Sunday, September 1, 2013

New Testament


We just finished learning about the last books of the Old Testament.

Let's move on to the New Testament. That is the time of Jesus.

The New Testament has 27 different chapters (called Books),
and you can divide those up into five groups:
- The Gospels (Matthew, Mark, Luke, John)
- Books of History (Acts)
- Pauline Epistles (14 letters written by Paul)
- General Epistles (7 letters written by other people)
- Books of Prophecy (Revelation)

We'll go through each of these and what they all mean.
new testament
(from: wikipedia - new testament)

Saturday, August 31, 2013

Red Giant


We learned last time that our sun is a Yellow Dwarf
and that it will burn for 10 billion years!

But what happens after that 10 billion years?
Well that's a long long way in the future, but once a Yellow Dwarf star burns up
it grows larger and becomes a Red Giant.

The closest Red Giant star to us is Gamma Crucis, it is 88 light years away.
Let's look at it's star measurements:
stellar classification: M3.5 (red)
luminosity class: III (giant)

So we can call it M3.5 III, or a red giant.
red giant mira
(from: wikipedia - red giant)

Red giants can be 4,000 degrees and 100 times larger than our Sun!
They usually last about 1 billion years.

Friday, August 30, 2013

French - counting to sixty nine


We just learned how to count to 59 in French, let's keep going!

60 soixante - sounds like so-ay-sawnt /?/
61 soixante et un - sounds like so-ay-sawnt ay un /?/
62 soixante-deux - sounds like so-ay-sawn-doo /?/
63 soixante-trois - sounds like so-ay-sawn-twah /?/
64 soixante-quatre - sounds like so-ay-sawn-cat-uh-ah /?/
65 soixante-cinq - sounds like so-ay-sawn-sahnk /?/
66 soixante-six - sounds like so-ay-sawn-see /?/
67 soixante-sept - sounds like so-ay-sawn-set /?/
68 soixante-huix - sounds like so-ay-sawn-soo-ee /?/
69 soixante-neuf - sounds like so-ay-sawnt-nef /?/

Thursday, August 29, 2013

Diode


We've now learned about Doping Semiconductors, and how mixing some chemicals into
a semiconductor can turn it into a conductor.

Doped semiconductors can be used to make something called a diode.

A diode is something that you can put electricity through, but it only goes in one direction.
Kind of like pouring water down hill, it can't flow back up.

If you look on a circuit board you will see all sorts of diodes.
They are a very important part of how things like computers work!
diodes
(from: wikipedia - diode)


Wednesday, August 28, 2013

Duck Billed Platypus


We just learned a little about Squirrels.

When scientists first discovered the platypus and tried to tell
other people about it, everyone thought they were joking!

No one thought there could really be an animal with fur and a tail like a beaver's tail,
and also a bill, webbed feet and lays eggs like a duck!

platypus
(from: wikipedia - platypus)

Another interesting thing about the platypus is that they have a small claw (also called a spur)
on their back foot that is poisonous!
platypus


Tuesday, August 27, 2013

Gluteus maximus



Let's keep learning about the muscles in the human body!

Last time we learned about the rectus abdominis

Next up is the gluteal muscles.
The muscles on your back side (or your butt) are called your gluteal muscles.
There are three muscles there, the gluteus minimus, gluteus medius and gluteus maximus.

Sometimes people call those muscles glutes or just talk about the gluteus maximus
since it's the biggest of the three muscles.

You use those muscles when you lift your leg up and down,
or bend your body backwards.
gluteus maximus
(from: wikipedia - gluteal muscles)


Kid Facts - Blast from the past: Back Bone

Monday, August 26, 2013

Ukraine


We just learned about the Netherlands.

Let's keep learning about the countries in Europe!

The largest country in Europe by size is the Ukraine.

A popular type of food in the Ukraine is Borscht!
borscht
(from: wikipedia - borscht)

The Ukraine is on the Southeastern part of Europe, right next to Russia.
ukraine
(from: wikipedia - ukraine)

Famous poet Taras Shevchenko is from the Ukraine
taras shevchenko
(from: wikipedia - taras shevchenko)

Kiev Pechersk Lavra is an ancient monastery that was built almost 1,000 years ago!
kiev pechersk lavra
(from: wikipedia - kiev pechersk lavra)

Ukranians have a special type of folk dancing ukranian dance
(from: wikipedia - ukranian dance)