Lake Turkana

We just learned about Lake Taymyr in Russia.

The next biggest lake is in Kenya, called Lake Turkana.

It is the world's largest salt lake and desert lake.


(from: wikipedia - lake turkana)

There is a small active volcanic island in the middle called Central Island.


(from: wikipedia - lake turkana)

There are lakes on this island where many animals live, like flamingos, crocodiles, hippos, snakes, zebra, topi, oryx, giraffe, kudu and gazelle.

(from: wikipedia - lake turkana)


Kid Facts - Blast from the past: Montana

Palm Sunday

We just learned about Holy Week.

Another day in the church calendar is Palm Sunday.

On this day, churches celebrate the day that Jesus came into Jerusalem on a donkey and people waved palm branches and laid them at his feet.

The colors at the church are usually red for Palm Sunday.
Some churches hand out palm branches for people to hold while singing hymns.
These palms are then taken home to put above a cross or picture of Christ.
Some churches keep those palm branches until the next year's Ash Wednesday when they burn them and use the ashes.


(from: wikipedia - palm sunday)


Kid Facts - Blast from the past: Jesus' Crucifixion - It is finished

Tutankhamun's Mask

We just learned about the Statue of Gudea.

Another ancient sculpture is Tutankhamun's Mask.

The mask is made of gold and weighs 22 lbs.
The face of the mask is a sculpture of the pharaoh's face.
It has inlays of colored glass and gems made of lapis lazuli, quartz, obsidian, carnelian, feldspar, turquoise, amazonite, faience and others.

The beard is inlaid with lapis lazuli.

On the back and shoulders are ancient Egyptian hieroglyphs that write out what was thought of as a protective spell in ancient Egypt.



(from: wikipedia - tutankhamun's mask)


Kid Facts - Blast from the past: The Thinker - Auguste Rodin

Italian - Your food is hot

We just learned in Italian:
this chair is small is La sedia è piccolo,
and my drink is cold is La mia bevanda è freddo.

Let's learn about more things we see every day.

To say your food is hot you would say Il vostro cibo è caldo..
We can break it up into four words:
ear essen ist ha-ees Your - Il vostro - sounds like eel voh-st-doh /?/
food - cibo - sounds like chee-boh /?/
is - è - Sounds like ay /?/
hot - caldo - Sounds like kah-l-doh /?/


So all together Il vostro cibo è caldo sounds like mine eel voh-st-doh chee-boh ay kah-l-doh.


(from: wikipedia - accademia della crusca)
In German:
Ihr Essen ist heiß

In Spanish:
Tu comida está caliente

In French:
Votre nourriture est chaud

Tropical Storm

We just learned about the type of Tropical Cyclone called a Tropical Depression.

The next strongest type of Tropical Cyclone is called a Tropical Storm.

This is when there is a strong circular thunderstorm with winds over 39 miles per hour and under 73 miles per hour.
A tropical storm can blow off shingles, and the heavy rain can cause flooding.


(from: wikipedia - tropical storm allison)


Kid Facts - Blast from the past: Roll Clouds

Blue Krait

We just learned about Coral Snake.

Another type of snake is the Blue Krait also known as the Bungarus candidus, or Malayan krait.

This is a venomous snake that lives in southeast Asia.
It has blueish-black stripes on its head and all along its body, and a white belly.

It is the 3rd most venomous snake in the world, and a bite from this snake can kill a human so they are very dangerous.
This snake is shy and usually won't go out to bite a human unless someone tries to pick it up or steps on it.


(from: wikipedia - bungarus candidus)


Kid Facts - Blast from the past: Saluki

Brain

We just learned that the Nervous System is made up of the Central Nervous System which is your brain and spinal cord, and the Peripheral Nervous System which is all the nerves going through your body.

Let's learn more about the brain.

The brain is the part of the body that is in control of everything.
It tells the body when to breathe, when to walk or jump, and when to smile.

It also gets sent all the messages from body.
When you stub your toe it sends a message to your brain telling you that it hurts.
When you see, smell, hear, taste or touch things, all of those messages go to your brain.

The brain also is what helps you think and learn.
From learning how to talk, spell, do math or even how to sing.
It's also where your memories are, where your brain keeps track of the things you've seen and heard.


(from: wikipedia - human brain)


Kid Facts - Blast from the past: Descending Aorta