Monday, July 10, 2017

Nova Scotia


We just learned about the Canadian province of Saskatchewan.

Another Canadian province is Nova Scotia which means "New Scotland".

This is an island province on the east coast of Canada, right on the ocean.


(from: wikipedia - nova scotia)

The flag of Nova Scotia is a white flag with a blue cross on it.
This is supposed to look like the flag of Scotland, which is a blue flag with a white cross on it.
In the middle of the Nova Scotia flag is a gold shield with a red lion, which is the royal arms of Scotland.

(from: wikipedia - flag of nova scotia)

The coat of arms of Nova Scotia has two hands on it that are shaking hands, one of the hands has a metal gauntlet.
Part of Nova Scotia's history was making peace with the Native Mi'Kmaq people that lived there.
By the hands are leaves from a thistle and a laurel, meaning strong defense but also peace.

The coat of arms also has the province flag, a unicorn for Scotland, and a Mi'kmaq First Nation native.
The motto is "Munit haec et altera vincit" which means "One hand defends and the other conquers"

(from: wikipedia - coat of arms of nova scotia)

Because it is an island province, fishing is one of the most important jobs there, and they are one of the largest catcher of lobsters in the world.

(from: wikipedia - halifax, nova scotia)

Cape Breton is a small island that is part of Nova Scotia.

(from: wikipedia - cape breton island)

Sable Island is nother very small island in Nova Scotia, and it is only 150 miles long!
On this island are about 500 wild horses, that just run free on the island where nobody lives.

(from: wikipedia - sable island)


Kid Facts - Blast from the past: Annapurna Massif

Sunday, July 9, 2017

Proverbs 16 - Wisdom better than Gold


We just learned about Proverbs 4 - The Path of the Righteous.

Another famous Proverb is Proverbs 16.

This chapter goes on to tell about the value of wisdom and listening to God for instructions.

"How much better to get wisdom than gold! To get understanding is to be chosen rather than silver."


(from: wikipedia - book of proverbs)


Kid Facts - Blast from the past: Staurogram

Saturday, July 8, 2017

Leonardo's Horse


We just learned about the Equestrian Statue of Bartolomeo.

Another famous Renaissance sculpture is Leonardo's Horse in Milan in 1482.
Leonardo Da Vinci was working on a large sculpture of a horse, and he built a model out of clay but it was destroyed in a war before it could be made into a metal statue.

His notes and drawings for how to make the horse were saved, so a few people have made real copies of the sculpture.


(from: wikipedia - leonardo's horse)


Kid Facts - Blast from the past: Poseidon of Melos

Friday, July 7, 2017

ASL - Fifteen


We counted to 10 in ASL, now let's learn some bigger numbers!

To make the number 12-15 in ASL, you do the same hand shapes you did for 1-5, but your hand is turned around so your palm is facing you, and you move your fingers by bending them a little.

11 - Palm facing you, index finger pointing up, then bend your finger once or twice.
12 - Palm facing you, index and tall finger pointing up, then bend your fingers once or twice.
13 - Palm facing you, index and tall fingers pointing up and thumb out, then bend your index and tall fingers once or twice.
14 - Palm facing you, thumb held in and the other 4 fingers pointing up, bend your fingers once or twice.
15 - Palm facing you, open hand all fingers up, then bend your fingers once or twice, but not your thumb.

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


ASL Numbers 11-20 in Sign Language | Learn how to Sign Numbers


ASL
(from: wikipedia - american sign language)

Italian: undici, dodici, tredici, quattordici, quindici

German: elf, zwölf, dreizehn, vierzehn, fünfzehn

Spanish: once, doce, trese, catorce, quince

French: onze, douze, treize, quatorze, quinze

Thursday, July 6, 2017

Water jet cutting


We just learned about Electrical Discharge Machining.

Another way to work with metal is water jet cutting.

A water jet cutting tool takes water and squirts it at super high speeds at a piece of metal, and the water is going so fast that it actually cuts the metal.

The tool that makes the water go fast actually uses a jewel like a sapphire, ruby or diamond to make a really small hole for the water to go through.
Water jets can be used to cut anything from glass, to rubber to wood or metal.

Sometimes if the water needs to cut something really hard the water gets mixed up with small pieces of hard crystals like garnet or aluminum oxide, and it gets rougher.
You can think of that like if someone mixed sand up in a squirtgun and shot it at you, it might sting more than just water in a squirtgun.


(from: wikipedia - water jet cutter)


(from: wikipedia - water jet cutter)


Kid Facts - Blast from the past: Anvil - Table

Wednesday, July 5, 2017

Central Coast stubfoot toad


We just learned about the Eastern Narrow Mouthed Toad.

Another frog is the Central Coast stubfoot toad.

This is a true toad in the family Bufonidae.
Their vocal sac that fills up with air is not like other frogs, it is very quiet so they can only make calls to other frogs in small distances.
Because of this they have to live very close to other frogs.


(from: wikipedia - atelopus franciscus)


Kid Facts - Blast from the past: Colorado Desert Sidwinder

Tuesday, July 4, 2017

Nail Plate


We just learned about the nail matrix.

Another part of the nail is the nail plate.

This is the big flat part of your nail.
When new cells are being made in the matrix, they are pushed forward to the plate, where they eventually end up at the tip of your fingernail.

(from: wikipedia - nail (anatomy))


Kid Facts - Blast from the past: Diancephalon