Monday, August 14, 2017

Nunavut


We just learned about the Canadian Territory of the Northwest Territories.

Another Canadian Territory is Nunavut.

This is the newest territory in Canada, and was separated from the Northwest Territories in 1999.
It is the largest territory, and the northernmost.


(from: wikipedia - nunavut map)

The flag of Nunavut has gold on the left and white on the right, with a red inuksk in the middle, and a blue star in the upper right hand corner.
The blue and gold are for the riches of land, sea and sky, and the red is for Canada.
The inuksuk is a stone monument that was used by the First Nation Canadian people long ago to guide travelers.
The blue star is for the north star.


(from: wikipedia - flag of nunavut)

The coat of arms of Nunavut has a blue and gold round shield in the middle and pictures of the sun, the north star, a stone lamp, and an inuksuk.

Above that is an igloo for the old life of the native people.
There is a caribou on the left, and a narwhal on the right for the natural life and survival.
Below them are plants, arctic poppies, dwarf fireweed, arctic heather, and an iceberg.
The words at the bottom are say "Our Land, Our Strength" in the Nunavut Sannginivut language.

(from: wikipedia - coat of arms of nunavut)

The first English travelers to ever meet an Inuit person were in 1576 in Nunavut.

(from: wikipedia - nunavut)

The northernmost city in Canada is called Alert. It is about 500 miles from the North Pole.
There are only 62 people living there!

(from: wikipedia - alert, nunavut)

The place in Canada with the lowest average temperature is called Eureka.

(from: wikipedia - eureka, nunavut)


Kid Facts - Blast from the past: Himalayas

Sunday, August 13, 2017

Monks


We've learned a lot about the book of Proverbs.

Through the years, many Christians have become monks.

Monks are people who live all by themselves, study the Bible, try to live good lives, and usually help give back to the communities.

The word monk comes from the Greek word "monachos" or "monos" which means alone.

The first monks just were all by themselves, but later groups of monks started to live together in places called monasteries.


(from: wikipedia - christian monasticism)


Kid Facts - Blast from the past: Dove

Saturday, August 12, 2017

Fontana della Barcaccia - Bernini


We just learned about the sculpture of Saint Bibiana by Bernini.

Another famous Baroque art sculpture is the fountain Fontana della Barcaccia by Pietro Bernini in 1629 in Rome.

This fountain is in the shape of a sunken boat with water flowing all over the sides.

There was a legend of a river flooding 1598 and carrying a boat into this plaza and leaving it there when the flood waters went away.
This fountain was made based on that story.

Pietro Bernini is the father of the famous sculptor Gian Lorenzo Bernini.


(from: wikipedia - fontana della barcaccia)


Kid Facts - Blast from the past: Trajan's Column

Thursday, August 10, 2017

Hypocenter


We just learned about the earthquake Epicenter.

Another important thing in earthquake science is the Hypocenter.

This is the spot underground where the earthquake first started.
The epicenter is right above the hypocenter, but at the surface of the earth.


(from: wikipedia - hypocenter)


Kid Facts - Blast from the past: Straight Peen Hammer

Wednesday, August 9, 2017

Golden Mantella


We just learned about the Kihansi Spray Toad.

Another type of frog is the Golden Mantella.

This is an endangered type of frog from Madagascar.
They do not have a very large living area, and they are very colorful, so they are caught a lot for pets.

These frogs are are tiny, and are bright orange, bright yellow or bright red.
They are poisonous in their natural habitat because of what they eat, but in a cage they are not poisonous.
Their croak is just like a clicking sound, and they usually hide out when they are calling each other since they are small and have to hide from predators.


(from: wikipedia - golden mantella)


Kid Facts - Blast from the past: Savu Python

Tuesday, August 8, 2017

Tendon


We just learned a little about the Connective Tissue.

One type of connective tissue is a Tendon which connects muscle to bone.

Tendons are like a bunch of long thin ropes all bundled together, wrapped in and around the parts or your muscle, and then tied into your bone.

When your muscles tighten, the tendons stretch out until they are tight, just like a rope gets tighter when you pull on it.
As it gets tight, it pulls on the bone it is attached to, which is what moves your bone around.
So your bicep has tendons connected to your forearm, and when you want to bend your elbow, your biceps pulls on your tendon which pulls on the bone and it bends!

(from: wikipedia - tendon)


Kid Facts - Blast from the past: Foramen Magnum