Computer Keyboard - Special Keys

We just learned about the Computer Keyboard - Function Keys.

Another bunch of keys on the computer keyboard are the Special Keys.

We know the keyboard has all of the letters of the alphabet on it, but it also has some special keys that aren't used to type letters or numbers.
These special keys can do things like delete letters, move around the place on the monitor where you are typing, scroll up and down, or even do special things like save or quit.
A lot of the special keys have to do with moving the "cursor".
The cursor is the place on the screen that you are currently working at.
Sometimes it looks like this: | and sometimes it is just something highlighted a different color.
You move around your cursor to type words in different places, or to choose different parts of a program on the screen.

On most keyboards these are the special keys and what they can do:

Esc - This key can either leave or stop a program.
Tab - Can either put a big [   ] space in between a sentence, or it can be used to make different choices in other programs or switch programs.
Backspace - This will get rid of one letter to the left of where you were typing.
Insert - This can turn on "type over" meaning typing new letters will take the place of old ones.
Home - This moves the cursor to the beginning of a text line.
Page Up/Down - This scrolls the window up or down.
Delete - This will get rid of one letter to the right of where you were typing, or it can be used to get rid of files or emails or other things the cursor is selecting.
Shift - If you hold down Shift and type, the letters will be ALL CAPITALS.
Caps Lock - This is like using Shift, but you don't have to hold it down for the letters to BE ALL CAPITALS.
Print Screen - This can take a screenshot of what your monitor looks like that you can save in another program.
Scroll Lock - Some programs use this to change the way they scroll up or down.
Pause/Break - Some programs use this to pause.
Num Lock - If your computer has a number pad, turning this on uses numbers, off uses whatever special options are there.
Ctrl - This is a key used with others to do special tasks.
These special tasks work with most programs: Ctrl+A = Select all, Ctrl+B = bold, Ctrl+C = Copy, Ctrl+F = Find, Ctrl+I = italics Ctrl+N = New, Ctrl+O = Open, Ctrl+P = Print, Ctrl+S = Save, Ctrl+U = underline, Ctrl+V = Paste, Ctrl+X = Cut, Ctrl+Z = Undo.
Alt - Use the menus at the top of the program, like Alt+F usually opens the File menu.
[Windows] - The key that looks like 4 boxes is the windows key that opens the menu for programs.
Arrows - Arrow keys help move the cursor around on the page.


(from: wikipedia - computer keyboard)


Kid Facts - Blast from the past: Superheater

Red-Faced Spider Monkey

We just learned about the Black Howler.

Another type of new world monkey is the Red-Faced Spider Monkey, Guiana spider monkey, or ateles paniscus.

Just like their name says, these monkeys have a bright red face, with black fur on the rest of their bodies.
They live in South America, and spend most of their lives in the trees.

They grow to be about 2 feet long, and weigh about 20 pounds.


(from: wikipedia - red-faced spider monkey)



Baby Red Faced Spider Monkey - Jay the Ram


Kid Facts - Blast from the past: Sphynx Cat

Incus

We just learned about the Malleus.

Another part of the ear is the Incus.

Incus is a Latin word that means anvil.
This is the bone in the ear next to the malleus or hammer.
The hammer takes vibrations from the eardrum and passes them on to the anvil which also vibrates and shakes.


(from: wikipedia - incus)


Kid Facts - Blast from the past: Neutrophil

Panama

We just learned about the country of Guatemala

Let's learn a little about the country of Panama!

This is a small country in North America that connects North America to South America.
It borders Costa Rica, Columbia, the Caribbean Sea and the Pacific Ocean.

It is about 29,000 square miles, and about 4.3 million people live there.


(from: wikipedia - panama)

The flag of Panama is four rectangles.
The top left is white with a blue star, the top right is red, the bottom left is blue, and the bottom right is white with a red star.
Blue and red are for the different groups in Panama that run the government.
The white is for peace and purity.
The blue star is for purity and honesty, and the red star is for the law.


(from: wikipedia - flag of panema)

To eat in Panama you might have bollo, which is corn, potatoes, or yuca which is kind of like a potato.
The ground up corn, pototato or yuca is then all mushed up together and served like a bun.


(from: wikipedia - bollo)

The most famous thing about Panama is the Panama Canal.
Long ago if someone was in a boat on the Pacific Ocean and they wanted to go to the Atlantic Ocean, they either had to go all the way north above North America, around Alaska and Canada close to the north pole, or all the way south below South America, close to the south pole.
Both of these ways were very dangerous and took a long time to travel.
Since the country of Panama is not very wide and it is right in between North and South America, people had the idea to dig a trench in the land, so that boats could cut through like a shortcut.
The US helped dig the canal, and it took about 10 years, and cost about 12 billion dollars.


(from: wikipedia - panama canal)

There is a type of folk dance called the cumbia in Panama where people wear fancy dresses and outfits.

(from: wikipedia - cumbia (panama))


Kid Facts - Blast from the past: Armenia

Joy to the World

We just learned about the song It Came Upon a Midnight Clear.

Another famous Christmas song is Joy to the World.

This was written by Isaac Watts in 1719 in England.
Watts was famous for writing over 750 hymns, and this was another that he wrote for his church services.
One different thing about this Christmas song, is that it isn't really about Christmas!
The song is about when Jesus will come back from heaven again some day and there will be joy in the world.

The music for the song comes from Lowell Mason in 1848.

Joy to the world! the Lord is come; Let Earth receive her King;
Let every heart prepare him room, And heaven and nature sing,
And heaven and nature sing, And heaven, and heaven, and nature sing.

Joy to the world! the Saviour reigns; Let men their songs employ;
While fields and floods, rocks, hills, and plains
Repeat the sounding joy, Repeat the sounding joy, Repeat, repeat the sounding joy.

No more let sins and sorrows grow, Nor thorns infest the ground;
He comes to make His blessings flow Far as the curse is found,
Far as the curse is found, Far as, far as, the curse is found.

He rules the world with truth and grace, And makes the nations prove
The glories of His righteousness, And wonders of His love,
And wonders of His love, And wonders, wonders, of His love.


(from: wikipedia - joy to the world)



Pentatonix - Joy To The World (Official Video) - Pentatonix


Kid Facts - Blast from the past: Sistine Chapel

Michelangelo - Sistine Chapel - The Creation of the Sun, Moon, and Plants

We just learned about Michelangelo's Sistine Chapel - Separation of Light and Darkness.

Another famous part of Michelangelo's Sistine Chapel is The Creation of the Sun, Moon, and Plants.

There are 9 paintings that tell the story from Genesis how God created the world.
First is the Separation of Light and Darkness.

Second is this painting showing two pictures of God.
On one side of the painting God has his hands up pointing toward the sun and the moon.
The other side of the painting shows God holding his hand toward some plants as he created plant life.


(from: wikipedia - the creation of the sun, moon, and plants)


Kid Facts - Blast from the past: Puma - William Zorach

Hindi - Very good thanks, and you?

We just learned to say How are you? in Hindi, आप कैसे हैं (aap kaise hain?)

and Very good thanks is बहुत अच्छा धन्यवाद। (bahut achchha dhanyavaad)

To be polite you should also ask how the other person is doing.

And you? - और आप? (aur aap) - sounds like or ah-p 文A




(from: wikipedia - devanagari)

Swahili: Sijambo asante / Safi asante. Hujambo / unakuwaje / Na wewe

Russian: Спасибо Хорошо (Spasibo khorosho). А вы? (A vy?) / А ты? (A ty?)

Norwegian: Veldig bra takk. Og du?

Greek: Πολύ καλά, ευχαριστώ. εσύ? (Polý kalá, efcharistó)

ASL: Very Good Thanks, and You?

Italian: Molto bene, grazie.

German: Sehr gut, danke. Und Sie?

Spanish: Muy bien gracias. ¿Y tú?

French: Très bien, merci. Et vous?