GENTLY RISE UP AND FLY AWAY YOU FIRST BEGAN BY HATCHING FROM A SMALL EGG BECAME A CATERPILLAR WITH MANY LEGS EATING LEAVES YOU GREW AND YOU GREW UNTIL YOU BECAME A PUPAE ENCASED FOR A CHANGE : OH LOVELY BUTTERFLY YOUR BEAUTY PAINTS THE SKY WITH SPECKS OF MOVING COLORS YOU LAND TO FAN OUT YOUR WINGS YOUR TINY SIX LEGS CLING WHILE YOU FEED ON THE FLOWERS AND EVEN THOUGH YOU RE NOT HERE FOR TOO LONG THE WORLD GETS BRIGHTER THEN YOU RE GONE OH LOVELY OH LOVELY BUTTERFLY COME HOME FLYING WITH THE WIND YOU FLOAT THROUGH THE SKY CLEAR AND FREE YOU DON T NEED TO ASK WHY HOW THE WORLD CAN BE SO GRAY? CAUSE WHEN YOU PASS BY THE BLUES GO AWAY FOR THE DAY WHEN YOU WERE VERY YOUNG I CARED FOR THE PLANTS THAT YOU ATE YOU TOOK SOME TIME TO CHANGE BUT YOU KNOW IT WAS WELL WORTH THE WAIT PLEASE COME HOME THE WORLD S YOUR HOME PLEASE COME HOME

10 PARASITES DON T GO WALKING BAREFOOT IN A BARNYARD YOU MAY GET A PARASITIC WORM IT LL CRAWL IN BETWEEN YOUR TOE NAILS AND INTO YOUR BLOODSTREAM THEN YOU LL GET SO SICK YOU LL WANT TO SCREAM YOU LL WISH IT WAS A REAL BAD DREAM STAY AWAY FROM RAW BEEF, PORK, AND FISH MAKE SURE YOUR MOM SERVES YOU A WELL COOKED DISH TAPEWORMS MAY LOOK COOL BUT THEY RE NO FUN AT ALL AND LIVER FLUKES MAY KEEP YOU FROM THE MALL YOU LL FEEL LIKE YOU VE HIT A BIG BRICK WALL : PARASITES OH! PARASITES THEY LL MAKE YOU ITCH THEY LL MAKE YOU SQUIRM YOUR TUMMY HURTS YOUR EYES THEY BURN OH! PARASITES YOU BETTER WATCH OUT WHEN YOU TRAVEL OVERSEAS YOU COULD RETURN WITH AN UNFAMILIAR DISEASE THAT INSECT BITE ON YOUR FACE STARTS TO MOVE AROUND THE DOCTOR CUTS A SLIT LOOK WHAT HE S FOUND? HE PULLS IT OUT AND SAYS IT S ROUND NEMATODES, FLATWORMS, FUNGI FLEAS AND TICKS, EARMITES, HEADLICE

PHOTOSYNTHESIS THE NIGHT IS PASSING BY A FATE I CAN'T DENY AND WHEN MORNING COMES I'LL OPEN UP MY LEAVES AND PHOTOSYNTHESIZE TODAY'S A LUCKY DAY THE SUN IS ON ITS WAY AND WHEN THE LIGHT SHINES DOWN

11 PHOTOSYNTHESIS THE NIGHT IS PASSING BY A FATE I CAN'T DENY AND WHEN MORNING COMES I'LL OPEN UP MY LEAVES AND PHOTOSYNTHESIZE TODAY'S A LUCKY DAY THE SUN IS ON ITS WAY AND WHEN THE LIGHT SHINES DOWN YOU KNOW I WILL RESPOND AND CHASE THE BLUES AWAY : WAITING FOR THE SUNRISE OH WAITING FOR THE SUN TO SHINE IT'S A PROCESS I CAN'T HIDE REACTIONS ON THE INSIDE AND I HELP THE WORLD TO BREATHE WITH WHAT I DO A SERVICE I PROVIDE MY ROOTS ARE UNDERGROUND BUT THAT CAN'T HOLD ME DOWN WITH THE ENERGY THAT FLOWS THROUGH EVERY CELL WILL KEEP ME HANGING 'ROUND AND WITH THE DEW THE RAYS COME THROUGH I CAN FEEL THE POWER AND WITH THE SUN THE MORNING COMES I CAN MAKE MY FLOWER 2013 Robert Everett

Section I. Quotations

Section I. Quotations Hour 8: The Thing Explainer! Those of you who are fans of xkcd s Randall Munroe may be aware of his book Thing Explainer: Complicated Stuff in Simple Words, in which he describes a variety of things using