Myelin Sheath

We just learned about the Axon.

Another part of the neuron in the nervous system is the Myelin Sheath.

This is a fatty covering over the axon, so it can protect the messages getting sent over from the soma.
It's kind of like the rubber covering on an electrical cord, keeping all the electricity in and protecting it from escaping.


(from: wikipedia - myelin)


Kid Facts - Blast from the past: Myocardium

Transverse Ranges

We just learned about the Central California Coast Ranges.

Another group of mountain ranges in the Pacific Coast Belt of the North American Cordillera is the Transverse Ranges.

These ranges are different, because they go east to west, instead of north to south like the other ranges in the Pacific Coast Belt.

They were created by the San Andreas Fault, which is where parts of the earth way underground ran are pushing against each other, and forced the ground above to go up, creating the mountains.

They are a very popular place to live, as the city of Los Angeles is right by the San Monica Mountains. The famous "Hollywood" sign is in Mount Lee in that mountain range.


(from: wikipedia - hollywood sign)


Kid Facts - Blast from the past: Lake Balkhash

Ruth

We just learned about the person from the Bible Samson.

Another person from the Bible was Ruth.

There once was a woman named Naomi, who had two sons.
Her sons married girls named Ruth and Orpah.
One day her husband and sons all died, and she was left with no family except Ruth and Orpah.
She told the two girls to go back to their homelands, but Ruth refused.
She stayed with Naomi to take care of her.

They moved to another land where a rich man named Boaz lived.
Ruth asked if she could work in the fields and pick up just the last little bits of crops that were left behind after everyone was done.
She did that over and over, and everyone saw how hard she worked to help gather small bits of crops so she could take care of her mother in law Naomi.
One day Boaz saw how hard Ruth worked, and he married her.
Boaz and Ruth had children, and Ruth was the Great Grandmother of David who would be King of Israel.


(from: wikipedia - book of ruth)


Kid Facts - Blast from the past: Epiphany

Prophet Jeremiah at Mosaic Abbey

We just learned about the Last Judgement Tympanum by Gislebertus.

Another example of Romanesque sculpture is the Prophet Jeremiah at Mosaic Abbey.

This is a sculpture of Jeremiah on a pillar at a monestary in France.
Because this sculpture was part of a pillar holding up the building, the sculptor had to try and make it in a way that it would fit on the small space on the column.
It could not be a large statue of Jeremiah with his hands out, or with large flowing robes, it had to be smaller and squeezed in to fit on the pillar.


(from: wikipedia - mosaic abbey)


Kid Facts - Blast from the past: Gundestrup Cauldron

ASL - You are sad

Last time we learned how to say I am happy in ASL.

Let's learn how to say You are sad in ASL.

To say You you just point your finger at someone.

For Sad, start with your two hands open and fingers spread out, hands pointed up with your palms toward your face.
Keeping your palms toward your body, move your hands downward, inward and toward each other.

Remember it's important to make sure your face is showing that you are sad, to match your hands.
Here is a helpful video showing these signs:


American Sign Language Emotion Words : American Sign Language: Happy & Sad - expertvillage




(from: wikipedia - american sign language)

Italian: Sei triste

German: Sie sind traurig

Spanish: Estas triste

French: Vous êtes triste

Metal Lathe

We just learned about the blacksmithing fuel Coke.

We've learned a lot about the old fashioned ways of working with metal.
Let's learn about some of the newer things people do with tools.

One tool for working with metals is called a metal lathe.
This is a tool that takes a piece of metal and spins it around quickly, so that someone can cut or shape the metal easily.

(from: wikipedia - metal lathe)


Kid Facts - Blast from the past: F1 Tornado

Edible Frog

We just learned about the Panamanian Golden Frog.

Another type of frog is the Edible Frog.

This type of frog is trapped and then served as frog legs for food in places like France.


(from: wikipedia - edible frog)


Kid Facts - Blast from the past: Schnauzer