Madagascar Tree Boa

We just learned about the Black Headed Python.

Another snake is the Madagascar Tree Boa.
This is another snake that does not have venom, but attacks its prey by squishing it.

When these snakes are born they are bright red, but then turn green when they get older.
Some people think the young snakes are red so they can be protected by looking like flowers in the trees.

This snake is nocturnal, meaning it stays awake at night and hunts for food.
Even though they are called a tree boa, they usually just live on the ground.


(from: wikipedia - sanzinia madagascariensis)


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Lumbar Nerves

We just learned about the Thoracic Nerves.

The next part of the nervous system by the spinal column is the Lumbar Nerves.

These nerves control all the muscles from the lower abdomen down to the legs and feet.


(from: wikipedia - lumbar nerves)


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Kunlun Mountains

We just learned about the Tian Shan Mountains.

Another mountain range is the Kunlun Mountains in China.

There was an old legend of a paradise in these mountains, with a jade palace, an emperor and queen that had magical powers.

(from: wikipedia - kunlun mountains)


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Lily Crucifix

We just learned about the Elemental Symbols of fire and water as symbols of Christianity.

Another Christian symbol is the Lily Crucifix.

This is a picture of Christ either being crucified on a lily flower, or holding a lily flower.
The white lily is sometimes used as a symbol of purity.


(from: wikipedia - christian symbolism)


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

Gonzaga Cameo

We just learned about the Gemma Augustea.

Another ancient Roman sculpture is the Gonzaga Cameo.

Just like the Gemma Augustea, this is a cameo that is made from carving a stone.
This stone was called sardonyx, and is carved into a male and female person.

No one knows who the people were supposed to be when they were carved, but many people think they were supposed to be Zeus and Hera.


(from: wikipedia - gonzaga cameo)


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Italian - Nine Hundred

We counted to 109 in Italian! Wow!

What about 200 to 900?

In Italian for the hundreds, most use the first number and then cento for hundred.
So 200 in Italian is duecento.

200 duecento - sounds like doo-ay-chen-toh/?/
300 trecento - sounds like t-day-chen-toh /?/
400 quattrocento - sounds like koo-ah-t-do-chen-toh /?/
500 cinquecento - sounds like chee-n-koo-ay-chen-toh /?/
600 seicento - sounds like say-ee-chen-toh /?/
700 settecento - sounds like say-tay-chen-toh /?/
800 ottocento - sounds like oh-toh-chen-toh /?/
900 novecento - sounds like no-vay-chen-toh /?/


(from: wikipedia - Goethe Institute)


German:
zweihundert, dreihundert, vierhundert, fünfhundert, sechshundert, siebenhundert, achthundert, neunhundert

Spanish:
doscientos, trescientos, cuatrocientos, quinientos, seiscientos, sietecientos, ochocientos, novecientos

French:
French - deux cent, trois cent, quatre cent, cinq cent, six cent, sept cent, huit cent, neuf cent

Drawing Down

We just learned about the Slack Tub.

Another thing a blacksmith does is called Drawing Down.

If a blacksmith wants to make some metal thinner, they can hit the metal sideways with the peen hammers or fuller that we've learned about and try and keep it the same width but make it longer.

If you think of the metal like clay, and you tried to push the clay out the long way to make it thinner, that is what the blacksmith is doing with the hammer and the metal when they are drawing.

After they have spread it out with the peen hammer or fuller, they use the flat part of the hammer with the anvil to flatten out any bumps they may have made in the metal.


(from: wikipedia - blacksmith)


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