Vatican City

Some countries in Europe like The Ukraine are pretty big, but others are as small as a single city!

Vatican City is the country where the Pope lives.

It is right inside the middle of the country of Italy.

They have many wonderful pieces of artwork there, like the Cistine Chapel which has a beautiful painting on the ceiling done by Michelangelo.

(from: wikipedia - vatican city)

Michelangelo also did a sculpture of Jesus with his mother Mary.

(from: wikipedia - vatican city)

They have guards for the pope called Swiss Guards because they are from Switzerland.

(from: wikipedia - vatican city)

It is the home of the Pope, who is the head of the Catholic church.

(from: wikipedia - pope francis)



Kid Facts - Blast from the past: North America Continent

After Jesus' birth

After Jesus was born, his parents Mary and Joseph
moved their family to another country called Egypt
to get away from the bad king Herod.

Later they moved to a place called Nazareth, where Jesus grew up.

Sometimes Jesus is called Jesus of Nazareth
because that was his home town even though he was born in Bethlehem.


(from: wikipedia - return of young jesus to nazareth)


Kid Facts - Blast from the past: Fourth Commandment

Black hole

We just learned about a star system that has stars spinning around stars.

Let's learn about Black Holes!

A black hole is an area in space that has gravity so strong
it will suck in anything, even light!

(from: wikipedia - black hole)



Kid Facts - Blast from the past: Orbit

Spanish - Sir Madam Miss

Let's learn the Spanish words for Mr. Mrs. and Miss!

Sir or Mr. - Señor - sounds like sayn-yoh-d /?/

Madam or Mrs. - Señora - sounds like sayn-yoh-dah /?/

Miss (usually for a young lady) - Señorita - sounds like sayn-yoh-deet-ah /?/


(from: wikipedia - Association of Spanish Language Academies)

Do you remember how to say it in French?
Monsieur, Madame, Madamoiselle

ʻAʻā Lava

Did you know that there are different types of lava?

One type of lava is called ʻAʻā, pronounced like ah ah.

ʻAʻā means rough, stoney lava.
The lava looks rough, and has blocks in it that are called clinkers.


(from: wikipedia - lava)



Kid Facts - Blast from the past: Muffler

Echidna

Echidnas look kind of like a cross between an anteater and a hedgehog.

Just like a hedgehog, they have spines on their body that are poky to keep predators away.
And just like the platypus, they lay eggs like birds do!

Echidnas eat small insects with their tongues, just like anteaters do,
and some of them even have spikes on their tongue.

(from: wikipedia - echidna)

A baby echidna is called a puggle!


Kid Facts - Blast from the past: Lion's Mane

Hand muscles - Thenar

Just like the wrist muscles, there are many muscles in your hand that do different things.

Let's start with the thenar muscle.

The big muscle that's part of your thumb is called the thenar.

It's responsible for all the movements of your thumb!

(from: wikipedia - thenar eminence)


Kid Facts - Blast from the past: Esophagus