Saturday, August 19, 2017

St. Cecilia - Stefano Maderno


We just learned about the statue Fontana della Barcaccia by Pietro Bernini.

Another famous baroque sculpture was St. Cecilia by Stefano Maderno in 1599 AD.

St. Cecilia was a martyr from the time of the Roman Empire, which means she was an innocent person who was killed, and people looked at her like a hero.

The story says that when she was killed, she had three fingers sticking out on her left hand, and 1 finger on her right hand.
This was to show her belief in the Holy Trinity belief of three in one, Father, Son and Holy Spirit.

The sculptor Stefano Maderno was a famous Italian sculptor in the Baroque time, after Michelangelo and before Bernini.

(from: wikipedia - stefano maderno)


Kid Facts - Blast from the past: Capitoline Brutus

Friday, August 18, 2017

Thursday, August 17, 2017

Tectonic Plates


We just learned about the earthquake Hypocenter.

Another part of earthquakes is the Tectonic Plates.

The scientist who study earthquakes have mapped out 15 big areas on the earth, on every continent and around the oceans.
These areas are called tectonic plates, and they move around little by little every year.
When one tectonic plate area moves, it bumps into another tectonic plate, and it causes an earthquake!

These plates are millions of miles wide, and over 60 miles deep.
Because they are so huge, when they bump into each other the earth crashing together has a lot of force and makes a big problem.


(from: wikipedia - list of tectonic plates)


Kid Facts - Blast from the past: Sledgehammer

Wednesday, August 16, 2017

Coqui


We just learned about the Golden Mantella.

Another type of frog is the Coqui.

This frog mostly lives in Puerto Rico.
They get their name from the sound they make, a "CO" and a "KEY".

Because there were so many of these frogs in Puerto Rico, many people have written songs about the coqui frog.


(from: wikipedia - common coqui)


Kid Facts - Blast from the past: Gaboon Viper

Tuesday, August 15, 2017

Collagen


We just learned about Tendons.

Another part of connective tissue is Collagen.

This is mostly what tendons and other connective tissue are made up, along with skin and many other parts of the body.

Collagen is a protein, that under a microscope looks long and stringy and wraps around other collagen long strings.
These long strings all together work to make a bigger rope.

(from: wikipedia - collagen)


Kid Facts - Blast from the past: Spinal Nerve

Monday, August 14, 2017

Nunavut


We just learned about the Canadian Territory of the Northwest Territories.

Another Canadian Territory is Nunavut.

This is the newest territory in Canada, and was separated from the Northwest Territories in 1999.
It is the largest territory, and the northernmost.


(from: wikipedia - nunavut map)

The flag of Nunavut has gold on the left and white on the right, with a red inuksk in the middle, and a blue star in the upper right hand corner.
The blue and gold are for the riches of land, sea and sky, and the red is for Canada.
The inuksuk is a stone monument that was used by the First Nation Canadian people long ago to guide travelers.
The blue star is for the north star.


(from: wikipedia - flag of nunavut)

The coat of arms of Nunavut has a blue and gold round shield in the middle and pictures of the sun, the north star, a stone lamp, and an inuksuk.

Above that is an igloo for the old life of the native people.
There is a caribou on the left, and a narwhal on the right for the natural life and survival.
Below them are plants, arctic poppies, dwarf fireweed, arctic heather, and an iceberg.
The words at the bottom are say "Our Land, Our Strength" in the Nunavut Sannginivut language.

(from: wikipedia - coat of arms of nunavut)

The first English travelers to ever meet an Inuit person were in 1576 in Nunavut.

(from: wikipedia - nunavut)

The northernmost city in Canada is called Alert. It is about 500 miles from the North Pole.
There are only 62 people living there!

(from: wikipedia - alert, nunavut)

The place in Canada with the lowest average temperature is called Eureka.

(from: wikipedia - eureka, nunavut)


Kid Facts - Blast from the past: Himalayas

Sunday, August 13, 2017

Monks


We've learned a lot about the book of Proverbs.

Through the years, many Christians have become monks.

Monks are people who live all by themselves, study the Bible, try to live good lives, and usually help give back to the communities.

The word monk comes from the Greek word "monachos" or "monos" which means alone.

The first monks just were all by themselves, but later groups of monks started to live together in places called monasteries.


(from: wikipedia - christian monasticism)


Kid Facts - Blast from the past: Dove

Saturday, August 12, 2017

Fontana della Barcaccia - Bernini


We just learned about the sculpture of Saint Bibiana by Bernini.

Another famous Baroque art sculpture is the fountain Fontana della Barcaccia by Pietro Bernini in 1629 in Rome.

This fountain is in the shape of a sunken boat with water flowing all over the sides.

There was a legend of a river flooding 1598 and carrying a boat into this plaza and leaving it there when the flood waters went away.
This fountain was made based on that story.

Pietro Bernini is the father of the famous sculptor Gian Lorenzo Bernini.


(from: wikipedia - fontana della barcaccia)


Kid Facts - Blast from the past: Trajan's Column

Thursday, August 10, 2017

Hypocenter


We just learned about the earthquake Epicenter.

Another important thing in earthquake science is the Hypocenter.

This is the spot underground where the earthquake first started.
The epicenter is right above the hypocenter, but at the surface of the earth.


(from: wikipedia - hypocenter)


Kid Facts - Blast from the past: Straight Peen Hammer

Wednesday, August 9, 2017

Golden Mantella


We just learned about the Kihansi Spray Toad.

Another type of frog is the Golden Mantella.

This is an endangered type of frog from Madagascar.
They do not have a very large living area, and they are very colorful, so they are caught a lot for pets.

These frogs are are tiny, and are bright orange, bright yellow or bright red.
They are poisonous in their natural habitat because of what they eat, but in a cage they are not poisonous.
Their croak is just like a clicking sound, and they usually hide out when they are calling each other since they are small and have to hide from predators.


(from: wikipedia - golden mantella)


Kid Facts - Blast from the past: Savu Python

Tuesday, August 8, 2017

Tendon


We just learned a little about the Connective Tissue.

One type of connective tissue is a Tendon which connects muscle to bone.

Tendons are like a bunch of long thin ropes all bundled together, wrapped in and around the parts or your muscle, and then tied into your bone.

When your muscles tighten, the tendons stretch out until they are tight, just like a rope gets tighter when you pull on it.
As it gets tight, it pulls on the bone it is attached to, which is what moves your bone around.
So your bicep has tendons connected to your forearm, and when you want to bend your elbow, your biceps pulls on your tendon which pulls on the bone and it bends!

(from: wikipedia - tendon)


Kid Facts - Blast from the past: Foramen Magnum

Monday, August 7, 2017

Northwest Territories


We just learned about Prince Edward Island.

Canada has provinces and territories, which are a lot like the provinces.

One of the provinces is Northwest Territories which is in the northern part of Canada.

The name for this territory in the native Inuktitut means "beautiful land."
This is a very cold territory, with temperatures getting as low as -40 F.
The territory used to be almost all of Canada, but then it was divided up more and more into the other provinces.


(from: wikipedia - northwest territories)

The flag is blue with a white stripe in the middle.
The white is for snow and ice, and the blue is for water.
In the middle is the coat of arms of the Northwest Territories.

(from: wikipedia - flag of northwest territories)

The crest has two golden narwhals on top with a compass rose in the middle.
Below them is a white strip with a wavy blue line in the middle that is for the Northwest Passage.
Below that on the left is a green background for the forest and gold rectangles for the gold mines.
On the right is red for the tundra, and a white fox for the fur hunting.


(from: wikipedia - coat of arms of the northwest territories)

The Great Slave Lake is in Northwest Territories, and it is the deepest lake in North America.


(from: wikipedia - great slave lake)

There is an ice road on the Great Slave Lake that is used when the lake freezes over.


(from: wikipedia - northwest territories)

There are many mines in the Northwest Territories, like the Diavik Diamond mine in Lac de Gras.

(from: wikipedia - diavik diamond mine)


Kid Facts - Blast from the past: Shisapangma

Sunday, August 6, 2017

Proverbs 21 - Righteousness and Justice


We just learned about Proverbs 19 - The purpose of the Lord.

Another famous Proverb is Proverbs 21.


To do righteousness and justice is more acceptable to the Lord than sacrifice..

In the times of the Old Testament, people would sacrifice burnt offerings of animals to God as ways to ask for forgiveness.
This Proverb says that God would rather have people do the right thing than have to ask for forgiveness!


(from: wikipedia - bible)


Kid Facts - Blast from the past: The Good Shepherd

Saturday, August 5, 2017

Saint Bibiana - Bernini


We just learned about the Medal of John VIII Palaeaologus by Pisanello.

Another sculpture called Baroque style is the sculpture of Saint Bibiana by artist Gian Lorenzo Bernini in 1624.

The sculpture shows St. Bibiana standing in a robe holding palm branches.
Her mouth is open and she's looking at the skies, and her face and body positions show lots of feelings.

The Baroque style had sculptors trying to show more movement and energy in sculptures, many times reaching outward, and usually viewable from the front sides and back.
In the past a lot of statues did not have much to look at on the back or sides, because they were supposed to be up against a wall so no one would see that side.
Baroque style a lot of times was a statue in the middle of a fountain, so all sides were sculpted.

Bernini was a very famous sculptor in the Baroque style, and some people even feel like he was the one who invented the style and made it popular.


(from: wikipedia - saint bibiana (bernini))


Kid Facts - Blast from the past: Altar of Domitius Ahenobarbus

Thursday, August 3, 2017

Epicenter


Let's keep learning about Earthquakes.

When an earthquake happens underground, the spot on the earth's surface above where the earthquake is strongest is called the epicenter.


(from: wikipedia - epicenter)


Kid Facts - Blast from the past: Cross Peen Hammer

Wednesday, August 2, 2017

Kihansi Spray Toad


We just learned about the Bumblebee Toad.

Another type of frog is the Kihansi Spray Toad.

These true toads were almost extinct at one point, and there were only 70 of these toads left in the whole world!
They lived in Tanzania near a waterfall, and they needed the misty kind of spray that came off of the waterfall to survive, but their waterfall was changed after a dam was put in place, and some water was flushed into where they live that had pesticides.

There are none of these toads living in the wild, only in zoos where they are trying to rescue them.
There are now thousands of them, but they are still trying to find a place for them in the wild to bring the toad back to it's natural habitat.

(from: wikipedia - kihansi spray toad)


Kid Facts - Blast from the past: Fox Snake

Tuesday, August 1, 2017

Connective Tissue


We've learned a lot about the Integumentary System, everything from skin to hair to nails!

Another important part of the human body is all of the Connective Tissue that holds things together.
Tendons are connective tissue that connect muscle to bone, and ligaments connect bone to bone.
All of these types of cells are very important or our muscles and bones would not work together.
They are almost like the strings in a puppet, and without them we fall down!


(from: wikipedia - connective tissue)


Kid Facts - Blast from the past: Spinal Cord

Monday, July 31, 2017

Prince Edward Island


We just learned about the Canadian Province of Newfoundland and Labrador.

Another Canadian province is Prince Edward Island, also called PEI.

The province is known mostly for it's farming, and makes about 25% of the country's potatoes.
It is made up of one big island and 231 smaller islands.


(from: wikipedia - prince edward island)

The flag of PEI has the English lion on it for Prince Edward, and an island with three small oak saplings for the three counties of PEI, and a big oak tree for Great Britain.


(from: wikipedia - flag of prince edward island)

The coat of arms of PEI has a shield with lion for England, over the oak saplings for the island counties and the large oak for Great Britain.
Above the shield is a blue jay holding a sprig of red oak.
On either side are silver foxes, which were farmed for their fur in PEI, and they are also thought to be very wise.
One fox is wearing a fishing net, and the other one is wearing potato blossoms.
Below the shield is a blue Mi'kmag star for the sun, with roses for England, lilies for France, thistles for Scotland, shamrocks for Ireland and Lady's Slippers for PEI.
The motto is Parva sub ingenti which means "the small under the protection of the great".


(from: wikipedia - coat of arms of prince edward island)

The land of PEI is known for its natural beauty, red dirt and red rock.



(from: wikipedia - prince edward island)

There is an 8 mile long bridge connecting PEI to New Brunswick.
It is the longest bridge over icy waters.


(from: wikipedia - confederation bridge)

Charlottetown is the largest city in PEI, known for it's harbor and fishing.


(from: wikipedia - charlottetown)


Kid Facts - Blast from the past: Gasherbrum II

Sunday, July 30, 2017

Proverbs 19 - The purpose of the Lord


We just learned about Proverbs 18 - The name of the Lord.

Another famous chapter in the Book of Proverbs is Proverbs 19.

This book gives a lot of wisdom about being foolish, telling the truth, and living with others.

Many are the plans in the mind of a man, but it is the purpose of the Lord that will stand.


(from: wikipedia - solomon)


Kid Facts - Blast from the past: Iota Chi - IX Monogram

Saturday, July 29, 2017

Medal of John VIII Palaeologus - Pisanello


We just learned about the Madonna and Child by Francesco Laurana.

Another famous Renaissance sculpture is the Medal of John VIII Palaeologus by Pisanello in 1439.
It is like a coin about 4 inches wide.
The picture is of the Eastern Roman Emperor John VIII Palaeologus.
The words on the coin say "John, king and emperor of the Romans, the Palaeologus"

Pisanello was also known as Antonio di Puccio Pisano or Antonio di Puccio da Cereto.
He was the first to start making medals like this of famous people like the Emperor, and this is believed to be the first one made during the Renaissance.
After he made this, many other people started making medals, but Pisanello was thought to be the best one.



(from: wikipedia - medal of john viii palaeologus)


Kid Facts - Blast from the past: Alexander Sarcophagus

Thursday, July 27, 2017

Earthquakes


We've learned a whole lot about how to work with metal.
Everything from furnaces to get the metal from iron ore, to working with it on anvils, to using it on machines like lathes or mills.

Let's start learning a little bit about Earthquakes.
Earthquakes happen all over the world, even underwater!
There are scientific tools for predicting and measuring quakes, and there is a lot of scientific study over what makes an earthquake happen.

A scientist who studies earthquakes is called a seismologist.


(from: wikipedia - earthquake)


Kid Facts - Blast from the past: Ball Peen Hammer

Wednesday, July 26, 2017

Bumblebee Toad


We just learned about the Common Reed Frog.

Another type of frog is the Bumblebee Toad, also called the Melanophryniscus stelzneri.

This type of frog is a true toad, a member of the Bufonidae family.
They get their name because with their black and yellow colors they look like a bumblebee.
Because they are a fun looking toad, a lot of people keep them as pets.


(from: wikipedia - melanophryniscus stelzneri)


Kid Facts - Blast from the past: King Cobra

Tuesday, July 25, 2017

Paronychium


We just learned about the Eponychium and Cuticle.

Another part of the nail is the Paronychium.

This is the skin on the left and right sides of the nail.


(from: wikipedia - nail (anatomy))


Kid Facts - Blast from the past: Limbic System

Monday, July 24, 2017

Newfoundland and Labrador


We just learned about the Canadian province is New Brunswick.

Another Canadian province is Newfoundland and Labrador.
This is the province in the most north and east part of the province.

The Newfoundland part of the province gets its name from the Portuguese explorers, and the Labrador gets its name from the Portuguese explorer João Fernandes Lavrador.


(from: wikipedia - newfoundland and labrador)

The flag of this province is blue, white, red and yellow, and is shaped like the union jack flag of Great Britain.
On the left side, the blue is for the sea, and the white is for the snow and ice.
On the right side, the red white is for the struggle of the people, and the gold is for their confidence in the future.


(from: wikipedia - flag of newfoundland and labrador)

The coat of arms of this province has a caribou at the top, above a shield with the lion and unicorn for England and Scotland.
On the left and right of the shield are Beothuk people, who are the indigenous people of Newfoundland.
At the bottom is the motto Quaerite prime Regnum Dei, which is from the Bible Matthew 6:33, "Seek ye first the kingdom of God."


(from: wikipedia - coat of arms of newfoundland and labrador)

St. John's is a big city in Newfoundland, where they have the oldest annual regatta in North America.
It also has Cabot Tower, where the first wireless message was sent across the Atlantic Ocean.
And there is a row of colorful houses that is nicknamed Jelly Bean Row.


(from: wikipedia - st. john's, newfoundland and labrador)

Long ago when the Norse people came into Newfoundland, they lived in what are called Sod Houses, meaning that they lived underneath dirt houses covered in grass.


(from: wikipedia - l'anse aux meadows)


Kid Facts - Blast from the past: Broad Peak

Sunday, July 23, 2017

Proverbs 18 - The name of the Lord


We just learned about Proverbs 17 - A Joyful Heart.

Another famous saying is from Proverbs 18.

The name of the LORD is a strong tower. The righteous run to it and are safe.
(from: wikipedia - book of proverbs)


Kid Facts - Blast from the past: Iota Eta