Thursday, February 23, 2017

Lathe - Tailstock


We just learned about the Lathe - Headstock.

Another part of the metalworking lathe is the Tailstock.

Just like the headstock holds one end, the tailstock holds the other end of the metal being worked on.

When the piece of metal is put onto the lathe, first the metal is placed up against the headstock, and then the tailstock is moved closer and closer until it is holding the metal tight between both spindles.
The tailstock is moved by spinning a small wheel called the "handwheel" or "feed screw".
After the metal piece is in the right place and held tightly by both the headstock and tailstock, a locking lever is pulled down that works like a clamp to keep the tailstock from moving.


(from: wikipedia - metal lathe)


Kid Facts - Blast from the past: F3 Tornado

Wednesday, February 22, 2017

Common Midwife Toad


We just learned about the Strawberry Poison Dart Frog.

Another type of frog is the Common Midwife Toad.

Even though it is called a Toad, it is not part of the "Bufonidae" family, so it is a frog.

This frog lives in Europe, grows to about 2 inches. It can be brown, grey or green with has dark spots on it, and warts on it's smooth skin.

One of the most interesting things about this frog is that the eggs are carried by the male frog.
After the female frog lays the eggs, the male frog picks them up and sticks them to his back legs and carries them around until they are hatched.
He can carry around 150 eggs, for 3 to 8 weeks!
He keeps them wet by lying in damp places, or going for a swim if they are drying out.


(from: wikipedia - common midwife toad)


Kid Facts - Blast from the past: Striped House Snake

Tuesday, February 21, 2017

Schwann Cell


We just learned about the Myelin Sheath on a neuron.

Another part of the neuron is the Schwann Cell.

These are cells that help surround neurons to protect them and keep them in place.


(from: wikipedia - schwann cell)


Kid Facts - Blast from the past: Heart Wall - Epicardium

Monday, February 20, 2017

Peninsular Ranges


We just learned about the Transverse Ranges.

Another bunch of mountain ranges in the Pacific Coast Belt of the North American Cordillera are the Peninsular Ranges in Southern California and Mexico.

There are 12 mountain ranges that are part of this group of ranges: Santa Ana Mountains, Chino Hills, San Jacinto Mountains, Palomar Mountain Range, Laguna Mountains, Sierra Juarez, Sierra San Pedro Martir, Sierra de San Borja, Sierra de San Francisco, Sierra de Guadalupe, Sierra de la Giganta and Sierra de la Laguna

The Palomar Mountains have the Palomar Observatory, which has some of the most powerful telescopes in the world.

(from: wikipedia - palomar mountain)

The Sierra San Pedro Martir mountains have the Nationl Astronomical Observatory in Mexico, another place with very large telescopes.

(from: wikipedia - national astronomical observatory)

Some of the mountain ranges in Northern Mexico have prehistoric cave paintings from over 2000 years ago.

(from: wikipedia - sierra de guadalupe cave paintings)

Kid Facts - Blast from the past: Lake Vostok

Sunday, February 19, 2017

Samuel


We just learned about the person from the Bible named Ruth.

Another person from the Bible was Samuel.

When Samuel was young, he was sleeping and heard a voice calling him.
The voice was God talking to him, and so people learned that Samuel was a prophet that God would talk to.

The people of Israel wanted a king on earth to rule over them, and so God told Samuel to make Saul the king.
Later on when Saul was doing bad things, God sent Samuel to make David the king instead.

As a prophet, Samuel talked to God's people a lot, giving them the instructions that God gave him.


(from: wikipedia - samuel)


Kid Facts - Blast from the past: Epiphany - Baptism of Our Lord

Saturday, February 18, 2017

Tympanum at Vézelay Abbey - Gislebertus


We just learned about the sculpture of the Prophet Jeremiah at Mosaic Abbey.

Another Romanesque sculpture is the Tympanum at Vézelay Abbey built in France, 1130 AD.

Just like the Last Judgement Tympanum at the Autun Cathedral in France, this sculpture was made by the sculptor Gislebertus.
It is a tympanum which is a large sculpture over a doorway.

Most of the sculptures like this in churches at that time showed pictures warning of the end of the world, or talked about when Jesus would come back again.

This sculpture is different because it talks about the apostles mission to go off and tell the world about Christianity.


(from: wikipedia - vézelay abbey)


Kid Facts - Blast from the past: Trundholm Sun Chariot

Friday, February 17, 2017

ASL - He is angry


Last time we learned how to say You are sad in ASL.

Let's learn how to say He is angry in ASL.

To say He you just point your finger off to the right or the left, just not at the person you're talking to.

For Angry, start with your two hands open like claws, with your palms toward your chest and your thumbs pointed up.
Move your hands upward and outward, keeping your palms in until your hands are up.

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

I, you, He, she, it, they, we:

ASL Lessons: Pronouns and Family - Chris Wood

Angry:

American Sign Language Emotion Words : American Sign Language: Angry - expertvillage



ASL
(from: wikipedia - american sign language)

Italian: Lui è arrabbiato

German: Er ist wütend

Spanish: Él está enojado

French: Il est en colère