Sunday, July 28, 2013

Jeremiah


Let's keep learning about the books of prophecy in the Old Testament.

Last time we learned about the prophet Isaiah.

Another prophet was named Jeremiah.
He is sometimes called the weeping prophet because he was so sad
that he had to tell God's people that because of their sins they were going
to have some difficult days ahead when their temples would be destroyed and they would be captured.


(from: wikipedia - jeremiah)


Saturday, July 27, 2013

Stellar Classification


We just learned about Canopus.

Remember that stars in the sky like our Sun
are just giant balls of burning gas floating in outer space.

When scientists want to measure how hot a star is,
they use something called stellar classification.

The letters for stellar classification from hottest to coldest are:
O, B, A, F, G, K, M.

That can be tough to remember, so you can think of it with this sentence:
Oh Be A Fine Girl Kiss Me since those first letters all match up.

A stars heat usually makes it burn a type of color,
so each of the letters has a color that goes with it.

O - blue
B - blue white
A - white
F - yellow white
G - yellow
K - orange,
M - red

Scientists like to use the letters for how hot the star is,
but sometimes it's more fun to talk about a star by it's color!

stellar classification
(from: wikipedia - stellar classification)

Friday, July 26, 2013

French - Counting to Twenty


We just learned how to count to 15 in French, let's keep going!
16 seize - sounds like sez /?/
17 dix-sept - sounds like dee-set /?/
18 dix-huit - sounds like dee-zoo-ee /?/
19 dix-neuf - sounds like dee-nef /?/
20 vingt - sounds like vah-un/?/

Thursday, July 25, 2013

Semiconductor


We've learned about how conductivity means how fast electricity goes through something,
and that metal is a good conductor, but rubber is a bad one, also known as a resistor.

What about things that are kind of good conductors?
We call those semiconductors.

One of the most common semiconductors out there is a chemical called silicon.
silicon
(from: wikipedia - semiconductor)

Wednesday, July 24, 2013

Frog breathing


We just learned that the red thing on a rooster's head is called the Comb

Let's learn more fun stuff!

How can frogs stay so long underwater?
Because they can breathe air right through their skin!

When they are in the water, the oxygen they need to breathe
can go right into their body through their skin.

Their skin is permeable which means it allows things like water to get through it.
frog
(from: wikipedia - frog)

When they are above water, they don't have very strong lungs to breathe with,
so they do something called buccal pumping. Buccal means cheeks or mouth.

This means they use their mouth to suck air in and out of their lungs.
If you watch underneath a frog's mouth, you can usually see their throat area puffing out and sucking in.
That's them breathing using buccal pumping!

buccal pumping
(from: wikipedia - buccal pumping)


Tuesday, July 23, 2013

Deltoids


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

Last time we learned about the triceps

Next up is the deltoid.

The deltoid is the muscle on the corner of your shoulder, right above where your arm is.
deltoid muscle
(from: wikipedia - deltoid muscle)

You are using your deltoid when you move your arm around at the shoulder.

Monday, July 22, 2013

Norway


Let's keep learning about the countries in Europe!

Last time we learned about Greece.

Next up is Norway.

Norway is part of what is called the Scandinavian countries,
along with Denmark and Sweden
It makes up part of the Scandinavian Peninsula.

norway
(from: wikipedia - norway)

Vikings played a very strong part in Norwegian history,
sailing their large ships in the seas and attacking the villages.
viking ship

The icy northern coast of Norway has over 50,000 small islands!

norway islands

Norway also has fjords, (sounds like fee-or-ds)
which are long thin areas of water with high cliffs on either side.
norway fjords
(from: wikipedia - fjord)