Tuesday, June 30, 2015

Microcirculation


We've learned how the oxygenated blood makes its way through the arteries, and how the last part of the trip before bringing blood to a part of the body is the arterioles.

After the arterioles, the blood goes into tiny small tubes called capillaries.
We learned about capillaries before, and how oxygen gets into capillaries at the blood air barrier by the lungs.

Capillaries are built to let blood out of them, to go to your tissues like your skin and muscles.
You can almost think of it like pouring water over a blanket. The blanket looks solid but if you pour water on it, the water will go through.

After the fresh oxygenated blood goes out from the capillaries into your body, your body uses up the oxygen in the blood, and the capillaries suck it back in to get sent back for more oxygen.

This used blood is called deoxygenated blood.

The whole process of the body dumping out the new blood and picking up the old blood is called microcirculation.

(from: wikipedia - microcirculation)


Kid Facts - Blast from the past: Stomach - Protease

Monday, June 29, 2015

Pennsylvania


We just learned about the US State of Oregon.

Pennsylvania is a state in the eastern part of the US.
It's state nicknames are Keystone State and Quaker State.
It's motto is Virtue, Liberty and Independence.

(from: wikipedia - pennsylvania)

The flag of Pennsylvania is blue, with the state seal on it.
The state seal has an American bald eagle, horses, ships, a plough, wheat sheaves, an olive branch and a corn stalk.

(from: wikipedia - flag and coat of arms of pennsylvania)

The chocolate capitol of the US is in Hershey Pennsylvania, where Hershey's chocolate is made.
They have a place called Chocolate World where they have information about how the chocolate is made, and a roller coaster park nearby called Hersheypark.

(from: wikipedia - hershey, pennsylvania)

The oldest pretzel bakery in the US was Sturgis Pretzel house

(from: wikipedia - sturgis pretzel house)

Philadelphia was a very important city through American history.
It was the capitol in the Revolutionary war, it was the location where the declaration of independence was signed, and it is where the liberty bell is along with more statues than any other city in the US.

(from: wikipedia - philadelphia)

James Buchanan who was born in Pennsylvania, was the 15th President of the US, in 1857

(from: wikipedia - james buchanan)


Kid Facts - Blast from the past: Mozambique

Sunday, June 28, 2015

Peter Heals a Lame Beggar


After the Holy Spirit came to the apostles, they went out and spread the teachings of Jesus.

They even performed miracles to heal people.

One time there was a man who could not walk that was begging for money near a temple.
The apostles Peter and John came by and saw him, grabbed him by the hands, told him to walk in the name of Jesus, and the man was healed!

People were amazed that the man was healed, and Peter told them that it was through the power of faith in Jesus.

(from: wikipedia - saint peter)


Kid Facts - Blast from the past: The Light of the World

Saturday, June 27, 2015

The Basket of Apples - Cézanne


We just learned about the famous work of art First Abstract Watercolor by Kandinsky.

Another famous work of art is The Basket of Apples by French artist Paul Cézanne in 1895.

Since it's a painting of something not moving like fruit, it's called still life.

Some people have noticed that the painting looks like tilted and unbalanced.
The bottle is tilted, the basket is tipped and the tablecloth looks like it doesn't match up right.


(from: wikipedia - the basket of apples)


Kid Facts - Blast from the past: Solar Photosphere

Friday, June 26, 2015

German - September, October


Let's keep learning about the months of the year in German!

We already learned that January, February is Jaunar, Februar,
March, April is März, April,
May, June is Mai, Juni,
and July, August is Juli, August

Let's keep going!

September - September - sounds like Zep-tem-bah /?/
October - Oktober - sounds like Oh-k-toh-bah /?/

Goethe Institute
(from: wikipedia - Goethe Institute)

Do you remember how to say it in Spanish?
Septiembre, Octubre

Do you remember how to say it in French?
Septembre, Octobre

Thursday, June 25, 2015

Lightning Attachment


We've learned about lightning downward leaders and upward streamers.

When the downward and upward touch together, that's called attachment.

When they attach, the electricity goes all the way from the cloud, through the downward leader, through the upward streamer, and into the ground.


(from: wikipedia - lightning)

Kid Facts - Blast from the past: Lead

Wednesday, June 24, 2015

St. Bernard


We just learned about the type of dog the Old English Sheepdog.

Another type of dog is the St. Bernard.
It is a very big dog, and can get as big as 260 lbs, heavier than a grown person!
They can get as tall as 3 feet tall, about waist height on a person.

Long ago in a mountain area that has a lot of snow, some people used these dogs to go out in the snow and rescue people that were stuck from avalanches or just out in the cold too long.
One dog named Barry saved the lives of 100 people!
He was so famous that they made a statue of him.

These days there are safer ways to get through the mountains so people don't use St. Bernhards for rescuing anymore, but they are still great dogs.

(from: wikipedia - st. bernard (dog))


Kid Facts - Blast from the past: Loon

Tuesday, June 23, 2015

Arterioles


We've learned about how oxygenated blood goes all the way from your heart to your head fingers and toes in the arteries of the body.

At the very end of the trip, the arteries that are carrying the oxygenated blood split apart into smaller tubes called arterioles to bring blood to every part of your body.

(from: wikipedia - arteriole)


Kid Facts - Blast from the past: Stomach - Hydrochloric Acid

Monday, June 22, 2015

Oregon


We just learned about the state of Oklahoma.

Oregon is a state on the west coast of the US, just north of California.

It's nickname is the Beaver State, and it's motto is Alis volat propriis which means She flies with her own wings.

(from: wikipedia - oregon)

The state flag of Oregon has a blue background and a yellow foreground.
On one side is a picture of a beaver, the state animal.
On the other side is the state seal.
On the state seal is an eagle above a shield that shows mountains, an elk, a covered wagon, the Pacific Ocean, a British ship, an American ship, a sheaf, a plow and a pickaxe.

Oregon is the only state in the US that has two different sides on either side of it's flag.

(from: wikipedia - flag of oregon)

There is a large stratovolcano in Oregon called Mount Mazama.
It erupted a long long time ago, and now where the peak of the mountain was is a lake called Crater Lake.
In the middle of the lake is an island called Wizard Island, made when they volcano erupted.

(from: wikipedia - mount mazama)

The books written by author Beverly Cleary about Henry, Ramona and Beezus were supposed to take place on a street in Portland Oregon. There is a park nearby that has statues of the children to honor the author's writings.

(from: wikipedia - grant park, portland, oregon)


Kid Facts - Blast from the past: Ghana

Sunday, June 21, 2015

Holy Spirit Comes at Pentecost


After Jesus had gone up into heaven, the Disciples were together one day and they heard a very loud sound like the blowing of a large wind.

They saw what looked like tongues of fire set on each of them!

After that they were able to speak in many other languages, and were able to talk to anyone no matter what language they spoke.

Some people thought they were being crazy, but Peter came out and told them that it was the Holy Spirit that had come to the disciples to let them talk to everyone and tell them about Jesus no matter what language they spoke.

(from: wikipedia - pentecost)


Kid Facts - Blast from the past: Salt of the Earth

Saturday, June 20, 2015

First Abstract Watercolor - Kandinsky


We just learned about the work of art Primavera by Sandro Botticelli.

Another famous work of art is the painting First Abstract Watercolor by Russian artist Wassily Kandinsky in 1910.

Around the time Kandinsky painted this, people were starting to change the way they made art.
For a very long time artists tried as hard as they could to make paintings that looked real.
But people started to want to make paintings that were different, like paintings that didn't look like people or things or really anything at all.
They called this style Abstract Art.

Kandinsky's First Abstract Watercolor is just a bunch of shapes and colors, and isn't really supposed to be a picture of anything.
It really doesn't even have a name, it's just the first abstract painting he did in water color, so they call it Kandinsky's First Abstract Watercolor.

Many other artists made abstract paintings after Kandinsky, but people usually think of his painting as the first ever famous abstract art painting.

(from: wikipedia - kandinsky's first abstract watercolor)


Kid Facts - Blast from the past: Solar - Convection Zone

Friday, June 19, 2015

German - July, August


Let's keep learning about the months of the year in German!

We already learned that January, February is Jaunar, Februar,
March, April is März, April,
and May, June is Mai, Juni

Let's keep going!

July - Juli - sounds like yoo-lee /?/
August - August - sounds like ow-goo-st /?/

Goethe Institute
(from: wikipedia - Goethe Institute)

Do you remember how to say it in Spanish?
Julio, Agosto

Do you remember how to say it in French?
Julliet, Août

Thursday, June 18, 2015

Lightning Upward Streamers


We've learned about negative charged lightning leaders, and how they are ionized gases going down toward the ground looking to zap something.

Sometimes there are positive charges on the ground that are going up looking to get zapped.
These are called upward streamers or upward leaders.

If there is a positive charge on the ground, it will reach out from the tallest points, either a tall building or a tree top, reaching up to the downward leaders.
If the two connect, there is a huge lightning zap!


(from: wikipedia - lightning)


Kid Facts - Blast from the past: Sodium

Wednesday, June 17, 2015

Old English Sheepdog


We just learned about the type of dog the chihuahua.

Another type of dog is the Old English Sheepdog.

These sheepdogs have shaggy long hair that even covers their eyes.
Some people brush their fur to keep it clean, and others give their dogs a hair cut.

Sometimes people even tie up their dogs hair in front of their face with a hair clip!


(from: wikipedia - old english sheepdog)


Kid Facts - Blast from the past: Sea Anemone

Tuesday, June 16, 2015

Plantar and Dorsal Digital Arteries


After the metatarsal arteries of the foot, the last arteries are the digital arteries.

There are two sets, the plantar digital arteries on the bottom of the foot, and the dorsal digital arteries on the top of the foot.

(from: wikipedia - common plantar digital arteries)


Kid Facts - Blast from the past: Stomach - Peristalsis

Monday, June 15, 2015

Oklahoma


We just learned about the US state of Ohio.

Oklahoma is a state in the middle of the US.

It's nickname is the Sooner State. Sooner was the name of the people who came to the land before it was part of the US.
It's motto is Labor omnia vincit which means Hard work conquers all things.


(from: wikipedia - oklahoma)

The flag of Oklahoma is a buffalo skin shield with eagle feathers on a blue background.

(from: wikipedia - flag of oklahoma)

The seal of Oklahoma is a star in a circle.
The pictures in the star are for the five Native American tribes in Oklahoma, Chickasaw, Cherokee, Choctaw, Creek and Seminole.
The stars are for the 45 other states when Oklahoma became a state.


(from: wikipedia - seal of oklahoma)

Oklahoma is in an area called Tornado Alley, because they have more tornadoes than many other places.

(from: wikipedia - oklahoma)

One of the first highways to go all the way across the US was called US 66.
That highway started in Oklahoma, the first road going from Tulsa Oklahoma to Texas.

(from: wikipedia - u.s. route 66)


Kid Facts - Blast from the past: Uganda

Sunday, June 14, 2015

Jesus Ascends to Heaven


We just learned about when Jesus Restored Peter.

After Jesus had appeared to his disciples at different times and talked to them, he finally ascended to heaven.

The word ascended means to go up, climb or rise up.

The disciples were all standing together talking to Jesus, and he told them to wait in Jerusalem for the Holy Spirit.

He went up to the sky into a cloud and was gone.

While they were all standing around looking up, two men in white came up and told them that Jesus will come back some day.

(from: wikipedia - ascension of jesus)


Kid Facts - Blast from the past: Blessed are the Peacemakers

Saturday, June 13, 2015

Primavera - Botticelli


We just learned about the work of art The Fox Hunt - Winslow Homer

Another famous work of art is Primavera by Italian artist Sandro Botticelli in 1482.

This painting is showing people from stories long ago, where seasons like spring and fall were powerful magical people.

On the right the person in dark is Zephyrus, the cold wind from March.
He is colored dark and scary because of the cold hard days sometimes in March.

Next to him is Flora, the first wind of Spring, and you can see flowers coming out of her mouth.
Next to Flora is Primavera who stands for all the flowers and life of Spring.

After Flora comes Venus, who is like the Queen in the back watching over everyone.
There are three women dancing together who are known as the Graces, who are for beauty and nature.
Above the Graces is cupid, ready to shoot his love arrows at them.

Last on the left is Mercury, and he is holding up a staff that is keeping the garden safe from clouds.

Since this painting is trying to tell a story, many people for many years have talked about it, and even had arguments about which person stands for what, or what the whole painting means.


(from: wikipedia - primavera (painting))


Kid Facts - Blast from the past: Solar - Radiation Zone

Friday, June 12, 2015

German - May, June


Let's keep learning about the months of the year in German!

We already learned that January, February is Jaunar, Februar,
and March, April is März, April

Let's keep going!

May - Mai - sounds like mah-ee /?/
June - Juni - sounds like yoo-nee /?/

Goethe Institute
(from: wikipedia - Goethe Institute)

Do you remember how to say it in Spanish?
Mayo, Junio

Do you remember how to say it in French?
Mai, Juin

Thursday, June 11, 2015

Lightning Leaders


We just learned about Cloud to Cloud Lightning

When a cloud is all full of energy and ready to zap the ground with some electricity and make Cloud to Ground Lightning, it starts shooting out things that are called leaders.

We learned before about the tiny particles called atoms, and we learned that they can have extra positive or extra negative energy, called Ions.
When all the little tiny atoms in the cloud get charged up, or ionized with energy, the negative and positive ionized gases in the cloud go in different directions.

The negative ionized gas starts moving down toward the ground, and the positive ionized gas moves up toward the sky.

These negative ionized gases moving down are the leaders.
They all get kind of crazy and go in different directions, they zig zag and split into different parts called branches as they move toward the ground.

When they get to the ground, all those crazy ions turn into a huge bolt of electricity and zap the ground.

(from: wikipedia - lightning)


Kid Facts - Blast from the past: Aluminum

Wednesday, June 10, 2015

Chihuahua


We just learned about the type of dog the pug.

Another type of dog is a chihuahua

Chihuahuas are the smallest type of dog in the world.
They come from Mexico, and they can have long hair or short hair.
Some are known as apple head chihuahuas and others are deer head.
The apple head means they have a round shaped head, and the deer head means they have a longer nose and thinner face.


(from: wikipedia - chihuahua (dog))


Kid Facts - Blast from the past: Rosy Maple Moth

Tuesday, June 9, 2015

Metatarsal Arteries


We learned that the arteries on the tarsus ankle area of the foot are called the tarsal arteries

After the tarsal arteries, the oxygenated blood goes to the metatarsal arteries.
The long bones of your foot between your toes and ankle are called your metatarsal bones.

You have two sets of metatarsal arteries, the plantar metatarsal arteries on the bottom of your foot, and the dorsal metatarsal arteries on the top of your foot.



(from: wikipedia - plantar metatarsal arteries)


Kid Facts - Blast from the past: Stomach - Body

Monday, June 8, 2015

Ohio


We just learned about the US state of North Dakota.

Ohio is a state in the midwest part of the US.
It's nicknames are The Buckeye State because of the buckeye trees, and The Mother of Presidents because 6 presidents were born in Ohio.
It's motto is the Birthplace of Aviation because the Wright brothers were from Ohio, and The Heart of It All because it is in the middle of the US.

The name Ohio comes from the Iroquois Native American word meaning Great River.


(from: wikipedia - ohio)

The flag of Ohio has a V shaped cut in the side of it, and it is the only state with a flag that is not rectangular shaped.
The circle in the flag is for the O in the state's name.
There are 13 stars for the original 13 colonies, and then 4 more because it was the 17th state in the US.

(from: wikipedia - flag of ohio)

The state seal of Ohio has wheat, arrows, Mount Logan, the rising sun and sun rays, and a river and fields.

(from: wikipedia - seal of ohio)

One of the largest roller coaster theme parks in the world called Cedar Point is in Sandusky Ohio.

(from: wikipedia - cedar point)

During the 1960s, the Cuyahoga River in Ohio became so polluted that the pollution in the river caught on fire. The fact that a river could be on fire from pollution got people so upset that it got many people involved in working to clean up the earth and not pollute things so much.

(from: wikipedia - cuyahoga river)

The wright brothers that were the first to fly airplanes were born in Ohio.

(from: wikipedia - wright brothers)

There were 6 presidents that were born in Ohio.

18th President Ulysses S. Grant, 1869-1877

(from: wikipedia - ulysses s. grant)

19th President Rutherford B. Hayes, 1877-1881.

(from: wikipedia - rutherford b. hayes)

20th President James A. Garfield, 1881-1881.

(from: wikipedia - james a. garfield)

23rd President Benjamin Harrison, 1889-1893

(from: wikipedia - benjamin harrison)

25th President William McKinley, 1897-1901

(from: wikipedia - william mckinley)

27th President William Howard Taft, 1909-1913

(from: wikipedia - william howard taft)

29th President Warren G. Harding, 1921-1923

(from: wikipedia - warren g. harding)


Kid Facts - Blast from the past: Algeria

Sunday, June 7, 2015

Jesus restores Peter


We just learned about when Jesus appeared to Thomas.

When Jesus was being taken to be crucified on the cross, people saw Peter and said that he was a follower of Jesus.
Peter was scared that they would kill him too just for knowing Jesus so he said he didn't know him.

Jesus had told Peter even before he was arrested that Peter would deny him three times before the rooster crowed.
After Peter had told people he didn't know Jesus three times, he heard a rooster crow.
He felt very sad about saying that because he loved Jesus, he was just too afraid.

When Jesus had come back to life after the cross, he was talking to Peter.
Jesus asked if Peter loved him.
Peter said yes that he does.
Then Jesus said to feed his sheep.

He did this three times in a row, to show Peter that he forgave him for denying him three times.

He told Peter to feed his sheep because he wanted him to tell the whole world about Jesus.
Peter became one of the first leaders for churches that followed Jesus words.

(from: wikipedia - restoration of peter)


Kid Facts - Blast from the past: Blessed are the pure in heart

Saturday, June 6, 2015

The Fox Hunt - Winslow Homer


We just learned about the famous work of art His Station and Four Aces by C. M. Coolidge.

Another famous work of art is The Fox Hunt by American painter Winslow Homer in 1893.

In this painting you can see that it is winter, a time when it is hard for animals to find food.
There is a fox looking for food, and a berry branch that he might be able to eat.
Above the fox are crows that are flying and looking down at the fox like they might eat him.

The painting shows the cycle of life and how different animals survive.

When Homer was painting this, someone gave him a real fox and crows that were no longer alive, and he used them to try and get all the colors and actions right. He went out and made a lot of sketches of crows while they were jumping and flying around, and used that to try and make a painting that looked real.

(from: wikipedia - the fox hunt)


Kid Facts - Blast from the past: Solar Core - Energy

Friday, June 5, 2015

German - March, April


Let's keep learning about the months of the year in German!

We already learned that January, February is Jaunar, Februar

Let's keep going!

March - März - sounds like may-ah-tz /?/
April - April - sounds like ap-uh-eh-l /?/

Goethe Institute
(from: wikipedia - Goethe Institute)

Do you remember how to say it in Spanish?
Marzo, Abril

Do you remember how to say it in French?
Mars, Avril