Vajrasana, Bodh Gaya

We just learned about the Bimaran Casket.

Another famous ancient art from Asia is the Vajrasana, Bodh Gaya.

Long ago there was a famous person called the Buddha who worked to try and figure out the best ways for people to live.

One famous place where he sat and meditated was saved, and sculptures were placed on and around it to remember the Buddha.

The word Vajrasana means diamond throne, and Bodh Gaya was the place where the throne was made.


(from: wikipedia - vajrasana, bodh gaya)


Kid Facts - Blast from the past: Pórtico da Gloria - Mateo

Greek - They are excited

We just learned that I am happy in Greek is Είμαι χαρούμενος (eímai charoúmenos),
you are sad is Είσαι λυπημενος (Eísai lypimenos),
and he is angry is Είναι θυμωμένος (Eínai thymoménos).

Let's learn how to say they are excited.

Είναι ενθουσιασμένοι (Eínai enthousiasménoi)

They are - Είναι (Eínai) - Sounds like EE-nay

Excited - ενθουσιασμένοι (enthousiasménoi) - Sounds like eh-n-thoo-zee-as-MAY-nee

So all together Είναι ενθουσιασμένοι (Eínai enthousiasménoi) sounds like EE-nay eh-n-thoo-zee-as-MAY-nee.


(from: wikipedia - center for the greek language)

ASL: They are excited

Italian: Sono eccitati

German: Sie sind aufgeregt

Spanish: Ellos estan emocionados

French: Ils sont excité

Richter Magnitude Scale

We just learned about the Seismogram.

Another part of earthquake science is the Richter Magnitude Scale.

We learned before about how seismic waves are waves of energy that move through the earth during an earthquake.

These waves are measured using seismograms, and a man named Charles Richter came up with numbered levels to use when talking about how powerful an earthquake was.

This is kind of like the Fujita scale for tornadoes, or the Saffir Simpson scale for hurricanes.

(from: wikipedia - richter magnitude scale)


Kid Facts - Blast from the past: Lathe - Tailstock

Coconut Octopus

We just learned about the European Squid.

Another type of cephalopod is the Coconut Octopus, also known as the veined octopus or amphioctopus marginatus.

This type of octopus lives mostly on the bottom of the water, and walks along in the sand.
It gets the name of coconut octopus, because it has been seen carrying empty coconut shells while it walks, and then when it wants to hide it climbs into the shell and closes it up.
Sometimes it will carry shells instead of coconuts and hide out in them, either hiding from predators or hiding so they can attack their prey.

Scientists also think that when it walks it looks like a coconut shell bouncing along the ocean floor.



(from: wikipedia - amphioctopus marginatus)



Coconut-carrying octopus stuns scientists - AFP news agency


Kid Facts - Blast from the past: Common Midwife Toad

Knee Ligaments

We just learned about the Hip & Femur Ligaments.

Another set of ligaments are the Knee Ligaments.

There are four main ligaments that connect the femur bone in the thigh, to the tibia and fibula bones of the lower leg.

The Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL) connects the back of the femur to the front of the tiba. It helps keep the knee from twisting.
The Posterior Cruciate Ligament (PCL) connects the front of the femur to the back of the tibia.
The Medial Cruciate Ligament (MCL) connects the inside of the femur to the inside of the tibia.
The Lateral Cruciate Ligament (LCL) connects the outside of the femur to the fibula.


(from: wikipedia - anterior cruciate ligament)


Kid Facts - Blast from the past: Myelin Sheath

Zacatecas

We just learned about the Mexico state of Durango.

Another Mexico state is Zacatecas.

This state is right in the middle of Mexico.
It is known for the mining of riches like silver, and for being an important place in Mexico's battle for freedom.


(from: wikipedia - zacatecas)

The coat of arms has the Cerro de la Bufa hill with a cross on top of it, and a bunch of soldiers standing around a statue of the Virgin Mary.


(from: wikipedia - zacatecas)

There is a large hill with a rock formation on top that is called the Cerro de la Bufa.
It was an important place in many battles, and some important churches and other places have been built around it.


(from: wikipedia - cerro de la bufa)

Just like many other parts of Mexico, there are ancient ruins, like Las Columnas in the city of La Quemada.


(from: wikipedia - zacatecas)


Kid Facts - Blast from the past: Peninsular Ranges

James son of Alpheus

We just learned about the Seventy Disciples.

The famous historian Hippolytus of Rome wrote down names of who he felt were the 70.

The first disciple listed is James the Lord's brother, bishop of Jerusalem.

Sometimes James is also known as "James, son of Alphaeus" or "James the lesser" because there were two apostles named James.

People aren't sure whether he was a child of Jesus' mother Mary, or if he was called Jesus' brother because they were so close.

After Jesus death, James moved to Jerusalem and was a leader in the church there along with Peter.


(from: wikipedia - james, son of alphaeus)


Kid Facts - Blast from the past: Samuel