Biology Bob: The Wonders of Life Presented at the 12th Annual Literacy Symposium April 2, 2010 College of Education University of Central Florida

Robert M. Everett, Ph.D. College of Education University of Central Florida [email protected]

© 2010 Robert Everett

“I'M A FROG” OH, I'M A FROG I LIKE TO HOP AROUND YES, I'M A FROG NO ONE CAN HOLD ME DOWN AND WHEN THE SUN GOES DOWN, YOU CAN HEAR THAT FAMILIAR SOUND IT ECHOES THROUGH THE NIGHT AND INTO THE TOWN CHORUS: OH, I'M A FROG I'M A FROG . . . . . . . . OH, I'M A FROG I MIGHT LOOK PRETTY SAD BUT, I'M A FROG I'M HAPPY ON MY PAD WHEN I WAS A YOUNGER TAD, I BREATHED THROUGH LITTLE GILLS NOW I'VE GOT LUNGS THAT'S HOW I GET MY THRILLS CHORUS SOME PEOPLE THEY LIKE TO EAT ME OTHERS THEY LIKE TO DISSECT ME WHY DON'T THEY LEAVE ME ALONE? A POND IS WHERE I BELONG IF THEY WOULD LET ME LEAD MY OWN LIFE, THEN I MIGHT STAY ALIVE I'M A FROG . . . . . . . . OH, I'M A FROG I LIKE TO EAT BIG BUGS YES, I'M A FROG I CATCH THEM WITH MY TONGUE I MIGHT HAVE SOFT MOIST SKIN AND A THREE CHAMBERED HEART BUT I CAN DO MY THING WITHOUT COMING APART CHORUS

“MAMMAL JAMMIN” WE'VE GOT MONKEYS AND ZEBRAS ELEPHANTS AND SEALS AND LOOK AT ALL THE PEOPLE TURNING LIKE A WHEEL WE'VE GOT PORPOISES AND HORSES RABBITS AND GAZELLES TINY LITTLE CREATURES SOMETIMES IT'S HARD TO TELL CHORUS: MAMMAL JAMMIN' MAMMAL JAMMIN' MAMMAL JAMMIN' MAMMAL JAMMIN' LET'S GET IN A CIRCLE WITH ALL OUR FURRY FRIENDS GOT TO GET TOGETHER WE'RE MAMMALS TILL THE END FROM THE SMALLEST LITTLE FIELD MOUSE TO THE GREAT BLUE OCEAN WHALE TO THE DOG THAT'S IN YOUR BACKYARD TO THE DEER THAT WAGS ITS TAIL CHORUS DON'T FORGET THE PLATYPUS HE MIGHT LOOK PRETTY STRANGE BUT HE'S A MAMMAL HE'S GOT HAIR LIKE TIGERS, LIONS, AND BEARS CHORUS

“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 ___ OO FROM UPON THE HILL I CAN HEAR THAT CRACKING SOUND ___ OO IT MAKES ME SAD WHEN I SEE THEM HIT THE GROUND HIT THE GROUND CHORUS: 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 ___ OO FROM UPON THE HILL I CAN HEAR THAT CRACKING SOUND ___ OO IT MAKES ME SAD WHEN I SEE THEM HIT THE GROUND HIT THE GROUND CHORUS

“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 CHORUS: PARASITES OH! PARASITES THEY’LL MAKE YOU ITCH THEY’LL MAKE YOU SWIRM 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 CHORUS NEMATODES, FLATWORMS, FUNGI FLEAS AND TICKS, EARMITES, HEADLICE CHORUS . . . . . . . . . . .

“PINK PIG BLUES” YOU KNOW I'M A PIG I LIKE TO ROLL AROUND IN THE MUD YOU KNOW I'M A PIGI 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 CHORUS: 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 CHORUS 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 . . . . . CHORUS

“SAVE THE WORLD”

SOME PEOPLE SAY THE WORLD’S NOT GETTING WARM BUT WE’RE THE ONES WHO’S REALLY DOING THE HARM LET’S GET TOGETHER AND SAVE THE WORLD LOOK AROUND AT THE LAND THAT’S BEING CLEARED ARE TREES TRANSPIRING OR REALLY CRYING TEARS? LET’S GET TOGETHER AND SAVE THE WORLD

CHORUS: POLAR BEARS ARE DROWNING IN THE SEA BABY SEALS PLEASE JUST LET THEM BE ALL THE DUCKS ARE FALLING OUT OF LINE THE GOLDEN GOOSE IS GONE IT’S JUST A MATTER OF TIME CYCLES TURNING THEY GO ROUND AND ROUND BUT ONE DAY THEY’LL STOP AND NOT BE FOUND LET’S GET TOGETHER AND SAVE THE WORLD TOO MANY PEOPLE TRYING TO ALL WIN ALL THE SPINNING WILL CHILL US IN THE END LET’S GET TOGETHER AND SAVE THE WORLD REPEAT 1ST AND 2ND VERSES CHORUS

“FRY” HEY COME ON JUMP ON BOARD GET WITH IT WE CAN’T AFFORD TO LOSE THIS FIGHT HOT SUN SHINING DOWN IT’S JUST A START WE’RE LOSING GROUND AND WE KNOW WHAT’S RIGHT WE MUST NOT LOOK AWAY SO FAST IT’LL BE TOO LATE AND WE WON’T LAST CHORUS: AND WE’LL ALL FRY TOGETHER IN THE END AS THE WORLD KEEPS TURNING WITHIN AND THERE’S NOT MUCH THAT WE CAN REALLY DO WHEN THE WARMING BRINGS COLD TO ME AND YOU CARBON FOOTPRINTS ON THE MOVE TOO MUCH PRESSURE NOT SO SMOOTH CAN YOU SEE THE LIGHT? IT’S GETTING WARM IT’S GETTING HOT WE’VE GOT TO HOLD ON TO WHAT WE’VE GOT WE MUST HOLD ON TIGHT WE MUST BE SMART MUST FIND A WAY OR WE WILL SURELY MELT AWAY ONE DAY CHORUS CO2 LEVELS HIGH POISON LAND POISON SKY OCEAN LEVELS ON THE RISE GLOBAL WARMING’S NO SURPRISE COME ON PEOPLE GET IT RIGHT BEFORE THE EARTH TURNS OUT THE LIGHT CHORUS CHORUS

“CRAWFISH (THE CRAYFISH SONG)” JOINT-FOOTED CRUSTACEAN PINCING CLAWS INSTEAD OF HANDS GASTRIC MILL TO GRIND MY FOOD AND IT TASTES SO GOOD I’M NOT SCARED I’M HIDING UNDER STONES I’M FINDING MESS WITH ME AND I’LL REVERSE MY COURSE GOTTA MAKE MY MOVE CHORUS: BACKING UP IS EASY IT’S SWIMMING THAT’S SO HARD TO DO BACKING UP IS EASY THERE’S NOT MUCH I CAN DO I PICK APART THE FOOD I EAT ALL THE PIECES A DELIGHTFUL TREAT PEOPLE CALL ME A MUD BUG AND THAT’S ALL RIGHT WITH ME TWO-PART STOMACH I’M A DECAPOD DON’T SWIM WELL WITH MY UROPOD THAT’S WHY I HIDE AND I MAKE MY STAND WITH MY CLAWS HELD HIGH CHORUS PINCING CHELAE WALKING LEGS SCAVENGER DON’T HAVE TO BEG MANDIBLES FOR CRUSHING FOOD I KNOW IT’S CRUDE BUT YOU KNOW THAT’S WHAT I DO REPEAT VERSES 1 & 2 CHORUS CHORUS

“HE WAS A GOOD BUG” HE WAS A GOOD BUG HE NEVER HURT ANYBODY HE ALWAYS FLEW TO LIGHT HE DID NOT BUZZ HE DID NOT BITE THEN ONE DAY HE WAS CRAWLING AROUND MINDING HIS OWN BUG BUSINESS A JAR CAME DOWN FROM ABOVE HE FOUND HIMSELF YES, HE FOUND HIMSELF INSIDE A BIG BUG MESS HE WAS A GOOD BUG SHINEY AND SO PRETTY YOU KNOW HE DID NO WRONG WALKING TALL AND BEING STRONG EVEN THOUGH HE’S NOT THAT SMART HE SHOULD HAVE LEARNED HIS LESSON SOME PEOPLE KNOW WHAT THEY’RE LOOKING FOR HE SHOULD HAVE WATCHED OUT YES, HE SHOULD HAVE WATCHED OUT FOR THE BUG MAN’S JAR HE’S GOT WINGS HE CAN FLY AROUND BUT MOST OF THE TIME HE’S NEAR THE GROUND HE’S LOOKS SO FUNNY BUT HE’S SO COOL HE’S NOT THAT SMART DIDN’T GO TO SCHOOL BUT HE’S BEAUTIFUL IN HIS OWN WAY HE WAS A GOOD BUG ALL SIX LEGS ARE NOW SO STILL NO LONGER WALKING TALL THE ENTOMOLOGIST DID HIS WILL THE SCIENTIST PINNED HIM DOWN TO A BOARD HE’S SECTIONED HE FACES NORTH ALL OF THE TIME BECAUSE HE’S NOW HE’S NOW PART OF A COLLECTION

“GERMS” GERMS GERMS GERMS GERMS

THEY’RE ALL IN THE AIR THEY CAN LIVE IN YOUR HAIR YOU BETTER WASH YOUR HANDS THAT’S SOMETHING THEY CAN’T STAND

GERMS GERMS GERMS GERMS

THEY CAN BE IN YOUR FOOD CLEAN THE LEAFY GREENS DUDE THEY CAN LIVE IN THE DIRT DON’T YOU FALL AND GET HURT

THEY’RE EVERYWHERE YOU CAN’T ESCAPE YOU GET A SHOT AND THEN YOU WAIT YOUR TUMMY HURTS YOUR BODY ACHES YOU FEEL SO BAD YOU REALLY HATE THOSE GERMS CHORUS: GERMS GERMS GERMS THEY FLOAT AROUND ALL AROUND US WHOA OOH! WE BREATHE THEM IN WE BREATHE THEM OUT BUT YOU KNOW WE DON’T KNOW IT WHOA OOH! THEY’RE SO SMALL WE CAN’T SEE THEM AT ALL AT ALL GERMS GERMS GERMS GERMS

YOU GOTTA COVER YOUR MOUTH YOU BETTER STAY IN YOUR HOUSE THE WORLD’S COVERED WITH THEM THEY CAN MAKE YOUR LIFE DIM

YOU’VE GOT A COLD YOU’VE GOT THE FLU INFECTION GROWS WHAT SHOULD YOU DO? YOUR NOSTRILS FILL YOU’VE GOT THE CHILLS YOU SPREAD DISEASE NOW WHEN YOU SNEEZE THEY’RE EVERYWHERE YOU CAN’T ESCAPE YOU GET A SHOT AND THEN YOU WAIT YOUR TUMMY HURTS YOUR BODY ACHES YOU FEEL SO BAD YOU REALLY HATE THOSE GERMS CHORUS CHORUS

“HEY, LITTLE SQUIRREL!” HEY, LITTLE SQUIRREL! YOU CIRCLE AROUND AND DIG IN THE GROUND ALL DAY HEY, LITTLE SQUIRREL! YOU CHITTER AND CHATTER AS YOU TRY TO FIND YOUR WAY CHORUS: I’M WATCHING YOU AND I CAN’T BELIEVE IT THAT YOU CAN RUN SO FAST AND CLIMB SO HIGH I CAN’T BELIEVE THAT YOU’RE SO FURRY WITH BUSHY TAIL AND DARK BROWN EYES HEY, LITTLE SQUIRREL! YOU FEED ON CONES YOU SEARCH FOR NUTS TO STORE HEY, LITTLE SQUIRREL! YOU GLIDE THROUGH THE TREES YOU RUSTLE THE LEAVES BEFORE CHORUS: I’M WATCHING YOU AND I CAN’T BELIEVE IT THAT YOU CAN RUN SO FAST AND CLIMB SO HIGH I CAN’T BELIEVE THAT YOU’RE SO FURRY WITH BUSHY TAIL AND DARK BROWN EYES YOU SEEM SO NERVOUS CAUSE YOU NEVER SLOW DOWN YOU NIBBLE ACORNS AS THEY FALL ON THE GROUND FROM LIMB TO LIMB TO THE TOP OF MY HOUSE WITH A GENTLE LEAP YOU’RE AS QUIET SOMETIMES QUIET AS A MOUSE REPEAT VERSE 1

CHORUS CHORUS . . . . . . . . . .

“THE WONDERS OF LIFE” YOU CAN SEE IT IN A BABY’S SMILE YOU CAN HEAR IT IN THE CALL OF THE WILD WATCH THE FLIGHT OF A BUTTERFLY AND YOU KNOW IT’S ALIVE YOU CAN SEE IT WHEN A CELL DIVIDES HEAR THE BEES BUZZING IN THEIR HIVE EAGLE SOARING IN THE SKY SO HIGH AND YOU KNOW, YES YOU KNOW, THEY’RE LIVE CHORUS: AND ALL THE BIRDS WERE SINGING AND ALL THE FISH WERE SWIMMING AROUND ALL LIVING THINGS ON THIS PLANET EARTH WERE SMILING OVER THE WONDERS OF LIFE IT CAN START WITH THE FALLING RAIN AS SPROUTING SEEDS REACH UP FOR THEIR GAIN SMELL THE FLOWERS AS YOU PASS THEM BY AND YOU KNOW THEY’RE ALIVE YOU CAN FEEL IT WITH THE TOUCH OF A HAND WATCH THE CREATURES SCURRY OVER THE SAND LITTLE KITTEN PLAYING IT’S NOT SHY AND YOU KNOW, YES YOU KNOW, IT’S ALIVE CHORUS ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ OO OO OO LIFE OO OO OO LIFE ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ OO OO OO LIFE OO OO OO LIFE CHORUS CHORUS