Pelican

We just learned about the Christian symbol of the Peacock.

Another symbol is the Pelican.

There are legends about pelicans being such loving mothers than if their children were starving they would use their beak to poke themselves so that the babies could survive from their own blood.

Because Jesus died on the cross and and had the nails poke through his hands, the pelican is like a way to think of Jesus suffering for his children in the same way.


(from: wikipedia - Christian Symbolism)


Kid Facts - Blast from the past: Paul's Second Letter to the Corinthians

Ara Pacis

We just learned about the ancient Roman sculpture the Capitoline Brutus.

Another ancient Roman sculpture is the Ara Pacis, which means "Altar of Augustan Peace".

This was a sculpted building made for the mythical Roman god of peace named Pax.
The building is over thirty feet wide and thirty feet tall.


(from: wikipedia - ara pacis)


Kid Facts - Blast from the past: The Tower of Blue Horses - Franz Marc

Italian - Counting to seventy nine

We counted to 69 in Italian, let's keep going!

70 settanta - sounds like say-tah-n-tah /?/
71 settantuno - sounds like say-tah-n-too-noh /?/
72 settantadue - sounds like say-tah-n-tah-doo-ay /?/
73 settantatre - sounds like say-tah-n-tah-t-day /?/
74 settantaquattro - sounds like say-tah-n-tah-koo-ah-t-doh /?/
75 settantacinque - sounds like say-tah-n-tah-chee-n-koo-ay /?/
76 settantasei - sounds like say-tah-n-tah-say-ee /?/
77 settantasette - sounds like say-tah-n-tah-say-tay /?/
78 settantotto - sounds like say-tah-n-toh-toh /?/
79 settantanove - sounds like say-tah-n-tah-noh-vay /?/



(from: wikipedia - Goethe Institute)


German:
siebzig, einundsiebzig, zweiundsiebzig, dreiundsiebzig, vierundsiebzig, fünfundsiebzig, sechsundsiebzig, siebenundsiebzig, achtundsiebzig, neunundsiebzig

Spanish:
setenta, setenta y uno, setenta y dos, setenta y tres, setenta y cuatro, setenta y cinco, setenta y seis, setenta y siete, setenta y ocho, setenta y nueve

French:
soixante-dix, soixante et onze, soixante-douze, soixante-treize, soixante-quatorze, soixante-quinze, soixante-seize, soixante dix sept, soixante dix huit, soixante dix neuf

Chisel

We just learned about the sledgehammer.

Sometimes when a blacksmith needs to cut a piece of metal, they will use something called a chisel.

There are two main types of chisels, a hot chisel or cold chisel.

A cold chisel is used for metal that is cooled down, and is sometimes used to put marks or grooves in metal.
A hot chisel is used for metal that has been in the forge and is very hot.
A blacksmith will hold the chisel over the metal, and then hit the top of the chisel with the hammer.

There is a special type of chisel called the hotcut hardy, which goes into an anvil's hardy hole.
The point of the hotcut hardy chisel is facing up, and the blacksmith puts the metal on the top of the chisel and hits the metal, pushing it into the pointed part of the chisel.


(from: wikipedia - chisel)


Kid Facts - Blast from the past: Freezing Rain

Indochinese Spitting Cobra

We just learned about the Gaboon Viper.

Another type of snake is the Indochinese Spitting Cobra.

Just like all other cobras, this snake will raise it's head up, and also has a hood that flares out.
It can be black, white, brown or multiple colors like white with black spots.

It is a spitting cobra, meaning it can actually spray its venom out of it's fangs at enemies over six feet away!
The venom will not hurt if it is on human skin, but if it gets in someone's eyes they may be permanently blinded.

These snakes can bite too, not just spray their venom, and their bite can be deadly if the person does not get to the hospital soon enough.
They are a very dangerous snake, but they only live in a small part of the world, near Thailand.


(from: wikipedia - indochinese spitting cobra)


Kid Facts - Blast from the past: Dalmatian

Grey Column

We just learned about the Spinal Nerve.

Another part of the central nervous system is the Grey Column.
This is inside the spinal column, and is made up of grey matter.


(from: wikipedia - grey column)


Kid Facts - Blast from the past: Tibial Veins

Karakoram

We just learned about the mountain range the Himalayas.

The next largest mountain range is Karakoram, which means black gravel.
Because it is near the Himalayas, sometimes it is included as part of the greater Himalayan mountain range.

This mountain range is in Pakistan, India, China, Afghanistan and Tajikistan.

It has the most glaciers of any place in the world except for the north and south poles.

(from: wikipedia - karakoram)


Kid Facts - Blast from the past: Virginia