2019 Geek-A-Long: Schoolhouse Rock

AS YOUR BODY GROWS BIGGER, YOUR MIND GROWS FLOWERS. IT’S GREAT TO LEARN, ‘CAUSE KNOWLEDGE IS POWER!

Schoolhouse Rock was the brainchild of an advertising executive named David McCall, who noticed his son could remember all the words to popular songs, but couldn’t seem to retain multiplication tables. In 1969, he enlisted the American bebop and cool jazz legend, Bob Dorough, to compose the “Multiplication Rock” tunes, which they first released as a children’s album. Shortly after that, McCall decided to produce them into cartoon series, and “Three is the Magic Number” made its Saturday morning debut January 6, 1973.

Schoolhouse Rock quickly became a 1970s pop culture phenomenon and released five distinct series: Multiplication Rock; Grammar Rock, which included my favorite “Conjunction Junction”; America Rock, which coincided with the United States bicentennial and featured “I’m Just a Bill”; Science Rock; Computer Rock. The animated shorts stayed on air until 1985 and then saw a brief revival in the mid 1990s. Which, if you’re wondering, is why I can sing to you the answer to, “Conjunction Junction, what’s your function?”

Conjunction Junction, what’s your function?
Hooking up cars and making ’em function.
Conjunction Junction, how’s that function?
I like tying up words and phrases and clauses.
Conjunction Junction, watch that function.
I’m going to get you there if you’re very careful.
Conjunction Junction, what’s your function?
I’m going to get you there if you’re very careful.
Conjunction Junction, what’s your function?
I’m going to get you there if you’re very careful.

In the 90s, they added a new series along with the reruns, “Money Rock.” It used song to discuss money management on a personal and governmental level.

For the most part, The Walt Disney Company has taken the shorts out of rotation since the early 2000s. But, if you’re feeling nostalgic and want to teach your kids about grammar or how the government works through song, Disney has an educational channel on YouTube where you can view the biggest Schoolhouse Rock hits along with other fun stuff. There are a few Bill Nye the Science Guy videos available along with some other random stuff I’ve never heard of and Timon and Pumba discussing different safety topics.

For our square, I decided to memorial the reason why I passed all my U.S. History tests, Bill.

He’s just a bill, sitting on Capitol Hill. It’s a long, long journey to the capital city. It’s a long, long wait while he’s sitting in committee, but he knows he’ll be a law someday.

Whether you’re knitting, crocheting, or cross stitching this square, you can download the Schoolhouse Rock pattern here. Instructions and charts for both knit and crochet are listed in the pattern. When you’re finished making it, don’t forget to Instagram your squares at us @lattesandllamasyarn with the hashtag #geekalong! Want to hang out with other people making the blanket? You can find moral support in the Geek-A-Long group on Ravelry here.

~Jac

Rest in peace, Bob Dorough. Thank you for making learning a little bit easier.

If you enjoyed this post, please consider making a donation to Child’s Play Charity. Here is a direct link to our official donation page benefiting the charity. Please help us raise $1,000 this year. No contribution is too small! Wanna make your donation go even further? Lattes & Llamas will donate $1 for every skein of Geek-A-Long Yarn purchased.