Friday, April 6, 2018

Greek - Their car is tall


We just learned in Greek:
this chair is small is Η καρέκλα είναι μικρή (I karékla eínai mikrí),
my drink is cold is Το ποτό μου είναι κρύο (To potó mou eínai krýo), and your food is hot is Το φαγητό είναι ζεστό (To fagitó eínai zestó).

To say their car is tall you would say Το αυτοκίνητό τους είναι ψηλό (To aftokínitó tous eínai psiló).
You're really saying "the car their is tall" because Greek works a little differently than English.

We can break it up like this:

The - Το (To) - sounds like toh
car - αυτοκίνητό (aftokínitó) - sounds like ah-f-toh-KEE-nee-TOH
their - τους (tous)- sounds like too-ss
is - είναι (eínai) - Sounds like EE-nay
tall - ψηλό (psiló) - Sounds like ps-ee-LOH

So all together Το αυτοκίνητό τους είναι ψηλό (To aftokínitó tous eínai psiló) sounds like toh ah-f-toh-KEE-nee-TOH too-ss EE-nay ps-ee-LOH.


center for the greek language
(from: wikipedia - center for the greek language)

ASL: Their car is tall

Italian: La loro auto è alto

German: Ihr Auto ist groß

Spanish: Su coche es alto

French: Leur voiture est haut

Thursday, April 5, 2018

Solid Rocket Propellants


We just learned that Rocket Propellant is the fuel that pushes a rocket along, and they can be solid, liquid or gas.

Solid Rocket Propellants are made up of a few different types of chemicals all mixed together.
Some parts of the mixture are to make a big explosion that will push the rocket along.
Other parts are soft and sticky almost like dough that help hold all the explosive stuff together.
Different chemicals will make bigger explosions or burn longer or hotter, so the rocket scientists have to pick the right kind of propellant for the right job.

Solid propellants are easier to store than liquid or gas, because they don't leak out much.
Also some liquid or gas propellants can eat away at the rocket tanks or rubber seals holding it in.

Solid propellants are heavier than liquid or gas, and a rocket with the same amount of liquid or gas would get more power and weigh less.
Sometimes the solid propellants can even get cracks or bubbles in the mix.
If you think about it like a big ball of playdough, any of the parts that aren't smooth, or any folds in the middle that have air pockets would cause problems.

The NASA space shuttle used two rockets with solid propellant, called the "Space Shuttle Solid Rocket Boosters (SRBs)"
At the time they were the most powerful solid rocket motors ever flown, and the two of them together weighed 2.6 million pounds.


(from: wikipedia - space shuttle solid rocket booster)


Kid Facts - Blast from the past: Skivving Machine

Wednesday, April 4, 2018

Orthoceras Nautilus


We just learned about the Firefly Squid that can light itself up.

Another cephalopod is the Orthoceras.

This is a type of nautilus that is extinct, which means they aren't around anymore.
We only know they existed because people have found fossils from a long time ago.

They are a type of nautilus, but very different because their body is shaped like a long cone.


(from: wikipedia - orthoceras)


Kid Facts - Blast from the past: Red Eyed Tree Frog

Tuesday, April 3, 2018

Talocalcaneal Ligaments


We just learned about the Talocrural and Ankle Ligaments.

Another group of ligaments are the Subtalar and Talocalcaneal Ligaments.

The talus and calcaneus are two of the seven ankle and foot bones.
The talus is the middle foot bone, and the calcaneus is the heel.

Posterior is for back, anterior is for front, lateral is for outside, medial is for inside, and interossus is for in between.
There five talocalcaneal ligaments: anterior, posterior, lateral, medial and interosseous


(from: wikipedia - anterior talocalcaneal ligament)


Kid Facts - Blast from the past: Epidermis

Monday, April 2, 2018

Colima


We just learned about the Mexico state of Campeche.

Another Mexico state is Colima.

This is one of the smallest states, and has the least number of people living in it of any Mexico state.
It is on the south west part of Mexico, right on the Pacific ocean, and it has four islands off its coast.


(from: wikipedia - colima)

The coat of arms of Colima is an arm for the strength of the elders who ruled the Mayan people.
There are jaguars, palm trees and volcanoes for the things in the area.
The words on the bottom are "El temple del brazo es vigor en la tierra" which means "The arm's steadiness is strength on the land".


(from: wikipedia - colima)

There are four islands off the coast of Colima, called the Revillagigedo Islands.
These are volcanic islands, with lots of marine life and natural beauty.
No one lives there, but sometimes people come to go scuba diving or learn about nature.


(from: wikipedia - revillagigedo islands)

One of the busiest cities in Colima is Manzanillo, where a lot of people go for fishing.
They call themselves the sailfish capital of the world.


(from: wikipedia - manzanillo, colima)

Tecomán is the capital city of Colima, and has many nice buildings like the Cathedral of Santiago Apostol.


(from: wikipedia - tecomán)

There are active volcanoes in Colima, like the Volcán de Colima which is one of the most active volcanoes in North America.
It has erupted more than 40 times since 1576.


(from: wikipedia - volcán de colima)


Kid Facts - Blast from the past: Rocky Mountains

Sunday, April 1, 2018

Philip the Evangelist


We just learned about Saint Stephen, one of the Seventy Disciples.

Another of the seventy is Philip the Evangelist.

An evangelist is someone who goes out and tells other people about Jesus.

Philip traveled to many lands like Samaria and helped tell people about God's word and Jesus, and baptized people.
The Bible says that in Samaria people followed a man named Simon who some people believed was a sorcerer.
When Philip came to Samaria and told them all about Jesus, even Simon believed him and many people in the town became believers.

Later Philip was on the road to another town and met someone from Ethiopia who was trying to understand God's word but was having troubles.
Philip helped explain things to him, and then that Ethiopian went back to his country and helped spread God's word.

Because Philip helped spread God's word like this, he was known as Philip the Evangelist.


(from: wikipedia - philip the evangelist)


Kid Facts - Blast from the past: Elisha

Saturday, March 31, 2018

Tang Dynasty Tomb Figures of Liu Tingxun


We just learned about the Terracotta Army.

Another famous ancient Chinese work of art is Tang Dynasty Tomb Figures of Liu Tingxun made in 728 AD.

These are sculptures from the tomb of a Chinese general named Liu Ting, who died in 782 AD.
There are 13 figures, made using the sancai type of art, which means "three colors".
This kind of art used copper, iron and other metals to make different colors when cooked in ovens.

The sculptures are a pair of human like creatures with wings and hooves to scare off intruders.
After that are some guards and servants, and at the back are horses and camels.



(from: wikipedia - tang dynasty tomb figures of liu tingxun)


Kid Facts - Blast from the past: Pulpit of San Andrea