Pietà - Michelangelo Buonarroti

We just learned about the Bamberg Horseman.

Another famous sculpture is the Pietà by Michelangelo Buonarroti in 1498 AD.
Michelangelo is one of the most famous Renaissance art sculptors of all time.
The Renaissance was a time when many artists from all over the continent of Europe got together and worked to share and create many masterpieces of art and music.

The word pietà means pity, and this is a sculpture of Mary the mother of Jesus sadly holding him on her lap after he was crucified.



(from: wikipedia - pietà (michelangelo))


Kid Facts - Blast from the past: Charioteer of Delphi

ASL - Thursday, Friday

We just learned how to say Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday in ASL.

Let's keep learning the days of the week!

To say "Thursday" make the hand sign for the letter "H" and then move your hand up and down in a circle.
You can also make the hand sign for "T" and then the hand sign for "H".

To say "Friday", make the hand sign for "F" but turn it around so your palm is facing you, and move it around in a circle.

Here is a helpful video to show how these signs are done.


Days of the Week - ASL Vocabulary - ASL THAT



(from: wikipedia - american sign language)

Italian: Giovedì, Venerdì

German: Donnerstag, Freitag

Spanish: Viernes, Jueves

French: Jeudi, Vendredi

Drill Bits

We just learned a little about Drilling.

When using the drill, the tool that goes at the end is called the drill bit.

There are lots of different types of drill bits, some that are used for cutting wood, some that are used for cutting metal or cement.

Depending on what is being drilled, the bits can be made of different things.
Most drill bits are made of steel, but many are made of titanium, tungsten, or even diamond tips.



(from: wikipedia - drill bit)


Kid Facts - Blast from the past: Category 5 Hurricane

American Bullfrog

We just learned about Poison Dart Frogs.

Another type of frog is the American Bullfrog.
These frog get their name because they make a low deep croak that sounds like a bull's roar.

Just like there are some types of frogs called Bufonidae that are called "True Toads", there are also some types of frogs called Ranidae, that are called "True Frogs", and the bullfrog is a true frog.

Unlike a lot of other animals, the female bullfrog is usually larger than the male frog, and the male bullfrogs have yellow throats.
When a group of male bullfrogs gets together in a group, it is called a "chorus".
The male bullfrogs will all get together and croak to call out for female bullfrogs.

Bullfrogs can grow to be 6 inches long, and can jump 10 times their body, length. That means a 6 inch frog could jump 5 feet!


(from: wikipedia - american bullfrog)


Kid Facts - Blast from the past: Sri Lanka Cat Snake

Hair Growth

We just learned about the Hair Follicle.

Human hair doesn't always grow at the same speed.
Sometimes it is growing a lot, sometimes it is slowing down, and sometimes it stops growing.

We know that the hair on our head grows longer than the hair on our eyebrows or eyelashes.
Each part of the body has different rules for how long the hair should grow, and when it should stop.

The time for growing of hair is called the anagen phase.
catagen is when the hair growth is slowing down.
telogen is when the hair has stopped growing because it is long enough.

The hair for your eyebrows grows for about 4 months and then stops, but the hair on a human head will keep growing at a normal speed for about 2-7 years!
Human hair usually grows about 6 inches every year, so after 7 years your hair would be four and a half feet long!


(from: wikipedia - human hair growth)


Kid Facts - Blast from the past: Thalamus

Central Appalachain Mountains

We just learned about the Northern Appalachian Mountains.

Another part of the Appalachian Mountain area is the Central Appalachian Mountains,
which go through Pennsylvania, Maryland, Virginia, West Virginia, New York and New Jersey.
In this area are some large valleys, plateaus, the Taconic Mountains and the Blue Ridge mountains.


(from: wikipedia - blue ridge mountains)


Kid Facts - Blast from the past: Mount Everest

Psalm 23 - The Lord is my shepherd

We just learned about Psalm 22 - Why have you forsaken me?.

Another very famous chapter in the Book of Psalms is Psalm 23.

This chapter talks about God as a protecting shepherd.
Because this Psalm talks so well about being protected by God in times of need, it is put on a lot of posters, quoted a lot, and has been in a lot of music by famous people including Johann Sebastian Bach.

The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.
He makes me lie down in green pastures.
He leads me beside still waters.
He restores my soul.
He leads me in paths of righteousness for his name's sake.

Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me;
your rod and your staff, they comfort me.

You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies;
you anoint my head with oil;
my cup overflows.

Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life,
and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord forever.


(from: wikipedia - psalm 23)


Kid Facts - Blast from the past: Pentecost