Vatican City

Some countries in Europe like The Ukraine are pretty big, but others are as small as a single city!

Vatican City is the country where the Pope lives.

It is right inside the middle of the country of Italy.

They have many wonderful pieces of artwork there, like the Cistine Chapel which has a beautiful painting on the ceiling done by Michelangelo.

(from: wikipedia - vatican city)

Michelangelo also did a sculpture of Jesus with his mother Mary.

(from: wikipedia - vatican city)

They have guards for the pope called Swiss Guards because they are from Switzerland.

(from: wikipedia - vatican city)

It is the home of the Pope, who is the head of the Catholic church.

(from: wikipedia - pope francis)



Kid Facts - Blast from the past: North America Continent

After Jesus' birth

After Jesus was born, his parents Mary and Joseph
moved their family to another country called Egypt
to get away from the bad king Herod.

Later they moved to a place called Nazareth, where Jesus grew up.

Sometimes Jesus is called Jesus of Nazareth
because that was his home town even though he was born in Bethlehem.


(from: wikipedia - return of young jesus to nazareth)


Kid Facts - Blast from the past: Fourth Commandment

Black hole

We just learned about a star system that has stars spinning around stars.

Let's learn about Black Holes!

A black hole is an area in space that has gravity so strong
it will suck in anything, even light!

(from: wikipedia - black hole)



Kid Facts - Blast from the past: Orbit

Spanish - Sir Madam Miss

Let's learn the Spanish words for Mr. Mrs. and Miss!

Sir or Mr. - Señor - sounds like sayn-yoh-d /?/

Madam or Mrs. - Señora - sounds like sayn-yoh-dah /?/

Miss (usually for a young lady) - Señorita - sounds like sayn-yoh-deet-ah /?/


(from: wikipedia - Association of Spanish Language Academies)

Do you remember how to say it in French?
Monsieur, Madame, Madamoiselle

ʻAʻā Lava

Did you know that there are different types of lava?

One type of lava is called ʻAʻā, pronounced like ah ah.

ʻAʻā means rough, stoney lava.
The lava looks rough, and has blocks in it that are called clinkers.


(from: wikipedia - lava)



Kid Facts - Blast from the past: Muffler

Echidna

Echidnas look kind of like a cross between an anteater and a hedgehog.

Just like a hedgehog, they have spines on their body that are poky to keep predators away.
And just like the platypus, they lay eggs like birds do!

Echidnas eat small insects with their tongues, just like anteaters do,
and some of them even have spikes on their tongue.

(from: wikipedia - echidna)

A baby echidna is called a puggle!


Kid Facts - Blast from the past: Lion's Mane

Hand muscles - Thenar

Just like the wrist muscles, there are many muscles in your hand that do different things.

Let's start with the thenar muscle.

The big muscle that's part of your thumb is called the thenar.

It's responsible for all the movements of your thumb!

(from: wikipedia - thenar eminence)


Kid Facts - Blast from the past: Esophagus

European Union

We just learned about the country of Turkey.

Europe is a land of many small nations that are very close together, but with many people living there.

Through history, many of the nations have had wars with each other,
but now 28 of the countries have made an agreement to work together
in what they call the European Union, or just the EU.


(from: wikipedia - european union)

Before the EU, countries like Italy had money called the lira, France had the Franc, and Germany had the deutsche mark.
Now many of those countries have accepted a new type of money called the Euro,
and all the countries in the EU will accept it as money.


(from: wikipedia - euro)




Kid Facts - Blast from the past: United States of America

Jesus' birth

We just learned about John the Baptist.

Let's learn about Jesus' Birth.

We know from the four Gospels that Jesus was born to Mary and Joseph
in a manger (which is like a barn) in Bethlehem.

An angel appeared to Mary telling her that she would have a baby and he would be the son of God!
An angel appeared to Joseph telling him to call the baby Jesus.
An angel appeared to shepherds in the field telling them to come see the baby.
An angel appeared to the wise men telling them to come see the newborn king.

That's a pretty big deal for a baby being born, but this was not just any baby it was Jesus!


(from: wikipedia - nativity of jesus)




Kid Facts - Blast from the past: Third Commandment

Star System

Remember we learned that a planetary system is a star
with a bunch of planets spinning around it, like our solar system.

There are also stars out there that have other stars spinning around them!

We call those star systems


(from: wikipedia - star system)

So far scientists have only discovered star systems with up to 7 stars in them.


Kid Facts - Blast from the past: Solar System

Spanish - Hello and goodbye

We've now learned some French words for 52 weeks.
That's a whole year of French! Tres bien!

Let's try another language now, how about Spanish?

First let's learn how to say hello and goodbye.

Hello - Hola - sounds like oh-lah /?/

Good bye - adiós - sounds like ah-dee-oh-ss /?/


(from: wikipedia - Association of Spanish Language Academies)

Do you remember how to say it in French?
Bonjour! Au Revoir!

Magma

We learned that when a volcano erupts, it shoots out lava which is melted rock.

But where does that lava come from?

Underneath the ground below the volcano, the melted rock is called magma.

(from: wikipedia - magma)

Once it shoots out from the volcano we call it lava, but underground it is called magma.

Kid Facts - Blast from the past: Pistons

Duck

We just learned about the Naked Mole Rat.

Another fun animal is the duck!

There are many colors and types of ducks in the world.
Some of them are so beautifully painted that people carve and paint wooden ducks to look just like them!

Ducks are mostly aquatic animals, which means they live around water.


(from: wikipedia - duck)

Some types of ducks have what looks like a comb inside their beak.
This is called pecten. Ducks will get a big mouthful of water and food, and then squish the water out of their mouth. The pecten keeps the food from squishing out with the water.

(from: wikipedia - duck)



Kid Facts - Blast from the past: Giraffe Horns

Forearm supinators

Let's keep learning about the muscles in the human body!

We've now learned that the forearm flexors are used to help flex your elbow together,
the forearm extensors are used to move the back of your hand toward your forearm, or spread your fingers out.
and the forearm pronators are to turn your wrist so your hand is facing away from you.

The last of the four forearm muscles we're going to learn about is the supinator muscles.

The opposite of the pronator, the supinator is when you turn your wrist to move the palm of your hand to be toward your face.
(from: wikipedia - pronation)


Kid Facts - Blast from the past: Lumbar Vertebrae

Turkey

Last time we learned about Russia.
Next up is Turkey!

Just like Russia, Turkey is part of both Europe and Asia
It is on the very Southeastern edge of Europe.

(from: wikipedia - turkey)

For breakfast in Turkey you might have simit, which is bread with sesame seeds.

(from: wikipedia - turkish cuisine)

There are some famous rock formations in Turkey, called the Fairy Chimneys.

(from: wikipedia - cappadocia)

An old Roman emperor called Constantine the Great built a city to be the capitol of the whole Roman empire at the time. He called it Byzantium, it was renamed Constantinople, and then renamed Istanbul.

(from: wikipedia - constantine)



Kid Facts - Blast from the past: Great Lakes (HOMES)

John the Baptist

In the Gospels, before people knew who Jesus was there was a man that came along
and warned people that Jesus was coming and that everyone should be good
or else they'd be in trouble when Jesus showed up!

That man's name was John, and because he was baptizing people for God,
they call him John the Baptist.

When Jesus came to meet John, he asked to be baptized.
John baptized him, and the bible says that heaven opened up
and the Spirit of God descended upon Jesus like a dove.

(from: wikipedia - john the baptist)

John's mother was Elizabeth, and Elizabeth was also related to Jesus mother Mary.


Kid Facts - Blast from the past: Second Commandmnet

Galaxy

A galaxy is a whole bunch of stars and planets all together in one area in space.


(from: wikipedia - galaxy)

Our solar system is in a galaxy called the Milky Way


Kid Facts - Blast from the past: Planet Names

French - counting to 900

We just learned how to count to 100 in French! Wow!

What about 200 to 900?

Just like in English, in French they just use the number and then the word for hundred.
So 200 in French is deux cent.

200 deux cent - sounds like doo-sown /?/

300 trois cent - sounds like twah-sown /?/

400 quatre cent - sounds like cat-uh-ah-son /?/

500 cinq cent - sounds like sah-sown /?/

600 six cent - sounds like see-sown /?/

700 sept cent - sounds like set-sown /?/

800 huit cent - sounds like oo-ee-sown /?/

900 neuf cent - sounds like nef-sown /?/


(from: wikipedia - OIF)

Volcano

We learned before that lava is melted rock.

Lava comes from volcanoes, when they erupt (or shoot out).

They also let out a lot of ash which is very thick smoke.


(from: wikipedia - volcano)


Kid Facts - Blast from the past: Hardware & Software

Naked mole rat

We just learned about the big bird called the Ostrich.

The naked mole rat is a rat that lives mostly underground and has almost no hair.

Their families are like bees or ants, where they have one queen who is in charge of having babies,
and a bunch of workers rats who do all the work to take care of her.


(from: wikipedia - naked mole rat)

The naked mole rat's skin is interesting because they feel very little pain!


Kid Facts - Blast from the past: Inside Bees

Forearm pronators

Let's keep learning about the muscles in the human body!

We've now learned that the forearm flexors are used to help flex your elbow together,
and the forearm extensors are used to move the bank of your hand toward your forearm, or spread your fingers out.

The forearm does even more than that!

There is another group of muscles called pronators.
They spin your wrist around, so that your hand is pointing away from you.


(from: wikipedia - pronation)

Kid Facts - Blast from the past: Thoracic Vertebrae

Russia

We just learned about the small country of Iceland.

Russia is the largest country in the world.

It is so large, that even though it's part of Europe, it's also part of Asia!


(from: wikipedia - russia)

For dessert in Russia, you might have syrniki, which is kind of like a donut!

(from: wikipedia - syrniki)

The Russians were the first to launch a satellite in space, called Sputnik 1

(from: wikipedia - russia)

Saint Basil's Cathedral is a beautiful famous church in the city of Moscow.

(from: wikipedia - russia)

One of the most famous musical composers ever was Russian Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky.
He wrote the famous Nutcracker ballet.

(from: wikipedia - russia)


Kid Facts - Blast from the past: Peninsulas

John

Let's keep learning about the four Gospels in the New Testament.

We've already learneda bout Matthew, Mark and Luke.
The last of the four gospels is John.

John was the cousin of Jesus, and one of the Apostles.

One of the most famous things from the Bible is from the book of John, chapter 3, verse 16:
For God so loved the world, that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish, but have eternal life.


(from: wikipedia - john the apostle)


Kid Facts - Blast from the past: First Commandment

Planetary system

We just learned about the Interstellar Cloud.

We learned before that our solar system is our group of planets (like Earth and Mars)
spinning around our star which is called the Sun.

We use the word solar just for our Sun, not for other stars.

For other stars with planets that spin (or revolve) around them,
we use the name planetary system.


(from: wikipedia - planetary system)


Kid Facts - Blast from the past: Saturn's Rings

French - one hundred

We just learned how to count to 99 in French! Wow!

What about numbers 100 and over?

100 in French is cent - sounds like son - /?/
For numbers higher than that, you just say the individual numbers afterward.
101 cent un - sounds like sont-on /?/

102 cent deux - sounds like son-doo /?/

103 cent trois - sounds like son-twah /?/

104 cent quatre - sounds like son-cat-uh-ah /?/

105 cent cinq - sounds like sont-sank /?/

106 cent six - sounds like son-see /?/

107 cent sept - sounds like son-set /?/

108 cent huit - sounds like son-oo-ee /?/

109 cent neuf - sounds like son-nef /?/


(from: wikipedia - OIF)

Lava

We just learned a little about LEDs

Let's learn about Lava!

Lava is molten (or melted) rock!

To melt rock, the temperature has to be over 1,200 degrees.

(from: wikipedia - lava)

The word lava is also used for the cooled down lava that turns into rock.


(from: wikipedia - lava)


Kid Facts - Blast from the past: ENIAC

Ostrich

We just learned about the little bird called the Kiwi.

The biggest bird in the world is the Ostrich.

It can't fly, but it can run faster than any other bird,
and about twice as fast as a human, at 43 miles per hour!


(from: wikipedia - ostrich)

The ostrich egg is the largest egg of any living bird,
about 10 times bigger than a chicken's egg.

(from: wikipedia - egg (food))

Sometimes if an ostrich is frightened, it will put it's head low to the ground,
so that from far away it just looks like a large pile bush instead of a big bird!

Forearm Extensors

Let's keep learning about the muscles in the human body!

Last time we learned about how the Forearm flexors are used to help flex your elbow together.

Even though the forearm muscles are smaller than biceps, there are a few other important muscles there too.

The extensor muscles are the ones you use when you move the back of your hand up toward your forearm,
or when you open up your hand and spread out your fingers.


(from: wikipedia - extrinsic extensor muscles of the hand)


Kid Facts - Blast from the past: Cervical Vertebrae

Iceland

Let's keep learning about the countries in Europe!

Last time we learned about Belgium.

Next up is Iceland.

Iceland is an Island out in the Atlantic Ocean, between Europe and North America.

(from: wikipedia - iceland)

For dinner in Iceland, you might have liver sausage called Lifrarpylsa.

(from: wikipedia - Þorramatur)

A geyser is a hole in the ground that shoots water up in the air.
One of the oldest geysers in the world is in Iceland, called Geysir.

(from: wikipedia - geysir)

There are over 200 volcanos in Iceland!

(from: wikipedia - Eyjafjallajökull)

Huldufólk is an Icelandic word that means "hidden people".
Long ago people believed that there were little elves living in Iceland, and people would even build tiny houses for them!

(from: wikipedia - huldufólk)

Luke

Let's keep learning about the four Gospels in the New Testament.

We've already learned about Matthew and Mark, next up is Luke.

The book of Luke has 20 miracles, 16 of which also appear in some of the other 3 gospels.

It also tells of the angel Gabriel bringing the good news to Mary that she was going to have baby Jesus.

History tells us that Luke was a doctor, an artist and a historian.


(from: wikipedia - luke the evangelist)

Interstellar cloud

We just learned about what a Black Dwarf is.

An interstellar cloud is a big bunch of gas, plasma and dust floating together in space.


(from: wikipedia - interstellar cloud)

French - counting to ninety nine

We just learned how to count to 89 in French, let's keep going!

Just like seventy was really sixty-ten and eighty was four-twenties, ninety is also a little different.
The word for ninety is quatre-vingt dix which means four-twenties ten because 20 times 4 is 80, plus 10 is 90!

90 quatre-vingts dix - sounds like cat-uh-ah vah-n dee /?/
91 quatre-vingt onze - sounds like cat-uh-ah vah owns /?/
92 quatre-vingt douze - sounds like cat-uh-ah vah dooz /?/
93 quatre-vingt treize - sounds like cat-uh-ah vah tuh-ay-z /?/
94 quatre-vingt quatorze - sounds like cat-uh-ah vah cay-tow-z /?/
95 quatre-vingt quinze - sounds like cat-uh-ah vah cay-unz /?/
96 quatre-vingt seize - sounds like cat-uh-ah vah sez /?/
97 quatre-vingt dix sept - sounds like cat-uh-ah vah dee set /?/
98 quatre-vingt dix huit - sounds like cat-uh-ah vah dee oo-ee /?/
99 quatre-vingt dix neuf - sounds like cat-uh-ah vah dee nef /?/


(from: wikipedia - OIF)

LEDs

We've now learned about diodes, photons and electroluminescence.

Wow!

Now let's learn about something called LEDs.

LED stands for light emitting diode.
Remember that a diode is a special thing you run electricity through.

When you put electricity through an LED, it shoots off photons,
which are tiny little light particles.

And the photons make the diode light up, using electroluminescence,
which means it gives off light when electricity goes through it.

LEDs can be made in just about every color, and unlike a light bulb they won't burn out!


(from: wikipedia - light-emitting diode)


Kid Facts - Blast from the past: Electrical Box

Kiwi

We just learned about the Hedgehog.

The kiwi bird is a small bird that lives in a country called New Zealand.
It can't fly, just like the ostrich or penguin.

A kiwi bird is about the size of a chicken, but the kiwi egg
is about six times the size of a chicken's egg!


(from: wikipedia - kiwi)


One different thing about the kiwi is that it has nostrils at the very end of its beak.
It can use it's beak to smell the dirt and find small bugs or seeds to eat below the dirt.

Forearm flexors

We just learned about the Calf Muscle

In your forearm there are a few different muscles.

One of them is used to help flex the elbow together,
it is called the brachioradialis.


(from: wikipedia - brachioradialis)


Kid Facts - Blast from the past: Thoracic Cage