This document provides examples of using songs and humor to teach mathematical concepts. It suggests incorporating students' favorite songs into lessons by modifying lyrics to explain formulas, proofs, and other math ideas. Examples are given of songs modified to teach order of operations, dividing fractions, and atoms. Teachers are encouraged to make songs simple, short, repetitive, and fun to help students better retain information. The document also contains math jokes and links to video examples of songs used in math lessons.

1. Singing Through The Curriculum
A Little Math Humor
One Direction 1 Thing Spoof
• Mathematics is made of 50 percent formulas,
50 percent proofs, and 50 percent
imagination.
• Old mathematicians never die; they just lose
some of their functions.
• Some mathematicians become so tense these
days that they do not go to sleep during
seminars.

2. Think about your favorite song…
Do you remember the words?
Or at least the chorus?
Does it change your emotions…
make you happy/sad/excited?
Wouldn’t that be a powerful tool if you could use
that in a school lesson?

3. Learning New Information
• We gain new information through our senses, the
more senses we stimulate the easier it will be for
us to receive and recall information.
How Music Helps
• Of course we can hear the song, but we can also
write down the words and watch others and see
interactions. We can feel the vibrations and put our
bodies put into motion from planned movements
(dance moves).
• Incorporating more senses: have the students earn
peppermints for a job well done, thus entering
smell and taste into the learning curve equation.

4. How to Help Students RETAIN Information
• One major way to help retain information is
through repetition / review.
– Academically Gifted students learn in 1-3 times repeated
– Average students usually need 4 -10 times repeated
– Learning Disabled students may need 70 times or more
• How do we do this repetition without loosing
students that “got it” on the 1st time?
• Music can help make the learning fun and
entertaining while engaging the students in the
repetition so many desperately need.

5. Teaching the Order of Operations
• Please Excuse My Dear Aunt Sally.
• PEMDAS
• PE(MD)(AS)
• Cupid Shuffle version- Teachertube/youtube
MbPAnderson In Phoenix, Arizona (resource)
• Q-U-E’s (Mind of a Mathman) Version…
Oh, Oh, Oh for the Order Of Operations.

6. Quiz Time!
Name the Song or a Line in the Song
Or on this one the song being made fun of

7. My own “Modified” version
• Order Of Operations (short and simple)

8. Dividing Fractions
• Dividing by a number is the same as multiplying by
that number’s reciprocal.
• Keep Change & Flip KCF!
• It’s not KFC but it’s still finger licking good math.
• To the beat of “Money” by Pink Floid… My Version

9. Quiz Time!
Name the Song or a Line in the Song

10. Example of Songs in Action
How Can We Teach About Atoms?
• Sounds like Adams… !
Media Link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sshZjxmzJVI
Adams Video

11. If Funny / Entertaining, It will be Memorable
Mr. Parr’s
Adams Video

12. Making A Song Continued
• It often helps to look up the words to the song you
want to imitate on line then look for math words
that rhyme or work for the situation.
– Play and have fun with it. If you are having fun the
experience is much better for all involved.
– If you get stuck don’t be ashamed to ask a student
sometimes they will come up with the best lines!

13. When Making a Song for Learning
• Make it simple
– If you can’t keep it simple at least make it roll off the
tongue. (Some items just don’t make good songs, use your
best judgment)
• Make it short
– If you can’t make it short, break it into sections when you
teach it.
• Make it repeat
• Bonus – I call it the Weird Al effect “White & Nerdy”
– Make it funny or at least have fun with the song.
– Make it sound like something they already know (connect
to prior learning).
– Look for plays on words such as (Adams and Atoms).
– Make them move (add motions with the words) Put it in
the body.

14. Let’s now try to make our own Song
• First decide on your Subject (Math / Science / Etc.)
– Decide if you want to work on a new song/ song already
started but unfinished/ or share songs you already
know, created, or have used.
• Groups of 3 within the same subject. (Suggestion)
• Pick a topic you would like to teach. (Or use a starter)
• Pick a Genre type (one you either like or think your students will)
– Pop, Rap, Country, Folk, Oldies
– Other (Commercials, Sayings, etc.)
• You can start with a song in mind or a topic you would like to
teach. (You CAN make almost anything a curriculum song.)

15. For Your Songs
• Thinking of different ways to reach your students
and having fun while teaching the material will
reflect in your teaching and the student’s retention.
• Educational songs should help expand your
ideas, sharpen your teaching skills and reach those
you couldn’t reach before.
• Keep in mind you don’t have to make up your own
– The internet is teeming with educational songs.
• Share with others your ideas
– Facebook Support Group (NC Teacher Share Group)

16. Other Important Things to Keep in Mind
• People are different so we can’t say songs will
work for every student; However the more
interactions students have with the material the
more likely they are to remember it.
• Sometimes the information doesn’t make good
song material, use your best judgment. It does
not have to make sense but it has to make the
student think or they will not connect the song
to the information.
• Be sure to point out common misunderstandings
For example the term is ATOMS not ADAMS.

17. Questions
Math problems? Were always happy to help just
Call 1-800-[(10x)(13i)2]-[sin(xy)/2.362x].
If you actually took the time to figure that number
out, can call me and tell me what it says.

18. Quiz Time!
Name the Song or a Line in the Song

19. More Math Humor
• Q: What does the zero say to the eight?
A: Nice belt!
• Life is complex: it has both real and imaginary
components.
• An engineer thinks that his equations are an
approximation to reality. A physicist thinks reality is an
approximation to his equations. A mathematician
doesn't care.
• I accidentally divided by zero and my paper burst into
flames.
• "Do you love your math more than me?"
"Of course not, dear - I love you much more."
Funny Math
"Then prove it!" video Clip
"OK... Let R be the set of all lovable objects...“

20. Encore Educational Music
Bruno Mars
Inequalities Parody (linear SOH CAH TOA
QUE (blurb) functions) Flo Rider-Trig
Pi Video
Sun Parts
Moon Phases Mr. Parr
Mr. Parr’s
Mr. Parr Planets Around
A Star