Monday, April 30, 2018

Balmoral Castle


We just learned about the castle Alcazar of Segovia.

Another famous castle is Balmoral Castle in Aberdeenshire Scotland, built in 1856.

There were old castles in this spot going hundreds of years back, all the way to 1390, but they were all torn down over and over to build bigger and better castles.

In the 1800s, Queen Victoria and Prince Albert wanted to live there, so they had it built up to be bigger and fancier.
On one side of the castle is an 80 foot tower, the inside of the castle is about 480,000 square feet, and the castle grounds cover more than 50,000 acres.

When Prince Albert died, Queen Victoria had a pyramid built for him as a tomb to be laid in.

The granddaughter of Queen Victoria named Victoria Eugenie was born in this castle, and she would go on to be the queen of Spain in 1906.

There is also a picture of this castle on the back of £100 money from the Royal Bank of Scotland.





(from: wikipedia - balmoral castle)


Kid Facts - Blast from the past: Northern Appalachian Mountains

Sunday, April 29, 2018

Parmenas


We just learned about Timon one of the seventy disciples.

Another of the seventy was Parmenas.

Just like Timon, Nicanor, Prochorus and Stephen, Timon was one of the seven people that the Apostles chose to help watch over the poor people of Jerusalem.

He also went on to visit parts of Asia and tell people about Jesus.


(from: wikipedia - anatolia)


Kid Facts - Blast from the past: Psalm 22

Saturday, April 28, 2018

Houmuwu Ding


We just learned about the Jade Burial Suits.

Another famous ancient Chinese sculpture is the Houmuwu Ding.

A "ding" is a sculpture that was used to offer up sacrifices to different gods in ancient China.
This ding is the largest piece of ancient bronze artwork that was ever found.

On the ding it says "Queen Mother Wu" so people think this was made for her after she died, by her son Zu Geng of Shang.

It is 52 inches tall, 43 inches wide, 31 inches deep and it weighs over 1,800 pounds!
There are decorations around it of animals, like dragons and tigers attacking humans.


(from: wikipedia - houmuwu ding)


Kid Facts - Blast from the past: Holy Thorn Reliquary

Friday, April 27, 2018

Greek: His face is rough


We just learned in Greek her hands are soft is Τα χέρια της είναι μαλακά (Ta chéria tis eínai malaká).

To say his face is rough you would say Το πρόσωπό του είναι τραχύ (To prósopó tou eínai trachý).
That really says the face his is rough.

We can break it up into five words:

The - Το (To) - sounds like toh
face - πρόσωπό (prósopó) - sounds like p-DOH-soh-POH
his - του (tou) - sounds like too
is - είναι (eínai) - sounds like EE-nay
rough - τραχύ (trachý) - sounds like t-dah-HEE


So all together Το πρόσωπό του είναι τραχύ (To prósopó tou eínai trachý) sounds like toh p-DOH-soh-POH too EE-nay t-dah-HEE.

center for the greek language
(from: wikipedia - center for the greek language)

ASL: His face is rough

Italian: il suo volto è ruvida

German: Sein Gesicht ist rau.

Spanish: Su cara es áspera

French: Son visage est rude

Thursday, April 26, 2018

Rocket Engine Nozzle


We just learned about Gas Rocket Propellants.

Another part of rocket science is the Rocket Engine Nozzle.

When the rocket propellant is burning up coming out of the rocket, the nozzle makes it so that it pushes out very fast and very strong, by putting some pressure right at the end of the rocket.

This is kind of like putting your finger over the end of a water hose, to make the water spray farther.

The shape and size of the nozzle is very important.
It has to be just the right size to get the most thrust and use up just the right amount of fuel.



(from: wikipedia - rocket engine nozzle)


Kid Facts - Blast from the past: Boring

Wednesday, April 25, 2018

Argonaut Octopus


We just learned about the Bigfin Reef Squid.

Another type of cephalopod is the Argonaut Octopus.

These octopuses are sometimes called a "paper nautilus" because the female argonaut will make a hard shell to lay their eggs in, and they will have part of their body in this shell, curled up and looking like a nautilus.

They lay their eggs in the shell, and then sometimes even after the eggs hatch they keep the shell and live in it.

The male argonaut does not have a shell. Both the males and females have eight arms just like all other octopuses.


(from: wikipedia - argonaut (animal))


Kid Facts - Blast from the past: Mimic Poison Frog & Splash-back poison frog

Tuesday, April 24, 2018

Metatarsal Ligaments


We just learned about the Distal Intertarsal Ligaments.

Another group of connective tissue in the foot is called the Metatarsal ligaments.

The metatarsal bones are the long bones in your foot between your ankle and your toes.
There are five metatarsal bones, one for each toe.

The metatarsals have ligaments connecting them to the ankle bones, to each other, and to the toe bones.


- Tarsometatarsal - Connects the tarsus (ankle) to the metatarsals (foot) on plantar (bottom) and dorsal (top).

- Intermetatarsal - Connects the metatarsal (foot) bones to themselves, on dorsal (top), plantar (bottom) and interosseous (in between) and transverse (across).

- Metatarsophalangeal - Connects the metatarsal (foot) bones to the phalanges (toe) bones, on plantar (bottom) and side (collateral).


(from: wikipedia - tarsometatarsal joints)


Kid Facts - Blast from the past: Adnexa

Monday, April 23, 2018

Alcázar of Segovia


We just learned about Neuschwanstein Castle in Germany.

Another famous castle is Alcázar of Segovia.

This castle has been built and rebuilt in parts over hundreds of years by different people, from the Romans to the Spaniards.

It's been used as a fortress, a royal palace, a prison and military school.
Now it is a museum for people to come visit and look at.

In 1474, Queen Isabella I was crowned as queen in this castle.

In the room called the Hall of Kings, there are 52 sculptures of the different kings that ruled over the land for hundreds of years.






(from: wikipedia - alcázar of segovia)


Kid Facts - Blast from the past: Ozarks

Sunday, April 22, 2018

Timon


We just learned about Nicanor, one of the Seventy Disciples.

Another of the seventy was Timon.

Just like Nicanor, Prochorus and Stephen, Timon was one of the seven people that the Apostles chose to help watch over the poor people of Jerusalem.


(from: wikipedia - seven deacons)


Kid Facts - Blast from the past: Psalms

Saturday, April 21, 2018

Jade Burial Suits


We just learned about the Bianzhong of Marquis Yi of Zeng.

Another ancient Chinese work of art is the Jade Burial Suit.

In ancient times in China, people believed that if you were buried in a suit of Jade after you died, it could help you in the afterlife, and protect you from evil.

Jade is expensive, so only the truly rich people like princes or emperors could afford to be covered in a whole suit of jade.
Usually it was small squares of jade with holes in the edges and string used to tie them all together.
Sometimes there was artwork or carvings in the jade.


(from: wikipedia - jade burial suit)


(from: wikipedia - jade burial suit)


(from: wikipedia - jade burial suit)


(from: wikipedia - jade burial suit)


Kid Facts - Blast from the past: Casket with Scenes of Romances

Thursday, April 19, 2018

Greek - Her hands are soft


We just learned in Greek our table is short is Το τραπέζι μας είναι σύντομο (To trapézi mas eínai sýntomo).

To say her hands are soft you would say Τα χέρια της είναι μαλακά (Ta chéria tis eínai malaká).
We're really saying "The hands hers are soft".

We can break it up into five words:

The - Τα (Ta) - sounds like lay tah
hands - χέρια (chéria) - sounds like CHAY-dee-ah
hers - της (tis) - sounds like tee-ss
are - είναι (eínai) - sounds like EE-nay
soft - μαλακά (malaká) - sounds like mah-lah-KAH


So all together Τα χέρια της είναι μαλακά (Ta chéria tis eínai malaká) sounds like tah CHAY-dee-ah EE-nay mah-lah-KAH.

center for the greek language
(from: wikipedia - center for the greek language)

ASL: ASL: Her hands are soft

Italian: Le sue mani sono morbide

German: Ihre Hände sind weich

Spanish: Sus manos estan suaves

French: Ses mains sont douces

Gas Rocket Propellants


We just learned about the Solid and Liquid Rocket Propellants.

Another type of propellant is Gas Rocket Propellant.

This type of propellant is the easiest to control the exact amount of fuel burned and the exact amount of thrust created.
To keep the gas stored safely and under pressure, the fuel tank in the rocket has to be very heavy, so gas is not usually used for the bigger rockets.
Gas has been used the most for little rockets that just change the direction of a rocket to the left or right.
Small rocket thrusters called Vernier Thrusters were on the sides of rockets like the SM-65 Atlas, to help it go in the right direction.


(from: wikipedia - vernier thruster)


Kid Facts - Blast from the past: Swarf

Wednesday, April 18, 2018

Bigfin Reef Squid


We just learned about the Flamboyant Cuttlefish.

Another type of cephalopod is the Bigfin Reef Squid.

These squids get their name from the big fin on their mantle that goes all the way around it.
With their shape and the way they swim, sometimes people think they are cuttlefish.

They grow to around 13 inches in just a few months, and they only live for less than a year.

Their body has a lot of different colors, and can be white, yellow, pink, brown or purple.
Sometimes when light is shined on them their body will reflect white, green or red, but they do not glow in the dark like some other cephalopods.

Because these squids grow very fast, there are people out there who try to have squid farms in the ocean, almost like cows, chicken or pigs.



(from: wikipedia - bigfin reef squid)


Kid Facts - Blast from the past: Golden Poison Frog

Tuesday, April 17, 2018

Distal Intertarsal Ligaments


We just learned about the Transverse Tarsal Ligaments.

Another group of ligaments in the foot is the Distal Intertarsal Ligaments.

Just like the transverse tarsal ligaments, these connect the foot bones in your foot together.
Even though your foot is not that big, there are seven bones from your heel to the middle of your foot, and that doesn't even include the longer bones in your foot that connect to your toes!

The distal intertarsal ligaments connect the bones that are past your heel and your main foot bone. The 3 cuneiform bones, the navicular bone and the cuboid bone are the smaller bones right before the longer metatarsal bones in your foot.

They are named for plantar (bottom), dorsal (top) or inter/interosseous (in between).
Cuneonavicular - Connects your cuneiform to navicular. (plantar and dorsal)
Cuboideonavicular - Connects your cuboid to navicular. (plantar and dorsal)
Intercuneiform - Connects your 3 cuneiform bones together. (plantar, dorsal and interosseous)


(from: wikipedia - plantar calcaneonavicular)


Kid Facts - Blast from the past: Hypodermis

Monday, April 16, 2018

Neuschwanstein Castle


We just learned about all 31 Mexico states and Mexico city!.

Let's learn about some of the awesome castles all over the world.

One of the most famous castles in the world is Neuschwanstein Castle in Bavaria Germany, built in the late 1800s.

This castle was started by the king of Bavaria named Ludwig II.
Ludwig was fascinated by art, music and buildings, and so he decided to build an amazing castle.

When Ludwig II was growing up, there were two castles next to each other with a river in between, but they had mostly fallen apart.
After he became king at age 18, he spent most of his money for about 20 years paying hundreds of workers to make this castle.
It is over 213 feet tall, and has over 65,000 square feet of space on the inside.

The Sleeping Beauty Castle in Disneyland was made to look like the Neuschwanstein Castle.

During World War II, the Nazis had stolen a lot of famous artwork from other countries, and they were using this castle to store thousands of paintings, sculptures and other works of art.
Toward the end of the war when the Nazis were losing, the Nazis made a plan to blow up the whole castle and destroy all the artwork.
Luckily the Allied forces showed up before they were able to destroy it, and they saved the castle and all the artwork.





(from: wikipedia - neuschwanstein castle)


Kid Facts - Blast from the past: U.S. Interior Highlands

Sunday, April 15, 2018

Nicanor


We just learned about Prochorus, one of the Seventy Disciples.

Another of the seventy was Nicanor.

Just like Prochorus and Stephen, Nicanor was one of the seven people that the Apostles chose to help watch over the poor people of Jerusalem.


(from: wikipedia - nicanor the deacon)


Kid Facts - Blast from the past: Esther

Saturday, April 14, 2018

Bianzhong of Marquis Yi of Zeng


We just learned about the Leshan Giant Buddha.

Another ancient Chinese sculpture is the Bianzhong of Marquis Yi of Zeng.

This is a group of 64 bells called bianzhong, made of bronze.
These bells are hung into eight groups, and split up on three levels.

The biggest bell is over 60 inches tall and weighs over 400 pounds.
The smallest bell is 8 inches tall and weighs about 5 pounds.

The musicians who play these bells use wooden hammers to hit them to make sounds.

The Bianzhong of Marquis Yi of Zeng were found in 1978, in the tomb of Marquis Yi of Zeng, a ruler from around 400 BC.



(from: wikipedia - bianzhong)

Kid Facts - Blast from the past: Virgin and Child from the Sainte-Chapelle

Friday, April 13, 2018

Greek - Our table is short


We just learned in Greek:
this chair is small is Η καρέκλα είναι μικρή (I karékla eínai mikrí),
my drink is cold is Το ποτό μου είναι κρύο (To potó mou eínai krýo),
your food is hot is Το φαγητό είναι ζεστό (To fagitó eínai zestó),
and their car is tall is Το αυτοκίνητό τους είναι ψηλό (To aftokínitó tous eínai psiló).

To say our table is short you would say Το τραπέζι μας είναι σύντομο (To trapézi mas eínai sýntomo).

This is really saying the table ours is short.

We can break it up like this:

The - Το (To) - sounds like toh
table - τραπέζι (trapézi) - sounds like t-dah-PAY-zee
ours - μας (mas) - Sounds like mah-ss
is - είναι (eínai) - Sounds like EE-nay
short - σύντομο (sýntomo) - Sounds like SEE-n-toh-moh

So all together To say our table is short you would say Το τραπέζι μας είναι σύντομο (To trapézi mas eínai sýntomo) sounds like toh t-dah-PAY-zee mah-ss EE-nay SEE-n-toh-moh.

center for the greek language
(from: wikipedia - center for the greek language)

ASL: Our table is short

Italian: Il nostro tavolo è breve

German: Unser Tisch ist kurz

Spanish: Nuestra mesa es bajo

French: Notre table est courte

Thursday, April 12, 2018

Liquid Rocket Propellants


We just learned about the Solid Rocket Propellants.

Another type of propellant is Liquid Rocket Propellants.

These can be made up of liquids like gasoline, kerosene or alcohol that are liquids at regular temperatures.
They can also be things that are liquids at really cold temperatures like liquid oxygen, or liquid hydrogen.

The good thing about liquid propellants is that they are lighter than solid ones, so a rocket doesn't have to try as hard to push itself along.
The bad thing is that sometimes they have to be stored very cold in a very high pressure container, and sometimes the liquids can cause problems and eat away at the metals and rubbers that they are stored in.

The first person to make a liquid fueled rocket was Robert H. Goddard, who used gasoline and liquid oxygen to launch a rocket in 1926 in Massachusetts.


(from: wikipedia - robert h. goddard)


Kid Facts - Blast from the past: Threading

Wednesday, April 11, 2018

Flamboyant Cuttlefish


We just learned about the Orthoceras.

Another type of cephalopod is the Flamboyant Cuttlefish, also known as Metasepia pfefferi.

These cuttlefish are very small, only about 3 inches long.
They are very brightly colored, and also just as poisonous as the blue ringed octopus!
Like other cuttlefish it has a cuttlebone inside its body that it uses to help it swim, but its cuttlebone is very small, so it mostly just walks around on the bottom of the sea.

It is usually a dark brown color, but when it is attacked it changes its colors to patterns of black, dark brown, white, red and yellow.
When it is walking along the sea floor it waves around its red tipped upper arms to try and tell predators that it is poisonous.


(from: wikipedia - metasepia pfefferi)


Kid Facts - Blast from the past: Common Suriname Toad