Wednesday, October 19, 2016

Vietnamese Long-nosed snake


We just learned about the Gray Banded Kingsnake.

Another type of snake is the Vietnamese Long-nosed snake, also known as the rhinoceros ratsnake.

This type of snake is not venomous, it mostly lives in the trees in rainforests, and is awake at night.

They have a very long nose, which is where they got there nickname of rhinoceros snake.

When they are born, they are brownish grey, and when they grow up they turn green.

(from: wikipedia - viet)


Kid Facts - Blast from the past: Chesapeake Bay Retriever

Tuesday, October 18, 2016

Somatic nervous system


We just learned about the coccygeal nerve, which is the last part of the Central Nervous System or CNS.

Remember we learned that the other part of the nervous system is the Peripheral Nervous System or PNS.

One part of that system is the Somatic Nervous System or SoNS, or voluntary nervous system.

These are all the nerves that go through your body to control muscles that you move on purpose, like your arms and legs.
The voluntary muscles are the ones you can control, like your feet.
Involuntary muscles are the ones you can't control, like your heart beating.


(from: wikipedia - somatic nervous system)


Kid Facts - Blast from the past: Axillary, Cephalic, Brachial Veins

Monday, October 17, 2016

Alaska Range


We just learned about the Andes Mountains.

The next highest mountain range is the Alaska Range.

These mountains are like a big wall blocking warm air from the Gulf of Alaska, so the weather on these mountains is very rough.

There are also earthquakes and volcanoes on this range, even though it is way up north in Alaska.


(from: wikipedia - alaska range)


Kid Facts - Blast from the past: Northern Mariana Islands

Sunday, October 16, 2016

Cain


We just learned about Eve from the Bible.

The next person in the Bible is Cain.

Cain was the first son born to Adam and Eve.

Cain was a farmer, and grew crops.

The Bible tells the story of Cain in Genesis Chapter 4.


(from: wikipedia - book of genesis)


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

Saturday, October 15, 2016

Sarcophagus of Junius Bassus


We just learned about the Portrait of the Four Tetrarchs.

Another ancient Roman sculpture is the Sarcophagus of Junius Bassus.

A sarcophagus is a large decorated coffin.
This sculpture shows many different stories from the bible, because Junius Bassus became a Christian before he died.
There are sculptures of Adam and Eve, Daniel in the Lion's Den, the Trial of Jesus, Moses with the ten commandments, and many more.


(from: wikipedia - sarcophagus of junius bassus)


Kid Facts - Blast from the past: Woman with a Fan - Metzinger

Friday, October 14, 2016

Italian - Vegetables


We just learned how to say some fruits in Italian.

Let's learn how to say some vegetables.


carrot carote - sounds like kah-doh-tay /?/
corn mais - sounds like may-ee-ss /?/
pea piselli - sounds like pee-sel-ee /?/

Goethe Institute
(from: wikipedia - Goethe Institute)


German: Karotte, Mais, Erbse

Spanish: zanahoria, maíz, guisante

French: carotte, maïs, pois

Thursday, October 13, 2016

Swaging


We just learned about Upsetting in blacksmithing.

Another thing blacksmiths do is called swaging.

When a blacksmith needs to make a shape, a mark or a bend on a piece of metal that they can't do using just their hammer and anvil, they can use something called a swage block.

The swage block may have shapes on it, like a rounded cave that the metal can be pounded into, when they need to make a spoon.



Some swage blocks have rounded edges for helping to make a wheel, or half hexagon shapes for making a rod that is hexagon shaped.


(from: wikipedia - swage block)


Kid Facts - Blast from the past: Landspout Tornado