Lake Titicaca

We just learned about Lake Onega in Russia.

The next biggest lake is Lake Titicaca in Peru and Bolivia.

It is the largest lake in South America.


(from: wikipedia - lake titicaca)

The name means Rock of the Puma.
There is an island on the lake called Isla del Sol which means island of the sun.
On this island was a special place called Titi Qala a rock sculpture that was very important to the ancient Incan people.


(from: wikipedia - isla del sol)


Kid Facts - Blast from the past: Michigan

Lent

We just learned about the different weeks of Epiphany.

The church calendar season after that is called Lent.

The Lent season is the season leading up to Easter, and there are many different special days on the calendar.

The Lenten season is 40 days long, to help remember the time Jesus went into the desert to fast and was tempted.

Usually the decorations in the church are colored purple for this season.


(from: wikipedia - temptation of christ)


Kid Facts - Blast from the past: Jesus' Crucifixion - With Criminals

Copper Bull

We just learned about the ancient sculpture Ram in a Thicket.

Another ancient sculpture is the Copper Bull.

This sculpture was discovered in 1923 in the country of Iraq, and it was made over 4,000 years ago.

The sculpture was made of wood covered in sticky black bitumen (also known as asphalt), and then copper plates were nailed to the outside of it.


(from: wikipedia - copper bull)


Kid Facts - Blast from the past: The Snail - Henri Matisse

Italian - We are surprised

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

Let's learn how to say We are surprised.

Siamo sorpresi.

We can break it up into two words:
We are - Siamo - sounds like see-ah-moh /?/
surprised - sorpresi - Sounds like soh-d-p-day-see /?/


So all together Siamo sorpresi sounds like See-ah-moh soh-d-p-day-see.


(from: wikipedia - accademia della crusca)

In German:
Wir sind begeistert

In Spanish:
Estamos sorprendido

In French:
Nous sommes surpris

F4 Tornado

We just learned that the F3 Tornado on the Fujita Scale is roofs and walls torn off, trains overturned, forests uprooted and cars thrown.

The next level of damage is the F4 tornado - Devastating damage.
This is when houses are totally blown down. Small buildings like garages are blown away. Cars are thrown through the air.


(from: wikipedia - fujita scale)


Kid Facts - Blast from the past: Altocumulus Cloud

Green Vine Snake

We just learned about the striped house snake.

Another type of snake is called the green vine snake, or the Ahaetulla nasuta.

It is a skinny green tree snake that lives in Asia.

This snake has venom but it's bite will only make your skin swell up for a few days, like a bee sting.
It mostly just eats frogs and lizards.


(from: wikipedia - ahaetulla nasuta)

When it gets scared it puffs up it's body and you can see a black and white skin underneath it's scales.

(from: wikipedia - ahaetulla nasuta)

There was a legend long ago that if one of these snakes looked at you, it's eyes would make you blind.


(from: wikipedia - ahaetulla nasuta)

Kid Facts - Blast from the past: Basset Hound

Heart Wall - Pericardium

We've learned that the heart wall's soft inner most layer is the endocardium, the second layer of muscle is the myocardium and the third protective layer is the epicardium

There is a protective bag outside the heart that is called the pericardium.
The pericardium has liquids in it, and it keeps the heart from getting shaken with every movement the body makes.


(from: wikipedia - pericardium)


Kid Facts - Blast from the past: Brachial Artery