Lake Onega

We just learned about Lake Balkhash in Kazakhstan.

The next biggest lake is Lake Onega in Russia.
The lake is shaped like a giant crayfish.



(from: wikipedia - lake onega)

There are many islands on this lake, and on Kizhi island are many very old churches like the Church of the Transfiguration.


(from: wikipedia - kizhi pogost)

Kid Facts - Blast from the past: Massachusetts

Epiphany - Transfiguration

We just learned about the time in Epiphany celebrating the baptism of Jesus.

The last part of the Epiphany season is Transfiguration.

This is the time that churches remember when Jesus went up on a mountain with his apostles, and a bright light came on him. Moses and Elijah appeared by him, and God told them that Jesus was his son.

Matthew 17:

After six days Jesus took with him Peter, James and John the brother of James, and led them up a high mountain by themselves. There he was transfigured before them. His face shone like the sun, and his clothes became as white as the light. Just then there appeared before them Moses and Elijah, talking with Jesus.

Peter said to Jesus, “Lord, it is good for us to be here. If you wish, I will put up three shelters—one for you, one for Moses and one for Elijah.”

While he was still speaking, a bright cloud covered them, and a voice from the cloud said, “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased. Listen to him!”


(from: wikipedia - feast of the transfiguration)


Kid Facts - Blast from the past: Jesus' Crucifixion - Nailed to the cross

Ram in a Thicket

We just learned about the ancient sculpture the Trundholm Sun Chariot.

Another ancient sculpture is called Ram in a Thicket.

This is a sculpture of a ram that is caught in some sort of a bush. There were two of these sculptures found, and they seem to be a pair that stood across from each other.

The person that found them named them ram in a thicket after the story of Abraham where God provided a ram for him to sacrifice.

Since it was very old and had been buried under a lot of dirt, some parts of the statue were rotten and had to be remade to try and make it look like it did long ago.

This sculpture has a wooden middle, that was carved for the face and legs.
The head and legs are covered in gold leaf hammered to the wood and stuck there with a sticky black gooey oil called bitumen or asphalt.
The ears are made of copper which has turned green.
The ram's horns and fleece on it's shoulders are made of lapis lazuli.
The fleece on the body is made of shells stuck to bituman.
It's belly is made of silver plate.
The tree or bush is covered in gold leaf and gold flowers.
It is standing on a small rectangle covered in shells, red limestone and lapis lazuli.
There used to be small silver chains around the ram and trees, but those were too old to recover.



(from: wikipedia - ram in a thicket)


Kid Facts - Blast from the past: Relativity - M.C. Escher

Italian - They are excited

We just learned that I am happy in Italian is Sono felice, you are sad is Sei triste and he is angry is Lui è arrabbiato.

Let's learn how to say they are excited.
Sono eccitati

They are - Sono - sounds like soh-no /?/
excited - eccitati - Sounds like eh-chee-tah-tee /?/


So all together Sono eccitati sounds like Soh-no eh-chee-tah-tee.


(from: wikipedia - accademia della crusca)

In German:
Sie sind aufgeregt

In Spanish:
Ellos estan emocionados

In French:
Ils sont excité

F3 Tornado

We just learned that the F2 Tornado on the Fujita Scale is roofs torn off, mobile homes destroyed and trees uprooted.

The next level of damage is the F3 tornado - Severe damage.
This is when roofs and walls have been torn off of houses, trains are overturned, most of the trees in a forest are uprooted, and heavy cars are lifted up and thrown.


(from: wikipedia - fujita scale)


Kid Facts - Blast from the past: Cirrocumulus Cloud

Striped House Snake

We just learned about the type of snake the Massasauga.

Another type of snake is the striped house snake, also known as boaedon lineatus.

This snake is found in Africa, and is found inside or near houses a lot where it eats up mice and rats that carry diseases and destroy food.
These snakes are not poisonous, so they are not harmful to humans and can be very helpful.
Lots of people keep these snakes as pets.

The word lineatus in the snakes name comes from the white line that goes down the snakes body.
They come in different colors too, black, red-brown or green.


(from: wikipedia - boaedon lineatus)


Kid Facts - Blast from the past: Australian Cattle Dog

Heart Wall - Epicardium

We just learned that the heart wall's soft inner most layer is the endocardium, and the second layer of muscle is the myocardium.

The next layer is called the epicardium.
This layer is a barrier to protect the heart.


(from: wikipedia - pericardium)


Kid Facts - Blast from the past: Axillary Artery