Monday, September 4, 2017

State of Mexico


Let's keep learning about Mexico States.

The most populated state in Mexico is actually called the State of Mexico, or "Estado de México" in Spanish.

So you could live in Mexico State and Mexico Country.

This state has the most people in it, and it is also the most densely populated, which means it is the most crowded, with 16 million people living there.
If this was a state in the US, it would be the 5th most populated state.
It surrounds Mexico City, which is it's own state.


(from: wikipedia - state of mexico)

The flag is just the seal with a white background.
The seal has the words "Patria, Libertad, Trabajo y Cultura" which means (Homeland, Liberty, Work and Culture).
Each word has pictures to show it's meaning.
Homeland: The Nevado de Toluca volcano, Pyramid of the sun in Teotihuacan, and a person dressed like an Aztec.
Liberty: A cannon with two crosses on it, for the Battle of Monte de las Cruces.
Work and culture: An open book for knowledge, with farms, a gear, sickle, shovel and flask to show the hard working people.


(from: wikipedia - state of mexico)

The Aztec people lived in the Valley of Mexico, where the State of Mexico is now, and there are many ancient pyramids and buildings from their time, in cities like Teotihuacan.


(from: wikipedia - teotihuacan)

One famous church from when the Spanish people came in and took over the land is the Cathedral of Tepotzotlan.


(from: wikipedia - tepotzotlan)

The highest point in the state is the Popocatépetl volcano, which is still active and still sometimes erupts!


(from: wikipedia - popocatépetl)


Kid Facts - Blast from the past: Pamir Mountains

Sunday, September 3, 2017

Macarius of Egypt


We just learned about the famous hermit Anthony the Great.

Another monk from history was Macarius of Egypt.

He grew up and was married in Egypt, but then his wife passed away, and later his parents also died so he was alone.
He gave all of his money to the poor, and went to live in the desert alone.
One day he met Anthony the Great, who helped him learn to live out in the desert and how to be a monk or a hermit.

(from: wikipedia - macarius of egypt)


Macarius went on to help other people who wanted to give everything they had to the poor and live alone, and he created one of the first Christian monasteries, that is still around today in the country of Egypt.


(from: wikipedia - monastary of saint macarius the great)


Kid Facts - Blast from the past: Anchor

Saturday, September 2, 2017

Annunciation of the Virgin by the Angel - Mochi


We just learned about the Neptune by Charles Antoine Coysevox.

Another famous Baroque sculpture is the Annunciation of the Virgin by the Angel by Francesco Mochi in Orvieto Italy in 1605.

This is actually a pair of statues, showing the story of when the angel Gabriel came to Mary to tell her she was going to give birth to the baby Jesus.

The statues can be seen from all sides, and are set apart from each other, with the statue of Mary showing her jumping out of her chair in shock from the sight of the angel.


(from: wikipedia - francesco mochi)


Kid Facts - Blast from the past: Arch of Constantine

Friday, September 1, 2017

ASL - Counting to Eighty Nine


We counted to 79 in ASL, let's keep going!

To do the sign for 80, make the hand sign for 8, with your index, ring and pinky fingers pointed up, holding your middle finger down with your thumb, and your palm facing away from you.
Then close your fingers together all pointed forward away from you, for zero.

For 81 through 89, just do the sign for 8, and then the sign for the number 1-9.

Here is a helpful video to show how these signs are done.


ASL Numbers 30-100 in Sign Language - My Smart Hands


ASL
(from: wikipedia - american sign language)

Italian: ottanta, unottanta, ottantadue, ottantatre, ottantaquattro, ottantacinque, ottantasei, ottantasette, ottantotto, ottantanove

German: achtzig, einundachtzig, zweiundachtzig, dreiundachtzig, vierundachtzig, fünfundachtzig, sechsundachtzig, siebenundachtzig, achtundachtzig, neunundachtzig

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

French: quatre-vingts, quatre-vingts-un, quatre vingt deux, quatre vingt trois, quatre vingt quatre, quatre vingt cinq, quatre vingt six, quatre vingt sept, quatre vingt huit, quatre vingt neuf

Thursday, August 31, 2017

Strike-Slip Fault


We just learned that a fault is when two tectonic plates crash into each other.

There are different types of faults, and different ways that the earth's crust moves during faults.
One type of fault is a Strike-slip fault, also known as a wrench fault, tear fault or transcurrent fault.

When an earthquake happens at one of these faults, the ground shifts side to side.
To show this, put your two hands in front of you on a table, with your palms flat on the table.
Have your hands touching at the sides of your thumbs and pointer fingers.
Slide your right hand forward away from you, and slide your left hand toward your body.
That is the same way the earth moves, slipping the two pieces of the earth's crust next to each other, but keeping them touching.

(from: wikipedia - fault (geology))


(from: wikipedia - fault (geology))


Kid Facts - Blast from the past: Tongs

Wednesday, August 30, 2017

Vietnamese Mossy Frog


We just learned about the Banded Bullfrog.

Another type of frog is the Vietnamese Mossy Frog, or theloderma corticale.

These frogs are found in rainforests in Northern Vietnam, China and Laos.

They get their name because they have bumpy green and brown skin that looks like moss growing on a rock.
This helps them hide from animals that would want to eat them!

If these frogs get scared, they will curl up into a ball and play dead.


(from: wikipedia - theloderma corticale)


Kid Facts - Blast from the past: Western Diamondback Rattlesnake

Tuesday, August 29, 2017

Sharpey's Fibres


We just learned about the ligament.

We know that tendons connect muscles to bones.
The part where the tendon is actually connected to the bone is tied to the bones with something called Sharpey's Fibres.

These are made of collagen, and they are tied into the outer parts of the bone so that the muscle stays connected.


(from: wikipedia - sharpey's fibres)


Kid Facts - Blast from the past: Anterior Roots