Alcázar of Segovia

We just learned about Neuschwanstein Castle in Germany.

Another famous castle is Alcázar of Segovia.

This castle has been built and rebuilt in parts over hundreds of years by different people, from the Romans to the Spaniards.

It's been used as a fortress, a royal palace, a prison and military school.
Now it is a museum for people to come visit and look at.

In 1474, Queen Isabella I was crowned as queen in this castle.

In the room called the Hall of Kings, there are 52 sculptures of the different kings that ruled over the land for hundreds of years.






(from: wikipedia - alcázar of segovia)


Kid Facts - Blast from the past: Ozarks

Timon

We just learned about Nicanor, one of the Seventy Disciples.

Another of the seventy was Timon.

Just like Nicanor, Prochorus and Stephen, Timon was one of the seven people that the Apostles chose to help watch over the poor people of Jerusalem.


(from: wikipedia - seven deacons)


Kid Facts - Blast from the past: Psalms

Jade Burial Suits

We just learned about the Bianzhong of Marquis Yi of Zeng.

Another ancient Chinese work of art is the Jade Burial Suit.

In ancient times in China, people believed that if you were buried in a suit of Jade after you died, it could help you in the afterlife, and protect you from evil.

Jade is expensive, so only the truly rich people like princes or emperors could afford to be covered in a whole suit of jade.
Usually it was small squares of jade with holes in the edges and string used to tie them all together.
Sometimes there was artwork or carvings in the jade.


(from: wikipedia - jade burial suit)


(from: wikipedia - jade burial suit)


(from: wikipedia - jade burial suit)


(from: wikipedia - jade burial suit)


Kid Facts - Blast from the past: Casket with Scenes of Romances

Greek - Her hands are soft

We just learned in Greek our table is short is Το τραπέζι μας είναι σύντομο (To trapézi mas eínai sýntomo).

To say her hands are soft you would say Τα χέρια της είναι μαλακά (Ta chéria tis eínai malaká).
We're really saying "The hands hers are soft".

We can break it up into five words:

The - Τα (Ta) - sounds like lay tah
hands - χέρια (chéria) - sounds like CHAY-dee-ah
hers - της (tis) - sounds like tee-ss
are - είναι (eínai) - sounds like EE-nay
soft - μαλακά (malaká) - sounds like mah-lah-KAH


So all together Τα χέρια της είναι μαλακά (Ta chéria tis eínai malaká) sounds like tah CHAY-dee-ah EE-nay mah-lah-KAH.


(from: wikipedia - center for the greek language)

ASL: ASL: Her hands are soft

Italian: Le sue mani sono morbide

German: Ihre Hände sind weich

Spanish: Sus manos estan suaves

French: Ses mains sont douces

Gas Rocket Propellants

We just learned about the Solid and Liquid Rocket Propellants.

Another type of propellant is Gas Rocket Propellant.

This type of propellant is the easiest to control the exact amount of fuel burned and the exact amount of thrust created.
To keep the gas stored safely and under pressure, the fuel tank in the rocket has to be very heavy, so gas is not usually used for the bigger rockets.
Gas has been used the most for little rockets that just change the direction of a rocket to the left or right.
Small rocket thrusters called Vernier Thrusters were on the sides of rockets like the SM-65 Atlas, to help it go in the right direction.


(from: wikipedia - vernier thruster)


Kid Facts - Blast from the past: Swarf

Bigfin Reef Squid

We just learned about the Flamboyant Cuttlefish.

Another type of cephalopod is the Bigfin Reef Squid.

These squids get their name from the big fin on their mantle that goes all the way around it.
With their shape and the way they swim, sometimes people think they are cuttlefish.

They grow to around 13 inches in just a few months, and they only live for less than a year.

Their body has a lot of different colors, and can be white, yellow, pink, brown or purple.
Sometimes when light is shined on them their body will reflect white, green or red, but they do not glow in the dark like some other cephalopods.

Because these squids grow very fast, there are people out there who try to have squid farms in the ocean, almost like cows, chicken or pigs.



(from: wikipedia - bigfin reef squid)


Kid Facts - Blast from the past: Golden Poison Frog

Distal Intertarsal Ligaments

We just learned about the Transverse Tarsal Ligaments.

Another group of ligaments in the foot is the Distal Intertarsal Ligaments.

Just like the transverse tarsal ligaments, these connect the foot bones in your foot together.
Even though your foot is not that big, there are seven bones from your heel to the middle of your foot, and that doesn't even include the longer bones in your foot that connect to your toes!

The distal intertarsal ligaments connect the bones that are past your heel and your main foot bone. The 3 cuneiform bones, the navicular bone and the cuboid bone are the smaller bones right before the longer metatarsal bones in your foot.

They are named for plantar (bottom), dorsal (top) or inter/interosseous (in between).
Cuneonavicular - Connects your cuneiform to navicular. (plantar and dorsal)
Cuboideonavicular - Connects your cuboid to navicular. (plantar and dorsal)
Intercuneiform - Connects your 3 cuneiform bones together. (plantar, dorsal and interosseous)


(from: wikipedia - plantar calcaneonavicular)


Kid Facts - Blast from the past: Hypodermis