Unit 6
"Solve My Case"
This song includes fourth grade vocabulary words that students are likely to encounter on state tests. It teaches the following words: accurate, calculate, concentrate, concern, conclude, considerable, flexible, frequent, outstanding and request. The mystery in this song is difficult to solve. So put on your thinking cap and pay close attention!
Intro
I once met a girl at the base of a mountain,
Out in a state park, in the morning about 10.
We started chatting; her name was Ayisha,
She told me that she was even faster than a cheetah.
I said, "That would be outstanding and excellent,
But there’s no way." She said, "You want to make a bet?
I bet you 20 bucks that if I sprinted,
I could be at the top of the mountain in less than a minute."
I figured it was a couple of miles in all,
That’s a considerable distance, rather large.
She could never do it in a minute, and I knew it.
I said, "I’ll take your bet; I know you’re going to lose it."
Ayisha gave me binoculars and a stopwatch,
She said, "Start the watch, and watch for me at the top."
And then she jogged off, not even that fast,
And disappeared among the trees along the path.
You know she’s so quick, yeah she’s so quick,
Either that, or I just got tricked.
You know she’s so quick, yeah she’s so quick,
Either that, or I just got tricked!
So, fifty seconds later, I used the binoculars
To see to the top of the mountain, "Oh, what!"
I couldn’t believe what I was seeing,
I was so shocked; I almost stopped breathing!
’Cause at the top with a full 10 seconds to spare
Was Ayisha smiling with her hands in the air!
Then she came back down, hardly out of breath,
I gave her 20 bucks; I had lost the bet.
But I was concerned, worried, about this girl,
Was she some kind of alien from another world?
It wasn’t losing the money that made me frown,
It was this girl tricking me, and I didn’t know how.
I thought about requesting and asking for help,
But I was pretty smart; I could solve the case myself.
I thought about the whole thing, beginning to end,
And tried to keep my mind flexible, able to bend.
I mean able to change, it’s true this was strange,
But "Strange" is my middle name.
I had to focus my mind on this one thing and concentrate,
She couldn’t have been running.
Because I studied a map; if it was accurate and exact,
Ayisha had run five miles on the path.
Then I calculated; I did the math,
She ran 300 miles an hour—that’s crazy fast!
You know she’s so quick, yeah she’s so quick,
Either that, or I just got tricked.
You know she’s so quick, yeah she’s so quick,
Either that, or I just got tricked!
I thought back about all the facts,
But I couldn’t figure out how she had run that fast.
Then I saw a bluebird, which was kind of awesome,
’Cause I don’t see them frequently or very often.
And then I walked back down the mountain,
Sad that I couldn’t figure it out when
I saw the bluebird again, or maybe it was another,
They looked the same, but it could have been his brother.
And then I had it! I mean I knew exactly!
I had figured it out, concluded what happened.
One person could never be that fast,
One person could never be that fast.
I found out where Ayisha lived and drove over,
Smiling to myself, I was happier than Grover.
I knocked, said, "May I come in?"
The door opened; it was Ayisha and her identical twin…
You know she’s so quick, yeah she’s so quick,
Either that, or I just got tricked.
You know she’s so quick, yeah she’s so quick,
Either that, or I just got tricked!
This song is a mystery that's pretty hard to solve. As you listen, pay close attention to everything you hear. Even a little bluebird could be a clue…You'll learn these words: accurate, calculate, concentrate, concern, conclude, considerable, flexible, frequent, outstanding, request.
outstanding (adj)
Standing apart from others due to excellence.
Clara did an outstanding job on her math test and earned an A+.
Standing apart from others due to excellence.
Clara did an outstanding job on her math test and earned an A+.
considerable (adj)
Large in size or amount.
Our chess team was able to raise a considerable amount of money by holding a car wash.
Large in size or amount.
Our chess team was able to raise a considerable amount of money by holding a car wash.
concern (verb)
To trouble or worry.
My dog's constant sneezing concerns me (noun) Worry; nervousness.
Because of concern over student safety, our field trip was cancelled.
Related word: concerned (adj) To be worried.
My mom was concerned that I wouldn't be able to finish my homework if I stayed too late at Jake's house.
To trouble or worry.
My dog's constant sneezing concerns me (noun) Worry; nervousness.
Because of concern over student safety, our field trip was cancelled.
Related word: concerned (adj) To be worried.
My mom was concerned that I wouldn't be able to finish my homework if I stayed too late at Jake's house.
request (verb)
To ask for.
My best friend and I requested to be in the same class next year.
(noun) The act of asking.
The radio station received lots of requests for Michael Jackson songs in the days after his death.
To ask for.
My best friend and I requested to be in the same class next year.
(noun) The act of asking.
The radio station received lots of requests for Michael Jackson songs in the days after his death.
flexible (adj)
Able to bend or change easily.
My new toothbrush had a flexible head to make brushing easier.
Able to bend or change easily.
My new toothbrush had a flexible head to make brushing easier.
concentrate (verb)
To focus all of one's thoughts or efforts on.
Concentrating on keeping her eyes on the ball really helped Tristan play better baseball.
To focus all of one's thoughts or efforts on.
Concentrating on keeping her eyes on the ball really helped Tristan play better baseball.
accurate (adj)
Without errors; completely correct.
Anthony's report said that some whales can speak English, which isn't accurate.
Without errors; completely correct.
Anthony's report said that some whales can speak English, which isn't accurate.
calculate (verb)
To find the answer by using math.
Knowing that my uncle was born in 1972 made it easy for me to calculate his age.
To find the answer by using math.
Knowing that my uncle was born in 1972 made it easy for me to calculate his age.
frequent (adj)
Happening often or over and over.
It's a frequent event in my town: a fox kills someone's cat.
Happening often or over and over.
It's a frequent event in my town: a fox kills someone's cat.
conclude (verb)
1. To bring or come to an end.
Larry concluded his speech with a shout-out to his dad.
2. To figure out using careful thought.
If it took four hours to drive to New York, I concluded it would take six hours to drive to Philadelphia.
1. To bring or come to an end.
Larry concluded his speech with a shout-out to his dad.
2. To figure out using careful thought.
If it took four hours to drive to New York, I concluded it would take six hours to drive to Philadelphia.
Tests and answer keys are only available for paid subscribers.
Click below to sign up for a digital subscription.
Like us? Like us.
