Western Diamondback Rattlesnake

We just learned about the Indochinese spitting cobra.

Another type of snake is the Western Diamondback Rattlesnake.

This snake has a rattle on it's tail just like some of the other rattlesnakes we've learned about.
It usually grows to about 4 feet long, and it's scales make a diamond shaped pattern.

It is venomous, and will attack people if it is not left alone.
It is the second most deadly snake in the United States.

These snakes are important predators of mice, rabbits and birds that would harm crops and homes if they were not around.
They are also prey for larger predators like coyotes, foxes, hawks and owls.

These snakes sometimes hibernate in colder weather, and can go for two years without any food.
They live in the southwestern part of the US and in Mexico.


(from: wikipedia - western diamondback rattlesnake)


Kid Facts - Blast from the past: Pomeranian

Anterior Roots

We just learned about the part in the middle of the spinal cord called the Grey Column.

Another part of the nervous system in the spinal column is the Anterior Roots or ventral roots.

These are the nerves that come out of the spinal cord on the anterior, or front side of the spinal cord.
They really are coming out the side of spinal cord, but on the front part of the side.


(from: wikipedia - ventral root of spinal nerve)


Kid Facts - Blast from the past: Fibular Vein

Hindu Kush

We just learned about the Karakoram Mountains.

The next largest mountain range is the Hindu Kush in Afghanistan and Pakistan.

Some people think the name means Hindu Killer because of the people that died on the mountain.
Others think it means sparkling snows of India, mountains of India or water mountain.

It was also called Paropamisadae a long time ago, which means Beyond the Raised Land.

Long ago there were mines in these mountains for lapis lazuli, emeralds and rubies.
The mines are not used anymore because they did not find any more gems.



(from: wikipedia - hindu kush)


Kid Facts - Blast from the past: Washington

Pelican

We just learned about the Christian symbol of the Peacock.

Another symbol is the Pelican.

There are legends about pelicans being such loving mothers than if their children were starving they would use their beak to poke themselves so that the babies could survive from their own blood.

Because Jesus died on the cross and and had the nails poke through his hands, the pelican is like a way to think of Jesus suffering for his children in the same way.


(from: wikipedia - Christian Symbolism)


Kid Facts - Blast from the past: Paul's Second Letter to the Corinthians

Ara Pacis

We just learned about the ancient Roman sculpture the Capitoline Brutus.

Another ancient Roman sculpture is the Ara Pacis, which means "Altar of Augustan Peace".

This was a sculpted building made for the mythical Roman god of peace named Pax.
The building is over thirty feet wide and thirty feet tall.


(from: wikipedia - ara pacis)


Kid Facts - Blast from the past: The Tower of Blue Horses - Franz Marc

Italian - Counting to seventy nine

We counted to 69 in Italian, let's keep going!

70 settanta - sounds like say-tah-n-tah /?/
71 settantuno - sounds like say-tah-n-too-noh /?/
72 settantadue - sounds like say-tah-n-tah-doo-ay /?/
73 settantatre - sounds like say-tah-n-tah-t-day /?/
74 settantaquattro - sounds like say-tah-n-tah-koo-ah-t-doh /?/
75 settantacinque - sounds like say-tah-n-tah-chee-n-koo-ay /?/
76 settantasei - sounds like say-tah-n-tah-say-ee /?/
77 settantasette - sounds like say-tah-n-tah-say-tay /?/
78 settantotto - sounds like say-tah-n-toh-toh /?/
79 settantanove - sounds like say-tah-n-tah-noh-vay /?/



(from: wikipedia - Goethe Institute)


German:
siebzig, einundsiebzig, zweiundsiebzig, dreiundsiebzig, vierundsiebzig, fünfundsiebzig, sechsundsiebzig, siebenundsiebzig, achtundsiebzig, neunundsiebzig

Spanish:
setenta, setenta y uno, setenta y dos, setenta y tres, setenta y cuatro, setenta y cinco, setenta y seis, setenta y siete, setenta y ocho, setenta y nueve

French:
soixante-dix, soixante et onze, soixante-douze, soixante-treize, soixante-quatorze, soixante-quinze, soixante-seize, soixante dix sept, soixante dix huit, soixante dix neuf

Chisel

We just learned about the sledgehammer.

Sometimes when a blacksmith needs to cut a piece of metal, they will use something called a chisel.

There are two main types of chisels, a hot chisel or cold chisel.

A cold chisel is used for metal that is cooled down, and is sometimes used to put marks or grooves in metal.
A hot chisel is used for metal that has been in the forge and is very hot.
A blacksmith will hold the chisel over the metal, and then hit the top of the chisel with the hammer.

There is a special type of chisel called the hotcut hardy, which goes into an anvil's hardy hole.
The point of the hotcut hardy chisel is facing up, and the blacksmith puts the metal on the top of the chisel and hits the metal, pushing it into the pointed part of the chisel.


(from: wikipedia - chisel)


Kid Facts - Blast from the past: Freezing Rain