Schoolhouse Rock, rocks

My 8th graders don't know the difference between a verb and a noun. They can't even define them. At first I thought that it wasn't really important and I would do a brief introduction to them. Then I'd move on, if they hadn't learned it in the past 8 years how important could it be? 

I'm rethinking my stance. Some of the students have a hard time writing complete sentences. I ask them what the subject is. Blank looks. The noun? Blanker looks. I suppose that if I want them to write better complex sentences I better teach them the parts of speech.

I've tried the traditional teaching of parts of speech: diagramming sentences, lecture and notes, practice worksheets, etc. Not really working.

Another teacher suggested Schoolhouse Rocks. She     is      brilliant! I found the videos on youtube and schooltube: http://www.schooltube.com/video/2f64b89f85db90e07260/ for those of you whose schools block youtube. They are super cute and the songs just get stuck in your head. I think they'll really help my darling students. The lyrics are all online here: http://www.schoolhouserock.tv/Grammar.html Extra bonus. I've been working on note sheets to go with the videos, perhaps I'll post them when I'm done. I also made a scattergories game out of the parts of speech. We'll see how it goes, just maybe my students will leave 8th grade understanding how sentences are put together. Here's hoping for some success!