Author: Flocabulary Team

What is mutation? Well to understand that, first you need a quick primer on DNA. Everyone has DNA (deoxyribonucleic acid) inside of them. That's how you got your mom's blue eyes and your dad's height. DNA is the genetic instruction used in the development, aesthetic and functioning of every human being, including you! Look to your right. Now look to your left. Your neighbors aren't carbon copies of you, are they? That's because no two people have the exact same DNA. Even identical twins have different DNA. Check out our rap, We are DNA, to better understand DNA and the…

Review the Biggest Buzzwords of the Week! When you follow national and worldwide affairs, you get access to deep seated rivalries, the aftermath of disasters, celebrations of legacies, wild science, famous goodbyes and presidential speeches. Each week, we’ll highlight the top buzzwords or terms that your students might not have known or even heard until now. All these words are featured in the most recent edition of The Week in Rap. And once they beef up their vocab, the news will make a lot more sense. THIS WEEK rivalry (noun) -- the act of rivaling: the state of being a rival…

Is "Swing Low, Sweet Chariot" a familiar line to you? Did you know it was written during the Civil War by a former slave? You may be surprised to learn that many old familiar songs were written by or for slaves, and that many of the lyrics have double meanings that relate to slavery. Slaves would sing songs as a way to communicate with other slaves or with "conductors" on the Underground Railroad. Because the lyrics were seemingly innocent, plantation owners and overseers had no way of knowing that slaves might be planning on running away or plotting to revolt.…

Edger Allen Poe's chilling tale about insult and revenge was first published in 1846. Though the feeling of horror that the story evokes is timeless, the language is not. Our "Cask of Amontillado" summary rap not only reviews the key elements of the story, but it also helps you understand some of the old-fashioned language in the original. Here's a small snippet of the lyrics from our song, where Montresor, the narrator, thinks his friend Fortunato has insulted him one too many times and vows revenge: The "thousand injuries" that I have endured Due to "Fortunato" – and "I bore them…

Review the Biggest Buzzwords of the Week! When you follow national and worldwide affairs, you get access to fascinating men and women, wild science, lands previously unknown, and sometimes surprising events from your own backyard. And each week, it seems like a few words get repeated again and again. Each week, we’ll highlight the top buzzwords or terms that your students might not have known or even heard until now. All these words are featured in the most recent edition of The Week in Rap. And once they beef up their vocab, the news will make a lot more sense. THIS…