Tuesday, April 14, 2015

Abdominal Aorta


We just learned about the Thoracic Aorta.

Next stop for oxygenated blood in the arteries is the Abdominal Aorta.

The abdominal artery brings blood to your stomach, intestines and other parts of your digestive system.
It also brings blood to your stomach and back muscles.

(from: wikipedia - abdominal aorta)


Kid Facts - Blast from the past: Adam's Apple

Monday, April 13, 2015

Nebraska


We just learned about the state of Montana

Nebraska is a state in the midwest part of the US, right about in the very middle of the lower 48 states which doesn't include Alaska and Hawaii.

The state nickname is the Cornhusker State because they grow so much corn, and the motto is Equality before the law.
The name of the state comes from a Native American word meaning flat water.

(from: wikipedia - nebraska)

The flag of Nebraska is dark blue, with the state seal in the middle all colored in yellow.
The seal shows a train, mountains, a steamboat, the Missouri river, a cabin, wheat sheaves, a blacksmith at an anvil, and the state motto.

(from: wikipedia - flag of nebraska)

Kool-Aid was first invented in Hastings Nebraska. Edwin Perkins invented it after figuring out how to take liquid out of a fruit juice, and turning it into a powder.
In the town of Hastings, they have a party called Kool-Aid Days.


(from: wikipedia - kool-aid man)

The spade ranch is the oldest cattle ranch in Nebraska. They mark all of their cattle with a shape that looks like an ace of spades.

(from: wikipedia - spade ranch (nebraska))

There is a large rock that has a tall point sticking up on it like a chimney, and it is called Chimney Rock.

(from: wikipedia - chimney rock national historic site)

Gerald Ford, the 38th president of the United States, was born in Nebraska

(from: wikipedia - gerald ford)


Kid Facts - Blast from the past: Ethiopia

Sunday, April 12, 2015

Jesus Burial


We just learned about Jesus saying it is finished at his crucifixion.

After Jesus had died, one of Jesus' disciples named Joseph of Arimathea asked Pontius Pilate for the body.
Joseph took Jesus' body, wrapped it in a clean cloth, put it into a tomb, and rolled a big stone in front of it.

Jesus' mother Mary and Mary Magdalene who was a follower of Jesus were both outside the tomb.

Since Jesus had told everyone that he would rise again in three days, Pontius Pilate had a guard stay by the tomb to make sure it was closed up tight, and stand outside to make sure that nobody would steal Jesus' body and then pretend like he had risen from the dead.

Some of the women who were followers of Jesus went home to make some spices and perfumes which were used on people's bodies after they died, with plans to bring them back later for Jesus' body.

(from: wikipedia - burial of jesus)


Kid Facts - Blast from the past: Jesus' Miracles - Walking on water

Saturday, April 11, 2015

The Calling of St. Matthew - Caravaggio


We just learned about The Thinker by artist François-Auguste-René Rodin.

Another famous work of art is The Calling of Saint Matthew in 1600 by Italian artist Michelangelo Merisi da Caravaggio.

This is a painting of when Jesus came to call Matthew the tax collector to be one of his followers.

Jesus is on the right hand side, pointing his finger to Matthew.
The light coming from the window is almost like light being shined on Matthew because Jesus is calling him.
Also the way Jesus is holding his hand is just like the painting of Adam on The Sistine Chapel by Michelangelo.

Matthew is the bearded man on the left, who has a look on his face like "Who, me?" as Jesus is calling him.
All of the tax collectors are dressed very fancy, with nice robes and shoes, and Jesus is wearing a robe and is barefoot.
This helps show the difference between earthly and heavenly treasures.

Caravaggio painted two other pictures of Saint Matthew.
One was called The Inspiration of Saint Matthew and was about Matthew writing the Gospel.
The other was called The Martyrdom of Saint Matthew and was about when Matthew was killed for his beliefs in Jesus.
All three paintings are on the walls at the Contarelli Chapel in Rome.

(from: wikipedia - the calling of st matthew (caravaggio))


Kid Facts - Blast from the past: Waning Gibbous

Friday, April 10, 2015

German - Their car is tall


We just learned in German your food is hot is Ihr Essen ist heiß.

To say their car is tall you would say Ihr Auto ist groß.
We can break it up into four words:
Their - Ihr - sounds like Ee-uh /?/
car - Auto - sounds like ah-oo-toh /?/
is - ist - Sounds like isst /?/
tall - groß - Sounds like guh-oh-ss /?/


So all together Ihr Autoist groß sounds like mine Ee-uh ah-oo-toh isst guh-oh-ss.

Goethe Institute
(from: wikipedia - Goethe Institute)

Do you remember how to say it in Spanish?
Su coche es alto

Do you remember how to say it in French?
Leur voiture est haut

Thursday, April 9, 2015

Anemometer


We just learned about the huge storm clouds called Roll Clouds.
Many people have jobs where they work to try and predict the weather and different types of storms.
A very important thing to measure is wind speed.

The tool used to measure wind speed is called the Anemometer.
The first anemometers that were invented were small cups on a stick that spun around, and counted how many times it spun around per minute.
Some later anemometers look more like an airplane with a propeller and a tail, and they can tell wind direction and speed.

(from: wikipedia - wind speed)


Kid Facts - Blast from the past: Mudstone

Wednesday, April 8, 2015

Afghan Hound


We just learned about the Saluki.

Another type of dog is the Afghan Hound.

These dogs have long silky fur and a tail with a curl.

This dog got it's name because it was very common in the cold mountains of the country of Afghanistan.
Just like the Saluki, they have very good eyes and are known as sight hounds.

Because of their fancy fur, they are very popular dogs for pets and for dog shows that are like dog beauty pageants.

(from: wikipedia - afghan hound)


Kid Facts - Blast from the past: Grouse