Thursday, June 30, 2016

Anvil - Horn


We just learned about the anvil - face.

Another part of the anvil is the horn.

This is the long part that sticks out like a nose, or almost like an animal horn.

A blacksmith can use this rounded horn to help make a rounded piece of metal by shaping while it is hot using a hammer.


(from: wikipedia - anvil)


Kid Facts - Blast from the past: Lightning - Return Stroke

Wednesday, June 29, 2016

Aruba island rattlesnake


We just learned about the Mexican Lance-Headed Rattlesnake.

Another type of snake is the Aruba island rattlesnake also known as crotalus durissus unicolor.

This snake only lives on the small island named Aruba, which is in the Caribbean just north of Venezuela.

It is an endangered species, with only around 250 of these snakes left in the whole world.
The area they live in is very small, and humans keep moving closer and closer to where they live.
It is also illegal to take them out of the country, so they can't go live somewhere else.
Many zoos are working together to help bring back more of these snakes.


(from: wikipedia - crotalus durissus unicolor)


Kid Facts - Blast from the past: Golden Retriever

Tuesday, June 28, 2016

Hindbrain


We just learned about the medulla oblongata.

The medulla oblongata, together with the pons and cerebellum make up what is called the hindbrain or the rhombencephalon.


(from: wikipedia - hindbrain)


Kid Facts - Blast from the past: Microcirculation

Monday, June 27, 2016

Manaslu


We just learned about the mountain peak of Dhaulagiri.

The next highest mountain peak is Manaslu in Nepal.
It's name means mountain of the spirit.

This mountain is home to many different types of animals, including some endangered species like pandas, and snow leopards.

(from: wikipedia - manaslu)


Kid Facts - Blast from the past: Pennsylvania

Sunday, June 26, 2016

Ichthys


We just learned about the christian symbol of the crucifix.

Another symbol is the ichthys, pronounced ick-thes.

The word ichthys is Greek for fish, and was used as an acronym to mean Jesus.

Iota (i) is the first letter of Iēsous (Ἰησοῦς), Greek for "Jesus".
Chi (ch) is the first letter of Christos (Χριστός), Greek for "anointed."
Theta (th) is the first letter of Theou (Θεοῦ), Greek for "God's", the genitive case of Θεóς, Theos," Greek for "God."
Upsilon (y) is the first letter of (h)yios[5] (Υἱός), Greek for "Son".
Sigma (s) is the first letter of sōtēr (Σωτήρ), Greek for "Savior."

Long ago there were some people that really did not like Christians, and so they had to find ways to hide who they were, and to send messages to each other.
So they would draw a picture of the fish as a secret way to mean Jesus.


(from: wikipedia - ichthys)


(from: wikipedia - ichthys)


Kid Facts - Blast from the past: Peter Heals a Lame Beggar

Saturday, June 25, 2016

Elgin Marbles


We just learned about the ancient sculpture of the Jockey of Artemision.

Another ancient sculpture from the Classical Period is the Elgin Marbles also known as the Parthenon Marbles.

These are marble sculptures that were once in the large building known as the Parthenon.
They were made by a team of sculptors that worked for the famous Greek Sculptor named Phidias.


(from: wikipedia - elgin marbles)



(from: wikipedia - elgin marbles)


Kid Facts - Blast from the past: The Basket of Apples - Cézanne

Friday, June 24, 2016

Italian - September, October


Let's keep learning about the months of the year in Italian!

We already learned that January, February is Gennaio, Febbraio,
March, April is Marzo, Aprile,
May, June is Maggio, Giugno,
and July, August is Luglio, Agosto.

Let's keep going!

September - Settembre - sounds like say-tem-b-day /?/
October - Ottobre - sounds like Oh-toh-b-day /?/

academy of the bran
(from: wikipedia - accademia della crusca)

In German:
September, Oktober

In Spanish:
Septiembre, Octubre

In French:
Septembre, Octobre

Thursday, June 23, 2016

Anvil - Face


We just learned about the Anvil used in blacksmithing.

The anvil has many parts that are useful to a blacksmith.
The main top flat part of the anvil is called the Face.


(from: wikipedia - anvil face)


Kid Facts - Blast from the past: Lightning - Attachment

Wednesday, June 22, 2016

Mexican lance-headed rattlesnake


We just learned about the Puffing Snake.

Another type of snake is the Mexican lance-headed rattlesnake.

This is a venomous snake living in Mexico, with very dark spots on it.


(from: wikipedia - crotalus polystictus)


Kid Facts - Blast from the past: St. Bernard

Tuesday, June 21, 2016

Medulla Oblongata


We just learned about the part of the brain called the pons.

Another part of the brain is called the medulla oblongata.

This part of the brain helps control your heart pumping, your body using up oxygen, and how you swallow, cough, sneeze or throwup.


(from: wikipedia - medulla oblongata)


Kid Facts - Blast from the past: Arterioles

Monday, June 20, 2016

Dhaulagiri


We just learned about the mountain peak Cho Oyu.

The next highest mountain peak is dhaulagiri in Nepali, which means dazzling white beautiful mountain.

This mountain is next to a very deep gorge, which is a very low point, and it goes almost straight up from the gorge.


(from: wikipedia - dhaulagiri)


Kid Facts - Blast from the past: Oregon

Sunday, June 19, 2016

Crucifix


We just learned about the Christian symbol of the Cross.

Another Christian symbol is the crucifix.

This is a cross that shows Jesus on the cross being crucified.
Many churches have these crucifixes as artwork by their altar, and some people carry around a crucifix instead of just a cross.


(from: wikipedia - christian symbolism)


Kid Facts - Blast from the past: Holy Spirit Comes at Pentecost

Saturday, June 18, 2016

Jockey of Artemision


We just learned about the sculpture the Winged Victory of Samothrace.

Another sculpture from ancient Greece is the Jockey of Artemision.

This is a big bronze statue of a young boy riding a horse, made over 2000 years ago.
There are not a lot of statues from this time and place, because so many of the statues were melted down for the bronze.

This statue was not melted down because it was on a ship that crashed and sank, and was found around 100 years ago.

It is the size of an actual horse, over 6 feet tall and over 9 feet long.
The artist made it in pieces using the lost wax process and then the pieces were welded together.
They sculpted it to look like the horse is in the middle of galloping in a race.


(from: wikipedia - jockey of artemision)


(from: wikipedia - jockey of artemision)


Kid Facts - Blast from the past: First Abstract Watercolor - Kandinsky

Friday, June 17, 2016

Italian - July, August


Let's keep learning about the months of the year in Italian!

We already learned that January, February is Gennaio, Febbraio,
March, April is Marzo, Aprile
and May, June is Maggio, Giugno.

Let's keep going!

July - Luglio - sounds like loo-lee-oh /?/
August - Agosto - sounds like ah-goh-stoh /?/

academy of the bran
(from: wikipedia - accademia della crusca)

In German:
Juli, August

In Spanish:
Julio, Agosto

In French:
Julliet, Août

Thursday, June 16, 2016

Anvil


We just learned that a forge is a hot fire that blacksmiths use to heat up metal.

When the metal is heated up, blacksmiths pound it against an anvil, which is a large hard piece of metal.


(from: wikipedia - anvil)


Kid Facts - Blast from the past: Lightning Upward Streamers

Wednesday, June 15, 2016

Puffing snake


We just learned about Pacific Gopher Snake.

Another snake is called the Puffing Snake, also known as psuestes poecilonotus.

It has a yellow belly and it puffs itself up if it is threatened.
It is not venomous and mostly eats small bird eggs.

(from: wikipedia - pseustes poecilonotus)


Kid Facts - Blast from the past: Old English Sheepdog

Tuesday, June 14, 2016

Pons


We just learned about cerebellum.

Another part of the brain is called the pons.

This part of the brain is used to control sleep, breathing, balance and even dreams.


(from: wikipedia - pons)


Kid Facts - Blast from the past: Plantar and Dorsal Digital Arteries

Monday, June 13, 2016

Cho Oyu


We just learned about the mountain Makalu.

The next highest mountain is Cho Oyu in China and Nepal, and it means Turquoise Goddess.

Near the mountain peak is a path called Nangpa La, which is used for trading between the people who live in the mountains.

Some people think that Cho Oyu is the easiest mountain to climb that is over 8,000 meters.


(from: wikipedia - cho oyu)


Kid Facts - Blast from the past: Oklahoma

Sunday, June 12, 2016

Cross


We've learned all about the Church Calendar.

Let's learn about some of the symbols used in the Christian Church.

The most well known symbol used is the Cross.

Crosses come in all shapes and sizes, and are used to help remember when Jesus was crucified on the cross.


(from: wikipedia - Christian cross)


Kid Facts - Blast from the past: Jesus Ascends to Heaven

Saturday, June 11, 2016

Moschophoros


We just learned about the Winged Victory of Samothrace.

Another ancient Greek statue is Moschophoros.

This is a statue of someone holding a cow carrying it to a sacrifice.


(from: wikipedia - moschophoros)


Kid Facts - Blast from the past: Primavera Botticelli

Friday, June 10, 2016

Italian - May, June


We already learned that January, February is Gennaio, Febbraio, and March, April is Marzo, Aprile.

Let's keep going!

May - Maggio - sounds like mah-jee-oh /?/
June - Giugno - sounds like joo-nee-oh /?/

academy of the bran
(from: wikipedia - accademia della crusca)

In German:
Mai Juni

In Spanish:
Mayo, Junio

In French;
Mai, Juin

Thursday, June 9, 2016

Forging


We just learned that someone who works with metal is a Blacksmith.

The blacksmith heats up the metal to work with in a forge.

A forge is like a big hot oven.


(from: wikipedia - forge)


Kid Facts - Blast from the past: Lightning Leaders

Wednesday, June 8, 2016

Pacific Gopher Snake


We just learned about the Ring Necked Snake.

Another type of snake is the Pacific Gopher Snake.

This snake is not venomous, but it sometimes pretends to shake like a rattle snake, and can shake the grass to make the same noise.

Sometimes two snakes will fight for over an hour, twisting around each other like wrestlers.


(from: wikipedia - pacific gopher snake)


Kid Facts - Blast from the past: Chihuaha

Tuesday, June 7, 2016

Cerebellum


We just learned about the subthalamus.

Another part of the brain is the cerebellum.

This part of the brain is mostly used to control the movements of the body.



(from: wikipedia - cerebellum)


Kid Facts - Blast from the past: Metatarsal Arteries

Monday, June 6, 2016

Makalu


We just learned about the mountain peak lhotse.

The next highest mountain peak is Makalu in Nepal and China.

It is 27,838 feet high.

This peak is a four sided pyramid shape.
Some people think it is one of the most difficult mountains in the world to climb.
The last part of climbing the mountain is climbing up rock and ice climbing, not just hiking.


(from: wikipedia - makalu)

There is a beautiful valley at the base of the mountain peak, called the Makalu-Barun valley.

It has high waterfalls and deep gorges, flowers blooming below snowy mountain peaks.
There are some rare types of plants and animals that can only be found in this valley.



(from: wikipedia - makalu)


Kid Facts - Blast from the past: Ohio

Sunday, June 5, 2016

Feast of Christ the King


We just learned about All Saint's Day.

The next date in the church calendar is the Feast of Christ the King.


(from: wikipedia - feast of christ the king)


Kid Facts - Blast from the past: Jesus Restores Peter

Saturday, June 4, 2016

Winged Victory of Samothrace


We just learned about the statue of Peplos Kore.

Another famous sculpture is the Winged Victory of Samothrace.

This is a statue of the mythical goddess Nike, that was created to honor a sea battle.
The way the statue is standing, it was meant to look strong and graceful.

It is a Hellenistic sculpture which means it was made when the Greek empire was ruling.


(from: wikipedia - winged victory of samothrace)


Kid Facts - Blast from the past: The Fox Hunt - Winslow Homer

Friday, June 3, 2016

Italian - March, April


Let's keep learning about the months of the year in Italian!

We already learned that January, February is Gennaio, Febbraio

Let's keep going!

March - Marzo - sounds like mah-d-soh /?/
April - Aprile - sounds like ap-d-ee-lay /?/

academy of the bran
(from: wikipedia - accademia della crusca)

In German:
März, April

In Spanish:
Marzo, Abril

In French:
Mars, Avril

Thursday, June 2, 2016

Blacksmith


We just learned about Metalwork.

One of the types of metalsmithing is called blacksmithing.

Long ago the blacksmiths were people that made everything from swords to spoons to pots and pans.


(from: wikipedia - blacksmith)


Kid Facts - Blast from the past: Cloud to Ground Lightning

Wednesday, June 1, 2016

Ring-necked snake


We just learned about the false coral snake.

Another type of snake is the ring-necked snake.

This snake is venomous, but it's venom is not strong and it's fangs are in the back of it's mouth so it doesn't really bite humans.
They live mostly in North America.

It's called the ring-necked snake because it has a colored ring around it's neck.


(from: wikipedia - ring-necked snake)


Kid Facts - Blast from the past: Pug