Wednesday, February 4, 2015

Spider Funnel Webs


We've now learned about orb weaver spiders that build big spiral webs,
and other spiders that build cobwebs or tangle webs.

Another type of web out there is called a funnel web.

Many times funnel webs are built on the ground. They are large flat webs with a funnel hole in the middle where the spider hides.
When an insect comes along they get stuck on some of the small tangles on the web, and the spider comes running quickly out to give them a venom filled bite.


(from: wikipedia - agelenidae)


Kid Facts - Blast from the past: Impala

Tuesday, February 3, 2015

Vertebral Artery


We've learned that the oxygenated blood leaves the heart at the aorta, goes to the aortic arch, and then to the subclavian artery.

The subclavian artery then splits into some other arteries, and one of them is called the vertebral artery.

The vertebral artery goes right into your spine and then goes up your neck to help give more blood to your brain, along with the internal carotid artery.


(from: wikipedia - vertebral artery)


Kid Facts - Blast from the past: Chewing Muscles

Monday, February 2, 2015

Kentucky


We just learned about the US state of Kansas.

Kentucky is a state in the southern midwest part of the US.

It's nickname is the Bluegrass state because there is a type of grass that grows there that looks a little bit blue.
It's motto is: United we stand, divided we fall and Deo gratiam habeamus (Let us be grateful to God).

(from: wikipedia - kentucky)

The flag of Kentucky is blue, with the state seal in the middle.
The state seal is two men shaking hands, one is a pioneer and the other is in a suit.
There are goldenrod flowers around the circle, and that is the state flower.

(from: wikipedia - flag of kentucky)

The biggest horse race in the USA is called the Kentucky Derby, held every year in Louisville, Kentucky.
food

(from: wikipedia - kentucky derby)

Mammoth Cave in Kentucky is the longest cave system in the world.
There are over 400 miles of passageways in the caves.

(from: wikipedia - mammoth cave national park)

The famous Kentucky Fried Chicken restaurants were started by a man named Harland Sanders, who would later be known as Colonel Sanders.

(from: wikipedia - colonel sanders)


Kid Facts - Blast from the past: Uzbekistan

Sunday, February 1, 2015

Jesus Trial - Pontius Pilate


After Jesus was put on trial by the group called the sanhedrin, he was taken to the people in charge of the city he lived in to be put on trial.

The person's name was Pontius Pilate, and he was the ruler in the area of Judea that was part of the country called Rome.

The people who did not like Jesus brought him to Pontius Pilate and said that Jesus was telling everyone that he was the King of the Jews.
They said that it was against the law for him to say he was king, because the Roman Emperor was in charge of all the people and that would mean Jesus was better than him.

Pontius Pilate talked to Jesus but didn't think that he did anything wrong, so he wanted to have him set free.

The angry crowd said that they wanted Jesus to be guilty, so Pilate agreed to have Jesus crucified on a cross.


(from: wikipedia - pontius pilate)

Kid Facts - Blast from the past: Jesus' Miracles - Healing Women

Saturday, January 31, 2015

A Sunday Afternoon on the Island of La Grande Jatte - Georges Seurat


We just learned about the famous work of art Impression, Sunrise by artist Claude Monet.

Another famous work of art is the painting A Sunday Afternoon on the Island of La Grande Jatte by artist Georges Seurat.

Just like Claude Monet, Georges Seurat was part of the impressionist movement.

He also used something called pointillism, which means his painting is made up of tiny little dots of color.
If you look closely you can see bright colors up next to darker colors, and if you look from farther away the two colors mix together to make a medium color.

Seurat used this method to mix colors together, and make areas where the sun was shining look bright and the shady areas look darker.
The Island of La Grande Jatte is an island near Paris, and Seurat spent two years studying the park on this island.
He sat in the park and made many sketches of the figures there and how the light and colors looked on them in the sunlight.


(from: wikipedia - a sunday afternoon on the island of la grande jatte)


Kid Facts - Blast from the past: Moon Tides

Friday, January 30, 2015

German - Horse, Sheep, Duck


We know that in German, dog is hunt, cat is cat-suh, cow is Kuh, chicken is Huhn and pig is Schwein.
Let's learn more animals!

horse - Pferd - sounds like pfay-ah-t /?/

sheep - Schaf - sounds like shah-f /?/

duck - Ente - sounds like en-tuh /?/

Also in German horses say huii, sheeps say wäh wäh, and ducks say quaak quaak!

Goethe Institute
(from: wikipedia - Goethe Institute)

Do you remember how to say it in Spanish?
caballo, oveja, pato

Do you remember how to say it in French?
French - cheval, mouton, canard

Thursday, January 29, 2015

Stratus Clouds


We just learned that cumulonimbus clouds are tall mushroom shaped clouds that are sometimes seen during thunderstorms, lightning and tornadoes.

Another type of cloud is called a stratus cloud.

Stratus clouds are low in the sky, and look flat and hazy like a fog.
These clouds may cause a light drizzle of rain or snow flurries.


(from: wikipedia - stratus cloud)


Kid Facts - Blast from the past: Lava Fountain