Wednesday, August 31, 2016

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

Tuesday, August 30, 2016

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

Monday, August 29, 2016

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

Sunday, August 28, 2016

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

Saturday, August 27, 2016

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

Friday, August 26, 2016

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 /?/


Goethe Institute
(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

Thursday, August 25, 2016

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

Wednesday, August 24, 2016

Indochinese Spitting Cobra


We just learned about the Gaboon Viper.

Another type of snake is the Indochinese Spitting Cobra.

Just like all other cobras, this snake will raise it's head up, and also has a hood that flares out.
It can be black, white, brown or multiple colors like white with black spots.

It is a spitting cobra, meaning it can actually spray its venom out of it's fangs at enemies over six feet away!
The venom will not hurt if it is on human skin, but if it gets in someone's eyes they may be permanently blinded.

These snakes can bite too, not just spray their venom, and their bite can be deadly if the person does not get to the hospital soon enough.
They are a very dangerous snake, but they only live in a small part of the world, near Thailand.


(from: wikipedia - indochinese spitting cobra)


Kid Facts - Blast from the past: Dalmatian

Tuesday, August 23, 2016

Grey Column


We just learned about the Spinal Nerve.

Another part of the central nervous system is the Grey Column.
This is inside the spinal column, and is made up of grey matter.


(from: wikipedia - grey column)


Kid Facts - Blast from the past: Tibial Veins

Monday, August 22, 2016

Karakoram


We just learned about the mountain range the Himalayas.

The next largest mountain range is Karakoram, which means black gravel.
Because it is near the Himalayas, sometimes it is included as part of the greater Himalayan mountain range.

This mountain range is in Pakistan, India, China, Afghanistan and Tajikistan.

It has the most glaciers of any place in the world except for the north and south poles.

(from: wikipedia - karakoram)


Kid Facts - Blast from the past: Virginia

Sunday, August 21, 2016

Peacock


We just learned about the Christian symbol of the Dove.

Another Christian symbol is the Peacock.

Long ago people thought that the peacock's body did not get old after it died, so it was like a symbol of living forever like Jesus.

The large parts of the peacock's tail that look like eyes were thought of like the all seeing eyes of God.
Sometimes pictures of peacocks drinking water were used as symbols of Christians drinking from the waters of eternal life.


(from: wikipedia - christian symbolism)


(from: wikipedia - peafowl)


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

Saturday, August 20, 2016

Capitoline Brutus


We just learned about the Roman Sculpture Altar of Domitius Ahenobarbus.

Another Roman sculpture was Capitoline Brutus.
It is a bronze statue of a head and shoulders, called a bust.

This statue was of an ancient Roman person named Lucius Junius Brutus.
He was an important person in Rome hundreds of years ago, when the country decided to get rid of their kings, and instead have a bunch of people running the country that were chosen by the people.



(from: wikipedia - capitoline brutus)


Kid Facts - Blast from the past: When Will You Marry? - Gauguin

Friday, August 19, 2016

Italian - Counting to sixty nine


We counted to 59 in Italian, let's keep going!

60 sessanta - sounds like say-sah-n-tah /?/
61 sessantuno - sounds like say-sah-n-too-noh /?/
62 sessantadue - sounds like say-sah-n-tah-doo-ay /?/
63 sessantatre - sounds like say-sah-n-tah-t-day /?/
64 sessantaquattro - sounds like say-sah-n-tah-koo-ah-t-doh /?/
65 sessantacinque - sounds like say-sah-n-tah-chee-n-koo-ay /?/
66 sessantasei - sounds like say-sah-n-tah-say-ee /?/
67 sessantasette - sounds like say-sah-n-tah-say-tay /?/
68 sessantotto - sounds like say-sah-n-tah-oh-toh /?/
69 sessantanove - sounds like say-sah-n-tah-noh-vay /?/

Goethe Institute
(from: wikipedia - Goethe Institute)


German:
sechzig, einundsechzig, zweiundsechzig, dreiundsechzig, vierundsechzig, fünfundsechzig, sechsundsechzig, siebenundsechzig, achtundsechzig, neunundsechzig

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

French:
soixante, soixante et un, soixante-deux, soixante-trois, soixante-quatre, soixante-cinq, soixante-six, soixante-sept, soixante-huit, soixante-neuf

Thursday, August 18, 2016

Sledgehammer


We just learned about the Straight Peen Hammer.

Another type of hammer used in blacksmithing is the Sledgehammer.

This type of hammer has a round flat face on both sides, and a very long handle.


(from: wikipedia - sledgehammer)

In the old days of blacksmithing, there would be one person holding the piece of metal in place, while another person called the striker would take a big heavy swing and hit the piece of metal very hard with the sledgehammer.


(from: wikipedia - blacksmith)


Kid Facts - Blast from the past: Heat Lightning

Wednesday, August 17, 2016

Gaboon Viper


We just learned about the Savu Python.

Another type of snake is the Gaboon Viper.

This snake is part of the viper family, which are snakes that have long fangs and use venom.

The Gaboon viper is the world's heaviest viper, has the longest fangs of any viper, and also uses the most venom per bite of any viper.
They can be over 40 pounds, and over 6 feet long!

These snakes live in Africa, and even though they are very big and dangerous, they almost never attack people.
Their venom is enough to kill a person if they do not get to a hospital quickly, but some of these vipers have even been stepped on and still have not bitten the person.

They are checkered with black triangles and white hourglass shapes.

(from: wikipedia - gaboon viper)


Kid Facts - Blast from the past: Rough Collie

Tuesday, August 16, 2016

Spinal Nerve


We just learned about the Foramen Magnum.

A while back we learned about the bones in your back called the vertebrae.
These are the bones that help protect your spinal cord.
Inside each of these bones are some nerves called Spinal Nerves.

The main spinal cord goes down the middle, and the spinal nerves come out from the sides and go out to all parts of the body.


(from: wikipedia - vertebra)


Kid Facts - Blast from the past: Small Saphenous Veins

Monday, August 15, 2016

Himalayas


We just learned about the 14 tallest mountain peaks like Shisapangma, that are all over 8,000 KM above sea level.

Some of these mountain peaks are part of the same mountain area, which is called a mountain range.

The tallest mountain range in the world is the Himalayas, which means Abode of Snow. Abode means house.
It is the mountain with Mt. Everest, the highest peak. There are over a hundred mountains on this range, and hundreds of lakes.



(from: wikipedia - himalayas)


Kid Facts - Blast from the past: Vermont

Sunday, August 14, 2016

Dove


We just learned about the Christian symbol of The Good Shepherd.

Another Christian symbol is the Dove.

When Jesus was baptised by John the Baptist, the Bible says that the Holy Spirit came down on him like a dove from the sky.
The dove was also the bird that brought an olive branch to Noah after the flood.


(from: wikipedia - christian symbolism)


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

Saturday, August 13, 2016

Trajan's Column


We just learned about the the ancient Roman sculpture the Altar of Domitius Ahenobarbus.

Another ancient Roman sculpture is Trajan's Column.

During the time when Rome was at war, sometimes they would make large sculptures and columns to celebrate battle victories.

This tall cylinder column was made for a Roman Emperor named Trajan.
There is a statue of him at the top, and the outside of the column has carvings showing his army winning battles.


(from: wikipedia - trajan's column)


(from: wikipedia - trajan's column)


Kid Facts - Blast from the past: La Blanchisseuse - Toulouse-Lautrec

Friday, August 12, 2016

Italian - Counting to Fifty Nine


We count to 49 in Italian, let's keep going!

50 cinquanta - sounds like seen-koo-ah-n-tah /?/
51 cinquantuno - sounds like seen-koo-ah-n-too-noh /?/
52 cinquanta due - sounds like seen-koo-ah-n-tah doo-ay /?/
53 cinquanta tre - sounds like seen-koo-ah-n-tah t-day /?/
54 cinquantaquattro - sounds like seen-koo-ah-n-tah koo-ah-t-doh /?/
55 cinquantacinque - sounds like seen-koo-ah-n-tah chee-n-koo-ay /?/
56 cinquantasei - sounds like seen-koo-ah-n-tah say-ee /?/
57 cinquantasette - sounds like seen-koo-ah-n-tah say-tay /?/
58 cinquantotto - sounds like seen-koo-ah-n-toh-toh /?/
59 cinquantanove - sounds like seen-koo-ah-n-tah no-vay /?/

Goethe Institute
(from: wikipedia - Goethe Institute)


German:
fünfzig, einundfünfzig, zweiundfünfzig, dreiundfünfzig, vierundfünfzig, fünfundfünfzig, sechsundfünfzig, siebenundfünfzig, achtundfünfzig, neunundfünfzig

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

French:
cinquante, cinquante et un, cinquante-deux, cinquante-trois, cinquante-quatre, cinquante-cinq, cinquante-six, cinquante-sept, cinquante-huit, cinquante-deux

Thursday, August 11, 2016

Straight Peen Hammer


We've learned about the Ball Peen Hammer and the Cross Peen Hammer.

Another type of blacksmithing hammer is the Straight Peen Hammer.

This is used just like the cross peen hammer, but in the other direction.
The cross peen hammer has a sideways line that makes a cross shape with the handle.
The straight peen hammer is lined up straight with the hammer handle.


(from: wikipedia - hammer)


Kid Facts - Blast from the past: Thundersnow

Wednesday, August 10, 2016

Savu Python


We just learned about the Fox Snake.

Another type of snake is the Savu Python also known as the Liasis Mackloti Savuensis.

These snakes come from the Island of Savu in Indonesia, and are not venomous.

When they are young, they start out as a bright orange color, and when they are grown up they are a speckled dark brown with white eyes.


(from: wikipedia - liasis mackloti savuensis)


Kid Facts - Blast from the past: Cocker Spaniel

Tuesday, August 9, 2016

Foramen Magnum


We just learned about the Spinal Cord.

Where the spinal cord connects to the brain, there is a hole in the bottom of the skull.
That hole is called the Foramen Magnum which means Great Hole.


(from: wikipedia - foramen magnum)


Kid Facts - Blast from the past: Great Saphenous Vein

Monday, August 8, 2016

Shishapangma


We just learned about the mountain peak Gasherbrum II.

The next highest mountain peak is Shishapangma in Tibet.

This mountain is the shortest of the 14 mountain peaks in the world that are over 8,000 meters tall.
These mountains are sometimes called the "eight-thousanders".
It was the last of this group to be climbed, because the countries that control where it is did not want people visiting.

Some people think the name means "Crest above the grassy plain", and other people think it means "Meat of the dead animals and malty dregs" named after a story of people who were stranded in the mountains.

It is also known as Gosainthan which means "place of the saint".


(from: wikipedia - shishapangma)


Kid Facts - Blast from the past: Utah

Sunday, August 7, 2016

The Good Shepherd


We just learned about the Christian symbol of the Iota Chi - IX Monogram.

Another Christian Symbol is the Good Shepherd.

In the Bible, Jesus Christ is called the Good Shepherd who lays down his life for his sheep.


(from: wikipedia - good shepherd)


Kid Facts - Blast from the past: Paul's Letters

Saturday, August 6, 2016

Altar of Domitius Ahenobarbus


We just learned about the Alexander Sarcophagus sculpture.

A famous sculpture from the Roman art period is the Altar of Domitius Ahenobarbus.

It is split up into three parts.

The first part on the left is the census, where the Roman person in charge took notes of every person in town, where they lived and what they did.


(from: wikipedia - altar of domitius ahenobarbus)

The second part is where some animals are being given as sacrifices to the mythical Roman gods.


(from: wikipedia - altar of domitius ahenobarbus)

The last part on the right is soldiers with horses.


(from: wikipedia - altar of domitius ahenobarbus)


Kid Facts - Blast from the past: Le Pont de Moret, effet d’orage - Sisley

Friday, August 5, 2016

Italian - Counting to Forty Nine


We counted to 39 in Italian, let's keep going!

40 Quaranta - sounds like koo-ah-dah-n-tah /?/
41 quarantuno - sounds like koo-ah-dah-n-too-noh /?/
42 quarantadue - sounds like koo-ah-dah-n-tah-doo-ay /?/
43 quarantatre - sounds like koo-ah-dah-n-tah-t-day /?/
44 quarantaquattro - sounds like koo-ah-dah-n-tah-koo-ah-t-doh /?/
45 quarantacinque - sounds like koo-ah-dah-n-tah-chee-n-koo-ay /?/
46 quarantasei - sounds like koo-ah-dah-n-tah-say-ee /?/
47 quarantasette - sounds like koo-ah-dah-n-tah-say-tay /?/
48 quarantotto - sounds like koo-ah-dah-n-tah-oh-toh /?/
49 quarantanove - sounds like koo-ah-dah-n-tah-noh-vay /?/

Goethe Institute
(from: wikipedia - Goethe Institute)


German:
vierzig, einundvierzig, zweiundvierzig, dreiundvierzig, vierundvierzig, fünfundvierzig, sechsundvierzig, siebenundvierzig, achtundvierzig, neunundvierzig

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

French:
quarante, quarante et un, quarante-deux, quarante-trois, quarante-quatre, quarante-cinq, quarante-six, quarante-sept, quarante-huit, quarante-neuf

Thursday, August 4, 2016

Cross Peen Hammer


We just learned about the ball peen hammer.

Another type of hammer used in smithing is the cross peen hammer.

This hammer has a flat head on one side, and a sharp line on the other.
It is used to put indentations in the metal, and spreads the metal out.


(from: wikipedia - hammer)


Kid Facts - Blast from the past: Thunder

Wednesday, August 3, 2016

Fox Snake


We just learned about the King Cobra.

Another type of snake is the Eastern Fox Snake.

This snake is not venomous, lives mostly on the ground, and hunts mostly small mice that it squeezes with constriction and then eats.
In the winter time since it lives in cold areas it will sometimes live in dens with other snakes to stay warm, even if they are not the same type of snake.

This snake looks a lot like the Massasauga rattlesnake and sometimes for self defense it will shake its tail like a rattler to make people scared that it is dangerous.

Unfortunately a lot of people have killed the Fox Snake thinking it was a dangerous Massasauga, so there are not many of them left.

The Fox Snake gets its name because when it is picked up it lefts off a musky smell that smells kind of like the red fox.
(from: wikipedia - fox snake)


Kid Facts - Blast from the past: Boxer

Tuesday, August 2, 2016

Spinal Cord


We just learned about all the parts of the Brain,
like the forebrain, midbrain, hindbrain and limbic system.

The other main part of the Central Nervous System is the spinal cord.

This is like a big thick bundle of wires that goes down your neck, and down your back.
It sends and receives information from every part of your body to your brain.


(from: wikipedia - spinal cord)


Kid Facts - Blast from the past: Dorsal Venous Arch

Monday, August 1, 2016

Gasherbrum II


We just learned about the Broad Peak.

The next highest mountain peak is Gasherbrum II, also known as K4,
on the border between Pakistan and China.

It is part of the Gasherbrum mountains in the Karakoram mountain range, along with Broad Peak and Gasherbrum I.

The name comes from the words beautiful and mountain.


(from: wikipedia - gasherbrum ii)


Kid Facts - Blast from the past: Texas