Saturday, May 14, 2016

Charioteer of Delphi


We just learned about the ancient Egyptian sculpture the Block Statue of Pa-Ankh-Ra.

The ancient Greeks were also very famous for their sculptures.
One famous sculpture that has survived through the years is the Charioteer of Delphi.

It is a bronze sculpture of a man on a chariot, made to honor someone after they had won a race in a competition like the Olympics.
It was made to look like the person at the end of the race after winning, calm, confident and happy.

The statue has lost it's arm, and it used to have horses with it also.
It still has it's glass eyes, but it is missing its silver eyelashes and headband.

Many bronze statues were melted down for the metal long after they were made, but this statue had been buried under a building that had collapsed, so it survived and was found hundreds of years later.

Statues like this were usually made in a few different pieces and then put together when they were all sculpted.


(from: wikipedia - charioteer of delphi)


(from: wikipedia - charioteer of delphi)


Kid Facts - Blast from the past: Detroit Industry Murals - Diego Rivera

Friday, May 13, 2016

Italian - Thursday, Friday


We just learned that in Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday in Italian is Lunedi, Martedì, Mercoledì.

Let's keep learning the days of the week!

Thursday - Giovedì - sounds like Gee-oh-vay-dee /?/
Friday - Venerdì - sounds like Vay-nay-d-dee /?/

academy of the bran
(from: wikipedia - accademia della crusca)

German:
Donnerstag, Freitag.

Spanish:
Viernes, Jueves

French:
Jeudi, Vendredi.

Thursday, May 12, 2016

Category 5 Hurricane


We just learned about the Category 4 Hurricane.

The next level of hurricane is Category 5 Hurricane - Catastrophic damage will occur.

These hurricanes have wind speeds over 157 mph.

This is the highest level a tropical cyclone can get to.
These hurricanes totally destroy entire buildings.
They flood large areas, uproot trees, cause power outages for a long time, and people have to leave their homes and go to a safer place.


(from: wikipedia - saffir-simpson hurricane)


Kid Facts - Blast from the past: Fog

Wednesday, May 11, 2016

Sri Lanka cat snake


We just learned about the Spiny Bush Viper.

Another type of snake is the Sri Lanka cat snake, also known as Boiga ceylonensis.

This snake is usually about 4 feet long, and lives in Sri Lanka and India.

It will sometimes go into houses looking for food, like rats or lizards, and isn't afraid to try and bite people.

They do have venom so their bites will hurt, but it is not enough to kill a person.

They are called a cat snake because of their eyes.


(from: wikipedia - boiga ceylonensis)


Kid Facts - Blast from the past: Irish Wolfhound

Tuesday, May 10, 2016

Thalamus


We just learned about the Occipital Lobe in the Cerebrum.

Another part of the brain by the cerebrum is called the Thalamus.

This part of the brain helps send messages back and forth from the cerebrum to all parts of the body like your eyes and ears.

It also helps you stay awake when you want or fall asleep when you're tired.


(from: wikipedia - thalamus)

Kid Facts - Blast from the past: Fibular Arteries

Monday, May 9, 2016

Mount Everest


We just learned about Lake Vänern.

Let's learn about the highest mountain peaks in the world.

The highest mountain in the world is Mount Everest in Nepal and Tibet.
It was named Mount Everest after Sir George Everest, who was in charge of mapping out that land when it was discovered.

It is known in Nepal as Sagarmāthā which means "the Head in the Great Blue Sky", and in Tibet as Chomolungma which means "Goddess Mother of Mountains".

It's tallest peak is 29,029 feet above sea level.
Sea level is the height on earth where the ocean is.

The tallest building in the world is only 2,722 feet high, so this mountain is ten times taller than the tallest building in the world.


(from: wikipedia - mount everest)


Kid Facts - Blast from the past: New Mexico

Sunday, May 8, 2016

Pentecost


We just learned about Easter Sunday.

The next time in the church calendar is Pentecost.

The word means 50th day, and the day is 50 days after Easter.
This is the time when churches remember the Holy Spirit coming to the Apostles.

Many churches use rose petals or images of doves to remember the holy spirit coming down, and some even will lower a dove from the ceiling or drop rose petals from the roof.

Other churches remember the day with confirmation, when young people confirm their faith.

The churches are usually decorated in red, the color of fire.

(from: wikipedia - pentecost)


Kid Facts - Blast from the past: Jesus Appears on the Road to Emmaus