Mexican lance-headed rattlesnake

We just learned about the Puffing Snake.

Another type of snake is the Mexican lance-headed rattlesnake.

This is a venomous snake living in Mexico, with very dark spots on it.


(from: wikipedia - crotalus polystictus)


Kid Facts - Blast from the past: St. Bernard

Medulla Oblongata

We just learned about the part of the brain called the pons.

Another part of the brain is called the medulla oblongata.

This part of the brain helps control your heart pumping, your body using up oxygen, and how you swallow, cough, sneeze or throwup.


(from: wikipedia - medulla oblongata)


Kid Facts - Blast from the past: Arterioles

Dhaulagiri

We just learned about the mountain peak Cho Oyu.

The next highest mountain peak is dhaulagiri in Nepali, which means dazzling white beautiful mountain.

This mountain is next to a very deep gorge, which is a very low point, and it goes almost straight up from the gorge.


(from: wikipedia - dhaulagiri)


Kid Facts - Blast from the past: Oregon

Crucifix

We just learned about the Christian symbol of the Cross.

Another Christian symbol is the crucifix.

This is a cross that shows Jesus on the cross being crucified.
Many churches have these crucifixes as artwork by their altar, and some people carry around a crucifix instead of just a cross.


(from: wikipedia - christian symbolism)


Kid Facts - Blast from the past: Holy Spirit Comes at Pentecost

Jockey of Artemision

We just learned about the sculpture the Winged Victory of Samothrace.

Another sculpture from ancient Greece is the Jockey of Artemision.

This is a big bronze statue of a young boy riding a horse, made over 2000 years ago.
There are not a lot of statues from this time and place, because so many of the statues were melted down for the bronze.

This statue was not melted down because it was on a ship that crashed and sank, and was found around 100 years ago.

It is the size of an actual horse, over 6 feet tall and over 9 feet long.
The artist made it in pieces using the lost wax process and then the pieces were welded together.
They sculpted it to look like the horse is in the middle of galloping in a race.


(from: wikipedia - jockey of artemision)


(from: wikipedia - jockey of artemision)


Kid Facts - Blast from the past: First Abstract Watercolor - Kandinsky

Italian - July, August

Let's keep learning about the months of the year in Italian!

We already learned that January, February is Gennaio, Febbraio,
March, April is Marzo, Aprile
and May, June is Maggio, Giugno.

Let's keep going!

July - Luglio - sounds like loo-lee-oh /?/
August - Agosto - sounds like ah-goh-stoh /?/


(from: wikipedia - accademia della crusca)

In German:
Juli, August

In Spanish:
Julio, Agosto

In French:
Julliet, Août

Anvil

We just learned that a forge is a hot fire that blacksmiths use to heat up metal.

When the metal is heated up, blacksmiths pound it against an anvil, which is a large hard piece of metal.


(from: wikipedia - anvil)


Kid Facts - Blast from the past: Lightning Upward Streamers

Puffing snake

We just learned about Pacific Gopher Snake.

Another snake is called the Puffing Snake, also known as psuestes poecilonotus.

It has a yellow belly and it puffs itself up if it is threatened.
It is not venomous and mostly eats small bird eggs.

(from: wikipedia - pseustes poecilonotus)


Kid Facts - Blast from the past: Old English Sheepdog

Pons

We just learned about cerebellum.

Another part of the brain is called the pons.

This part of the brain is used to control sleep, breathing, balance and even dreams.


(from: wikipedia - pons)


Kid Facts - Blast from the past: Plantar and Dorsal Digital Arteries

Cho Oyu

We just learned about the mountain Makalu.

The next highest mountain is Cho Oyu in China and Nepal, and it means Turquoise Goddess.

Near the mountain peak is a path called Nangpa La, which is used for trading between the people who live in the mountains.

Some people think that Cho Oyu is the easiest mountain to climb that is over 8,000 meters.


(from: wikipedia - cho oyu)


Kid Facts - Blast from the past: Oklahoma

Cross

We've learned all about the Church Calendar.

Let's learn about some of the symbols used in the Christian Church.

The most well known symbol used is the Cross.

Crosses come in all shapes and sizes, and are used to help remember when Jesus was crucified on the cross.


(from: wikipedia - Christian cross)


Kid Facts - Blast from the past: Jesus Ascends to Heaven

Moschophoros

We just learned about the Winged Victory of Samothrace.

Another ancient Greek statue is Moschophoros.

This is a statue of someone holding a cow carrying it to a sacrifice.


(from: wikipedia - moschophoros)


Kid Facts - Blast from the past: Primavera Botticelli

Italian - May, June

We already learned that January, February is Gennaio, Febbraio, and March, April is Marzo, Aprile.

Let's keep going!

May - Maggio - sounds like mah-jee-oh /?/
June - Giugno - sounds like joo-nee-oh /?/


(from: wikipedia - accademia della crusca)

In German:
Mai Juni

In Spanish:
Mayo, Junio

In French;
Mai, Juin

Forging

We just learned that someone who works with metal is a Blacksmith.

The blacksmith heats up the metal to work with in a forge.

A forge is like a big hot oven.


(from: wikipedia - forge)


Kid Facts - Blast from the past: Lightning Leaders

Pacific Gopher Snake

We just learned about the Ring Necked Snake.

Another type of snake is the Pacific Gopher Snake.

This snake is not venomous, but it sometimes pretends to shake like a rattle snake, and can shake the grass to make the same noise.

Sometimes two snakes will fight for over an hour, twisting around each other like wrestlers.


(from: wikipedia - pacific gopher snake)


Kid Facts - Blast from the past: Chihuaha

Cerebellum

We just learned about the subthalamus.

Another part of the brain is the cerebellum.

This part of the brain is mostly used to control the movements of the body.



(from: wikipedia - cerebellum)


Kid Facts - Blast from the past: Metatarsal Arteries

Makalu

We just learned about the mountain peak lhotse.

The next highest mountain peak is Makalu in Nepal and China.

It is 27,838 feet high.

This peak is a four sided pyramid shape.
Some people think it is one of the most difficult mountains in the world to climb.
The last part of climbing the mountain is climbing up rock and ice climbing, not just hiking.


(from: wikipedia - makalu)

There is a beautiful valley at the base of the mountain peak, called the Makalu-Barun valley.

It has high waterfalls and deep gorges, flowers blooming below snowy mountain peaks.
There are some rare types of plants and animals that can only be found in this valley.



(from: wikipedia - makalu)


Kid Facts - Blast from the past: Ohio

Feast of Christ the King

We just learned about All Saint's Day.

The next date in the church calendar is the Feast of Christ the King.


(from: wikipedia - feast of christ the king)


Kid Facts - Blast from the past: Jesus Restores Peter

Winged Victory of Samothrace

We just learned about the statue of Peplos Kore.

Another famous sculpture is the Winged Victory of Samothrace.

This is a statue of the mythical goddess Nike, that was created to honor a sea battle.
The way the statue is standing, it was meant to look strong and graceful.

It is a Hellenistic sculpture which means it was made when the Greek empire was ruling.


(from: wikipedia - winged victory of samothrace)


Kid Facts - Blast from the past: The Fox Hunt - Winslow Homer

Italian - March, April

Let's keep learning about the months of the year in Italian!

We already learned that January, February is Gennaio, Febbraio

Let's keep going!

March - Marzo - sounds like mah-d-soh /?/
April - Aprile - sounds like ap-d-ee-lay /?/


(from: wikipedia - accademia della crusca)

In German:
März, April

In Spanish:
Marzo, Abril

In French:
Mars, Avril

Blacksmith

We just learned about Metalwork.

One of the types of metalsmithing is called blacksmithing.

Long ago the blacksmiths were people that made everything from swords to spoons to pots and pans.


(from: wikipedia - blacksmith)


Kid Facts - Blast from the past: Cloud to Ground Lightning

Ring-necked snake

We just learned about the false coral snake.

Another type of snake is the ring-necked snake.

This snake is venomous, but it's venom is not strong and it's fangs are in the back of it's mouth so it doesn't really bite humans.
They live mostly in North America.

It's called the ring-necked snake because it has a colored ring around it's neck.


(from: wikipedia - ring-necked snake)


Kid Facts - Blast from the past: Pug

Subthalamus

We just learned about the epithalamus.

Another part of the brain is called the subthalamus.

This part of the brain helps move the arms and legs.


(from: wikipedia - subthalamus)


Kid Facts - Blast from the past: Tarsal Arteries

Lhotse

We just learned about the mountain kangchenjunga.

The next highest mountain is Lhotse in Nepal.

The word means "South Peak".

(from: wikipedia - lhotse)


Kid Facts - Blast from the past: North Dakota

All Saint's Day

We just learned about Ordinary Time.

The next part of the church calendar is All Saint's Day.

On this day people remember all of the believers who have passed on to heaven long ago.


(from: wikipedia - all saint's day)


Kid Facts - Blast from the past: Jesus appears to Thomas

Peplos Kore

We just learned about the ancient greek statue the Sphinx of Naxos.

Another ancient greek statue is called Peplose Kore.

Peplos is a type of clothing, kind of like a robe, and kore means a young girl.

When it was first made it was painted, but the paint has all worn off.
Some people have made other statues and painted them how they think the Peplos Kore was painted.




(from: wikipedia - peplos kore)


Kid Facts - Blast from the past: His Station and Four Aces - Coolidge

Italian - January, February

Let's learn about the months of the year in Italian!

January - Gennaio - sounds like jen-ah-ee-oh /?/
February - Febbraio - sounds like feb-dah-ee-oh /?/


(from: wikipedia - accademia della crusca)

In German:
Januar, Februar

In Spanish:
Enero, Febrero

In French:
Janvier, Février

Metalwork

We've learned a lot about the weather. Everything from clouds to hurricanes and more.

Now let's learn about metalwork.

This means everything from pouring hot metal into a mold, to banging hot metal to make things into different shapes.

Metalworking is used for everything from artwork to knives and forks, to cars and airplanes.


(from: wikipedia - blacksmith)


Kid Facts - Blast from the past: Cloud to Cloud Lightning

False Coral Snake

We just learned about the Grass Snake.

Another type of snake is the American pipe snake or false coral snake.

It looks a lot like the venomous coral snake, but it is not venomous.

Sometimes when the snake is threatened, it curls up its tail kind of like a cobra standing up.


(from: wikipedia - aniliidae)


Kid Facts - Blast from the past: Dachsund

Epithalamus

We just learned about Hypothalamus.

Another part of the brain is the epithalamus.

This part of the brain helps control our sleep and our feelings.


(from: wikipedia - epithalamus)


Kid Facts - Blast from the past: Dorsalis Pedis Artery

Kangchenjunga

We just learned about the K2.

The next highest mountain is Kangchenjunga which means The five treasures of the high snow.

There are stories about treasures hidden in the mountains, like gold and jewels.
Some people believe that there are giant beasts like a yeti living on the mountain.
Others say that there are magical valleys in the mountains where people can live forever if they find them.


(from: wikipedia - kangchenjunga)


Kid Facts - Blast from the past: North Carolina

Ordinary Time

We just learned about Trinity Sunday.

Another part of the church calendar is called Ordinary Time.
There are two parts of the calendar for Ordinary Time, and they are the time after Christmas and before Easter, and then after Easter and before Christmas.


(from: wikipedia - ordinary time)


Kid Facts - Blast from the past: Jesus appears in his disciples house

Sphinx of Naxos

We just learned about the ancient sculpture Charioteer of Delphi.

Another ancient sculpture from Greece is the Sphinx of Naxos.

This sculpture was built over 2,000 years ago on the island of Naxos as a shrine to Apollo.
It is made of marble, and is 41 feet tall.
The sphinx creature has the head of a woman, the body of a lion and the feathers of a bird.


(from: wikipedia - sphinx of naxos)


Kid Facts - Blast from the past: At the Front - George Cochran Lambdin

Italian - Saturday, Sunday

We just learned that in Italian:
Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday in Italian is Lunedi, Martedì, Mercoledì,
and Thursday, Friday is Giovedi, Venerdi.

Let's keep learning the days of the week!

Saturday - Sabato - sounds like sah-bah-toh /?/
Sunday - Domenica - sounds like doh-may-nee-kah /?/


(from: wikipedia - accademia della crusca)

In German:
Samstag, Sonntag

In Spanish:
Sabado, Domingo

In French:
Samedi, Dimanche

Typhoon

We just learned about Category 5 Hurricanes.

If a large tropical cyclone is in the northwest part of the Pacific Ocean, it is called a Typhoon instead of a hurricane.


(from: wikipedia - typhoon haiyan)


Kid Facts - Blast from the past: Lightning

Grass Snake

We just learned about the Sri Lanka cat snake.

Another snake is the Grass Snake, also known as the ringed snake, water snake or Natrix natrix.

This snake lives in the United Kingdom, and is the largest reptile living there.

It is non-venomous, so sometimes when it is scared it makes a bad smell or even fakes like it is dead.
Sometimes it pretends to be dangerous by hissing and pretending to bite, but it does not bite.

If it plays dead, it might even throw up to make it look like it is dead.


(from: wikipedia - grass snake)


Kid Facts - Blast from the past: Lhasa Apso

Hypothalamus

We just learned about the part of the brain called the thalamus.

Another part of the brain is the hypothalamus.

Just like the thalamus, this is part of the forebrain, and it helps control your body temperature, your hunger, sleep and even what you do when you are afraid.


(from: wikipedia - hypothalamus)


Kid Facts - Blast from the past: Plantar Arteries

K2

We just learned about Mount Everest.

The next highest mountain is K2.

It gets its name because it is part of the Karakoram mountains, and it is the second peak discovered.

It is such a dangerous mountain to climb, that 1 out of every 4 people that have tried to climb it, died.


(from: wikipedia - K2)


Kid Facts - Blast from the past: New York

Trinity Sunday

We just learned about the church day of Pentecost, 50 days after Easter.

The next day in the calendar is Trinity Sunday.

This day is for Christians to celebrate the Trinity, the three Persons of God: the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.


(from: wikipedia - trinity sunday)


Kid Facts - Blast from the past: Jesus appears to Peter fishing

Charioteer of Delphi

We just learned about the ancient Egyptian sculpture the Block Statue of Pa-Ankh-Ra.

The ancient Greeks were also very famous for their sculptures.
One famous sculpture that has survived through the years is the Charioteer of Delphi.

It is a bronze sculpture of a man on a chariot, made to honor someone after they had won a race in a competition like the Olympics.
It was made to look like the person at the end of the race after winning, calm, confident and happy.

The statue has lost it's arm, and it used to have horses with it also.
It still has it's glass eyes, but it is missing its silver eyelashes and headband.

Many bronze statues were melted down for the metal long after they were made, but this statue had been buried under a building that had collapsed, so it survived and was found hundreds of years later.

Statues like this were usually made in a few different pieces and then put together when they were all sculpted.


(from: wikipedia - charioteer of delphi)


(from: wikipedia - charioteer of delphi)


Kid Facts - Blast from the past: Detroit Industry Murals - Diego Rivera

Italian - Thursday, Friday

We just learned that in Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday in Italian is Lunedi, Martedì, Mercoledì.

Let's keep learning the days of the week!

Thursday - Giovedì - sounds like Gee-oh-vay-dee /?/
Friday - Venerdì - sounds like Vay-nay-d-dee /?/


(from: wikipedia - accademia della crusca)

German:
Donnerstag, Freitag.

Spanish:
Viernes, Jueves

French:
Jeudi, Vendredi.

Category 5 Hurricane

We just learned about the Category 4 Hurricane.

The next level of hurricane is Category 5 Hurricane - Catastrophic damage will occur.

These hurricanes have wind speeds over 157 mph.

This is the highest level a tropical cyclone can get to.
These hurricanes totally destroy entire buildings.
They flood large areas, uproot trees, cause power outages for a long time, and people have to leave their homes and go to a safer place.


(from: wikipedia - saffir-simpson hurricane)


Kid Facts - Blast from the past: Fog

Sri Lanka cat snake

We just learned about the Spiny Bush Viper.

Another type of snake is the Sri Lanka cat snake, also known as Boiga ceylonensis.

This snake is usually about 4 feet long, and lives in Sri Lanka and India.

It will sometimes go into houses looking for food, like rats or lizards, and isn't afraid to try and bite people.

They do have venom so their bites will hurt, but it is not enough to kill a person.

They are called a cat snake because of their eyes.


(from: wikipedia - boiga ceylonensis)


Kid Facts - Blast from the past: Irish Wolfhound

Thalamus

We just learned about the Occipital Lobe in the Cerebrum.

Another part of the brain by the cerebrum is called the Thalamus.

This part of the brain helps send messages back and forth from the cerebrum to all parts of the body like your eyes and ears.

It also helps you stay awake when you want or fall asleep when you're tired.


(from: wikipedia - thalamus)

Kid Facts - Blast from the past: Fibular Arteries

Mount Everest

We just learned about Lake Vänern.

Let's learn about the highest mountain peaks in the world.

The highest mountain in the world is Mount Everest in Nepal and Tibet.
It was named Mount Everest after Sir George Everest, who was in charge of mapping out that land when it was discovered.

It is known in Nepal as Sagarmāthā which means "the Head in the Great Blue Sky", and in Tibet as Chomolungma which means "Goddess Mother of Mountains".

It's tallest peak is 29,029 feet above sea level.
Sea level is the height on earth where the ocean is.

The tallest building in the world is only 2,722 feet high, so this mountain is ten times taller than the tallest building in the world.


(from: wikipedia - mount everest)


Kid Facts - Blast from the past: New Mexico

Pentecost

We just learned about Easter Sunday.

The next time in the church calendar is Pentecost.

The word means 50th day, and the day is 50 days after Easter.
This is the time when churches remember the Holy Spirit coming to the Apostles.

Many churches use rose petals or images of doves to remember the holy spirit coming down, and some even will lower a dove from the ceiling or drop rose petals from the roof.

Other churches remember the day with confirmation, when young people confirm their faith.

The churches are usually decorated in red, the color of fire.

(from: wikipedia - pentecost)


Kid Facts - Blast from the past: Jesus Appears on the Road to Emmaus