A Noun Is a Person, Place or Thing: Nouns & the launch of Grammar Rock
The parts of speech, which traditionally let others do the talking for them, will become the stars of a series of musical mini-movies entitled “Grammar Rock” on the ABC Television Network.
The four-minute animated programs are designed to explain the parts of speech through the entertaining format of action, contemporary rhythms and memorable lyrics.
“Grammar Rock” will be shown at intervals throughout the children’s weekend program bloc on an alternating basis with the highly successful “Multiplication Rock,” the animated musical series initiated last season to teach the multiplication tables.
Nouns and conjunctions will be the first to debut in the “Grammar Rock” series in films entitled “A Noun Is a Person, Place or Thing,” and “Conjunction Junction.” Films on other parts of speech will be added throughout the new season.
“This form of teaching with entertainment has proved so successful with ‘Multiplication Rock,'” an official said, “that the ABC Television Network determined to bring it to the field of grammar. The format has been widely accepted and praised by educators, parents and children. Young viewers are intrigued and entertained by action, music and lyrics of their own idiom while they are learning.”
The segment of nouns follows a little girl through a series of adventures that teach her all the things that nouns can be. She is accompanied on her journey by catchy rock music.
“Grammar Rock” and “Multiplication Rock” were conceived by David B. McCall, president and board chairman of the New York advertising agency of McCaffrey and McCall, Inc. The agency executive set out to have music and school subject matter combined when he noticed that his son could remember the words of every rock tune he heard, but the boy could not remember his multiplication tables.
Both “Grammar Rock” and “Multiplication Rock” are produced by Scholastic Rock, Inc. The executive producer for both is Tom Yohe, co-creative director at McCaffrey and McCall.
The music and lyrics for “A Noun is a Person, Place or Thing” were written by Lynn Ahrens, who also sings in the film. The segment was designed by Jack Sidebotham. The animation is by Phil Kimmelman and Associates, and Bob Dorough serves as musical director for the series.
“Grammar Rock” and “Multiplication Rock” will be televised on a rotating basis in seven time grids throughout the children’s weekend program block.
Classic Schoolhouse Rock: A Noun Is a Person, Place or Thing
Written and performed by Lynn Ahrens, and first aired in 1973
A Noun Is a Person, Place or Thing (lyrics)
Well, every person you can know,
And every place that you can go,
And anything that you can show,
You know they’re nouns.
A noun’s a special kind of word,
It’s any name you ever heard,
I find it quite interesting,
A noun’s a person, place, or thing.
Oh, I took a train, took a train to another state.
The flora and the fauna that I saw were really great.
When I saw some bandits chasin’ the train.
I was wishin’ I was back home again.
I took a train, took a train to another state.
Well, every person you can know (Like a bandit or an engineer)
And every place that you can go (Like a state or a home)
And anything that you can show (Like animals and plants or a train)
You know they’re nouns – you know they’re nouns, oh…
Mrs. Jones is a lady on Hudson Street.
She sent her dog to bark at my brother and me.
We gave her dog a big fat bone,
And now he barks at Mrs. Jones.
She’s a lady who lives on Hudson Street.
Well, every person you can know (Mrs. Jones, a lady, or a brother)
And every place that you can go (Like a street or a corner)
And anything that you can show (Like a dog or a bone)
You know they’re nouns – you know they’re nouns, oh…
I took a ferry to the Statue of Liberty.
My best friend was waitin’ there for me. (He took an early ferry.)
We went for a walk on the island you know,
And in the middle of summer, it started to snow,
When I took a ferry to the Statue of Liberty.
Well every person you can know (Like a friend or the captain of a ship)
And every place that you can go (An island or a sea)
And anything that you can show (Like a statue, a ferry, or snow)
You know they’re nouns – you know they’re nouns.
Oh, I put a dime in the drugstore record machine.
Oldies goldies started playing if you know what I mean.
I heard Chubby Checker, he was doin’ the twist
And the Beatles and the Monkees, it goes like this!
I put a dime in the drugstore record machine.
Well every person you can know (The Beatles and the Monkees, Chubby Checker)
And every place that you can go (Like a neighborhood or a store)
And anything that you can show (Like a dime or a record machine)
You know they’re nouns.
A noun’s a special kind of word,
It’s any name you ever heard,
I find it quite interesting,
A noun’s a person, place, or thing.
A noun is a person, place or thing.
