Sunday, March 11, 2018

Thaddeus


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

Another of the seventy was Thaddeus, sometimes called Thaddeus of Edessa, Addai, Aday, Addeus, or Jude the Apostle.

Because there are a lot of stories about some people named Thaddeus or Jude, it can be hard to tell if the stories are about the same person.

Jude the Apostle was one of the twelve that followed Jesus, and also the one who wrote the book of Jude in the Bible.
There are some other stories about Thaddeus going on and spreading the Gospel to other towns.


(from: wikipedia - thaddeus of edessa)


Kid Facts - Blast from the past: Nathan

Saturday, March 10, 2018

Bharhat Stupa


We just learned about the Kushan Maitreya.

Another work of art in Asia is the Bharhat Stupa, made around 100 BC.

The artwork for this place shows some styles that are a lot like Greek artwork, and also some marks from different types of artists in different areas.
This means the artwork was probably made over several years, with a lot of different people helping.

It was made so long ago and was almost destroyed and buried, so people had to dig it up and try to figure out who made it based on the carvings.

Most of the carvings tell the story of Buddha, a famous wise person from Asia.


(from: wikipedia - bharhut)


(from: wikipedia - bharhut)

Kid Facts - Blast from the past: Portals at Reims Cathedral

Friday, March 9, 2018

Greek - This house is big


We just learned that in Greek, we are surprised is Είναι έκπληκτοι (Eínai ékpliktoi)

Let's learn about some of the things we see every day.

To say this house is big in Greek you say Αυτό το σπίτι είναι μεγάλο (Aftó to spíti eínai megálo).

We can break it up into four words:

This (the) - Αυτό το (Aftó to) sounds like ah-f-TOH toh
In Greek you are really saying "This the" instead of just "this".

house - σπίτι (spíti) sounds like SPEE-tee

is - είναι (eínai) sounds like EE-nay

big - μεγάλο (megálo) sounds like may-GAH-loh


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

ASL: This house is big

Italian: Questa casa è grande

German: Das Haus ist groß

Spanish: Esta casa es grande

French: Cette maison est grande

Thursday, March 8, 2018

Seismite


We just learned about the Mercalli Intensity Scale.

Another interesting thing about earthquakes is Seismite.

This is a type of rock formed when an earthquake causes a bunch of sedimentary layered rocks to get messed up and deformed.

Sedimentary rocks usually look like a bunch of sideways lines stacked on top of each other.
Sometimes when an earthquake happens, the lines get squished around and sometimes look like bubbled up rocks.

That squished up rock is called seismite.


(from: wikipedia - seismite)

Kid Facts - Blast from the past: Lathe - Carriage

Wednesday, March 7, 2018

Blue Ringed Octopus


We just learned about the Hawaiian Bobtail Squid.

Another type of cephalopod is the Blue Ringed Octopus.

This type of octopus is very small, only about 4 to 8 inches wide even including its arms.
Their body is yellow, with glowing blue circles on it.

This is nature's way of warning everyone to stay back because they are very poisonous, and deadly to humans!
If they bite a person, they have a type of neurotoxin poison that attacks the nerves in the body and make it so they can't move any muscles.


(from: wikipedia - blue ringed octopus)


Kid Facts - Blast from the past: Purple Frog

Tuesday, March 6, 2018

Patellar Ligament


We just learned about the Medial and Lateral Meniscus.

Another piece of connective tissue is the Patellar Ligament.

This is the ligament that connects the kneecap to the shin bone.
The kneecap is called the patella, and the shin bone is called the tibia.


(from: wikipedia - patellar ligament)


Kid Facts - Blast from the past: Node of Ranvier

Monday, March 5, 2018

Aguascalientes


We just learned about the Mexico state of Quintana Roo.

Another Mexico state is Aguascalientes.

This is a state in the middle of the country.
It's name means "hot waters" because of the hot springs in the area.


(from: wikipedia - aguascalientes)

The coat of arms has the Latin words "Bona Terra, Bona Gens, Aqua Clara, Clarum Coelum", which means "Good land, good people, clear water, clear sky".

The helmet on top of the crest is for Jauan de Montoro who started the village of Aguascalientes.
Under the helmet is a blue area that shows mother Mary held up by two cherubim, next to a water fountain for the hot springs and a gold chain and lips for freedom and independence.

The bottom left has a dam and some grapes for the farming and rivers.
The bottom right has a gear and a bee, for factories and hard working people.


(from: wikipedia - aguascalientes)

The INEGI is in Aguascalientes, where the government of Mexico works to keep track of how many people are in the country, how much money the country makes, and what kind of jobs everyone has.


(from: wikipedia - national institute of statistics and geography)

There is a large statue called El Cristo Rojo in the town of San José de Gracia.
The name means "The Broken Christ", and it is a 90 foot statue of Jesus on the cross.

(from: wikipedia - el cristo rojo)

The Museo Espacio of the MECA is a giant 86 hectare area filled with museums, a library, an auditorium, and old industrial buildings and sports facilities.


(from: wikipedia - aguascalientes)


Kid Facts - Blast from the past: Nevadan Belt

Sunday, March 4, 2018

Saint Matthias


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

Another of the seventy was Matthias.

After Judas betrayed Jesus, the apostles chose Matthias to replace him.
He went on to tell people about Jesus in many other countries.


(from: wikipedia - saint matthias)


Kid Facts - Blast from the past: David

Saturday, March 3, 2018

Kushan Maitreya


We just learned about the Vajrasana, Bodh Gaya.

Another ancient Asian sculpture is the Kushan Maitreya.

This is a sculpture of the Bodhisattva, which are people seeking enlightenment.
The statue is made in the same style as the Greek mythological characters like Zeuss.

(from: wikipedia - greco-buddhist art)


Kid Facts - Blast from the past: Portals at Chartres Cathedral

Friday, March 2, 2018

Greek - We are surprised


We just learned that I am happy in Greek is Είμαι χαρούμενος (eímai charoúmenos),
you are sad is Είσαι λυπημενος (Eísai lypimenos),
he is angry is Είναι θυμωμένος (Eínai thymoménos),
and they are excited is Είναι ενθουσιασμένοι (Eínai enthousiasménoi).

Let's learn how to say We are surprised.

Είναι έκπληκτοι (Eínai ékpliktoi)

We can break it up into two words:

We are - Είναι (Eínai) - Sounds like EE-nay

Surprised - έκπληκτοι (ékpliktoi) - Sounds like EH-k-plee-k-tee

So all together Είναι έκπληκτοι (Eínai ékpliktoi) sounds like EE-nay Eh-k-plee-k-tee.

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

ASL: We are surprised

German: Wir sind begeistert

Spanish: Estamos sorprendido

French: Nous sommes surpris

Thursday, March 1, 2018

Mercalli Intensity Scale


We just learned about the Richter Magnitude Scale.

Another measurement for earthquakes is the Mercalli Intensity Scale.

This is different than the waves going through the ground that are measured by the Richter scale.
The Mercalli scale is measuring the effects that the earthquake had on the surface and how much destruction it caused.
It was invented by the volcanologist Giuseppe Mercalli around the year 1902.


(from: wikipedia - mercalli intensity scale)


Kid Facts - Blast from the past: Lathe Bed

Wednesday, February 28, 2018

Hawaiian Bobtail Squid


We just learned about the Coconut Octopus.

Another type of cephalopod is the Hawaiian Bobtail Squid.

This squid has a special type of bacteria that lives in its body that helps it glow a little, and also helps it change colors to match other things around it.

When it wants to hide, it buries its whole body under the sand, leaving just its eyes uncovered.


(from: wikipedia - euprymna scolopes)


(from: wikipedia - euprymna scolopes)


Kid Facts - Blast from the past: Darwin's Frog

Tuesday, February 27, 2018

Medial and Lateral Meniscus


We just learned about the Knee Ligaments.

Another important connective tissue is the meniscus in the knee.

When you have more than one meniscus, it is called menisci.
The meniscus is like the rubber padding on your tibia where your fibula touches so it does not hit the other bone.

The two menisci in the knee are the medial and lateral meniscus.
Medial means closer to the middle of the body, and lateral means further from the middle of the body.
So the medial meniscus is on the inside part of your leg, and the lateral meniscus is on the outside part of your leg.

(from: wikipedia - medial meniscus)


Kid Facts - Blast from the past: Schwann Cell

Monday, February 26, 2018

Quintana Roo


We just learned about the Mexico State of Zacatecas.

Another Mexico State is Quintana Roo.

This state is on the eastern part of the bottom of Mexico, on what is called the Yucatan Peninsula.
It borders the Atlantic Ocean on the east, and the country of Belize on the south.


(from: wikipedia - quintana roo)

The coat of arms shows the four elements that were important to the Mayan people, Day, Night, Earth and Wind.
The day is the sun at the top, the night is the star on the middle right, the earth is the snail on the middle left in the red, and the wind is the bottom.


(from: wikipedia - quintana roo)

The city of Cancun is one of the most popular places for people to visit and enjoy the beaches.


(from: wikipedia - cancun)

Another famous beach and tourist place is Playa del Carmen


(from: wikipedia - playa del carmen)

In the city of Tulum, there are many castles and ancient ruins.


(from: wikipedia - tulum)


Kid Facts - Blast from the past: Sierra Madre Occidental

Sunday, February 25, 2018

Cleopas


We just learned about James son of Alpheus, the first of the seventy disciples.

The second one on the list is Cleopas.

Cleopas is in the Bible as one of the disciples who met Jesus on the road after Jesus came back to life after dying on the cross.


(from: wikipedia - cleopas)


Kid Facts - Blast from the past: Saul

Saturday, February 24, 2018

Vajrasana, Bodh Gaya


We just learned about the Bimaran Casket.

Another famous ancient art from Asia is the Vajrasana, Bodh Gaya.

Long ago there was a famous person called the Buddha who worked to try and figure out the best ways for people to live.

One famous place where he sat and meditated was saved, and sculptures were placed on and around it to remember the Buddha.

The word Vajrasana means diamond throne, and Bodh Gaya was the place where the throne was made.


(from: wikipedia - vajrasana, bodh gaya)


Kid Facts - Blast from the past: Pórtico da Gloria - Mateo

Friday, February 23, 2018

Greek - They are excited


We just learned that I am happy in Greek is Είμαι χαρούμενος (eímai charoúmenos),
you are sad is Είσαι λυπημενος (Eísai lypimenos),
and he is angry is Είναι θυμωμένος (Eínai thymoménos).

Let's learn how to say they are excited.

Είναι ενθουσιασμένοι (Eínai enthousiasménoi)

They are - Είναι (Eínai) - Sounds like EE-nay

Excited - ενθουσιασμένοι (enthousiasménoi) - Sounds like eh-n-thoo-zee-as-MAY-nee

So all together Είναι ενθουσιασμένοι (Eínai enthousiasménoi) sounds like EE-nay eh-n-thoo-zee-as-MAY-nee.

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

ASL: They are excited

Italian: Sono eccitati

German: Sie sind aufgeregt

Spanish: Ellos estan emocionados

French: Ils sont excité

Thursday, February 22, 2018

Richter Magnitude Scale


We just learned about the Seismogram.

Another part of earthquake science is the Richter Magnitude Scale.

We learned before about how seismic waves are waves of energy that move through the earth during an earthquake.

These waves are measured using seismograms, and a man named Charles Richter came up with numbered levels to use when talking about how powerful an earthquake was.

This is kind of like the Fujita scale for tornadoes, or the Saffir Simpson scale for hurricanes.

(from: wikipedia - richter magnitude scale)


Kid Facts - Blast from the past: Lathe - Tailstock

Wednesday, February 21, 2018

Coconut Octopus


We just learned about the European Squid.

Another type of cephalopod is the Coconut Octopus, also known as the veined octopus or amphioctopus marginatus.

This type of octopus lives mostly on the bottom of the water, and walks along in the sand.
It gets the name of coconut octopus, because it has been seen carrying empty coconut shells while it walks, and then when it wants to hide it climbs into the shell and closes it up.
Sometimes it will carry shells instead of coconuts and hide out in them, either hiding from predators or hiding so they can attack their prey.

Scientists also think that when it walks it looks like a coconut shell bouncing along the ocean floor.



(from: wikipedia - amphioctopus marginatus)



Coconut-carrying octopus stuns scientists - AFP news agency


Kid Facts - Blast from the past: Common Midwife Toad

Tuesday, February 20, 2018

Knee Ligaments


We just learned about the Hip & Femur Ligaments.

Another set of ligaments are the Knee Ligaments.

There are four main ligaments that connect the femur bone in the thigh, to the tibia and fibula bones of the lower leg.

The Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL) connects the back of the femur to the front of the tiba. It helps keep the knee from twisting.
The Posterior Cruciate Ligament (PCL) connects the front of the femur to the back of the tibia.
The Medial Cruciate Ligament (MCL) connects the inside of the femur to the inside of the tibia.
The Lateral Cruciate Ligament (LCL) connects the outside of the femur to the fibula.


(from: wikipedia - anterior cruciate ligament)


Kid Facts - Blast from the past: Myelin Sheath

Monday, February 19, 2018

Zacatecas


We just learned about the Mexico state of Durango.

Another Mexico state is Zacatecas.

This state is right in the middle of Mexico.
It is known for the mining of riches like silver, and for being an important place in Mexico's battle for freedom.


(from: wikipedia - zacatecas)

The coat of arms has the Cerro de la Bufa hill with a cross on top of it, and a bunch of soldiers standing around a statue of the Virgin Mary.


(from: wikipedia - zacatecas)

There is a large hill with a rock formation on top that is called the Cerro de la Bufa.
It was an important place in many battles, and some important churches and other places have been built around it.


(from: wikipedia - cerro de la bufa)

Just like many other parts of Mexico, there are ancient ruins, like Las Columnas in the city of La Quemada.


(from: wikipedia - zacatecas)


Kid Facts - Blast from the past: Peninsular Ranges

Sunday, February 18, 2018

James son of Alpheus


We just learned about the Seventy Disciples.

The famous historian Hippolytus of Rome wrote down names of who he felt were the 70.

The first disciple listed is James the Lord's brother, bishop of Jerusalem.

Sometimes James is also known as "James, son of Alphaeus" or "James the lesser" because there were two apostles named James.

People aren't sure whether he was a child of Jesus' mother Mary, or if he was called Jesus' brother because they were so close.

After Jesus death, James moved to Jerusalem and was a leader in the church there along with Peter.


(from: wikipedia - james, son of alphaeus)


Kid Facts - Blast from the past: Samuel

Saturday, February 17, 2018

Bimaran Casket


We just learned about the Gandhara Stone Palettes.

Another example of art in Asia that has some Greek style is the Bimaran Casket, made around 50 AD in Afghanistan.

This is a golden container that has pictures of Buddha on the outside.
Buddha was a very important and wise person in Eastern Asia.
The pictures of Buddha on this container show him dressed and standing in a way that is a lot like Greek sculptures, so people think this was either done by Greek people who came through Afghanistan, or Greeks helped teach other people in the area how to do sculptures.


(from: wikipedia - bimarian casket)


Kid Facts - Blast from the past: Tympanum at Vézelay Abbey - Gislebertus

Friday, February 16, 2018

Greek - He is angry


We just learned that I am happy in Greek is Είμαι χαρούμενος (eímai charoúmenos), and you are sad is Είσαι λυπημενος (Eísai lypimenos).

Now let's learn how to say He is angry.

Είναι θυμωμένος (Eínai thymoménos)

We can break it up into two words:
He is - Είναι (Eínai) - sounds like EE-nay
angry - θυμωμένος (thymoménos) - Sounds like thee-moh-MAY-noh-ss

So all together Είναι θυμωμένος (Eínai thymoménos) sounds like EE-nay thee-moh-MAY-noh-ss.

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

ASL: He is angry

Italian: Lui è arrabbiato

German: Er ist wütend

Spanish: Él está enojado

French: Il est en colère

Thursday, February 15, 2018

Seismogram


We just learned about the Seismometer.

Another part of earthquake science is the Seismogram.

These are pictures that are made by seismographs, used to show the movement of the ground on a graph.


(from: wikipedia - seismogram)


Kid Facts - Blast from the past: Lathe - Headstock

Wednesday, February 14, 2018

European Squid


We just learned about the Cuttlefish.

Another type of cephalopod is the European Squid.

Squids are a lot like the cuttlefish, as they have eight short arms used for swimming and two tentacles used for grabbing their prey.
They also have a bone inside their body, kind of like the cuttlebone, but it is called the gladius.

They have a large part of their head called a mantle, with fins on the side.
Above the mantle is a tail.
Below the mantle they have the funnel where they breathe, and their eye.
At the bottom is their arms, tentacles and mouth.


(from: wikipedia - european squid)


Kid Facts - Blast from the past: Strawberry Poison Dart Frog