Chiwara

We just learned about the Benin Bronzes from Nigeria.

Another part of African sculpture is the Chiwara.

These are sculptures of antelopes that the Bambara people of the country of Mali used to teach their children about life and about farming.


(from: wikipedia - chiwara)


Kid Facts - Blast from the past: Da Yu ding

Norwegian - September, October

We already learned that January, February is Januar, Februar,
March, April is Mars, April,
May, June is Mai, Juni,
and July, August is Juli, August.

Let's keep going!

September - September - sounds like seh-p-tem-beh-dr
October - Oktober - sounds like oh-k-toh-beh-dr


(from: wikipedia - norwegian language)

Greek: Σεπτέμβριος (Septémvrios), Οκτώβριος (Októvrios)

ASL: September, October

Italian: Settembre, Ottobre

German: September, Oktober

Spanish: Septiembre, Octubre

French: Septembre, Octobre

Tire Skid Marks

We just learned about the Forensic Podiatry.

Another part of forensic science is Tire Skid Marks.

These are the marks left on roads from tires.
Sometimes cars can leave these marks if they are going really fast, taking a sharp turn, stopping very fast, or if there is an accident.

The marks on the road usually look like one of three kinds:

- acceleration marks: These are when someone goes from slow to really fast and the tires are just spinning.

- braking marks: These are when someone hits the brakes and their tires lock up and slide.

- yaw marks: If the car slides sideways either on a turn or because they hit something.

When there is a car accident, the police can look at the skid marks to figure out how the crash happened.


(from: wikipedia - skid mark)


Kid Facts - Blast from the past: Gimbaled Thrust

Venus Girdle Jellyfish

We just learned about the very dangerous Sea Wasp jellyfish.

Another type of jelly is the Venus Girdle Jellyfish, also called the cestum veneris.

This is a very different kind of jellyfish because it looks like a big long clear ribbon with glowing white blue edges.

They can grow to be 1 meter (about 3 feet), and they usually live in the very warm waters of the ocean.


(from: wikipedia - venus girdle)


Venus Girdle Jellyfish - Rave Toy - DaveScuba

Kid Facts - Blast from the past: White Spotted Octopus

Philtrum

We just learned about the Vermillion Border no the top of the lip.

Another part of the mouth is the Philtrum.

The philtrum is on the outside of the upper lip, right in the middle, going from the nose to the lip.

For most people this is a little indent or groove.
Some scientists think that this part of the lip used to be used to try and help guide smells up to the nose, back when we used to have to hunt or smell our food more to see if it was ok to eat.


(from: wikipedia - philtrum)


Kid Facts - Blast from the past: Maxillary First Premolar

Moat

We just learned about the small castle guard buildings called Barbicans.

Another part of a castle is a Moat.

A moat is a trench or ditch going around the outside of the castle walls, to try and make it harder for attackers.
Usually a moat has water in it, but sometimes it doesn't and is called a "dry moat".

Moats make it so that people can't dig tunnels under the ground to sneak into the castle, and they also make it hard for attackers because they have to swim over to the castle.

Sometimes the water in moats was also used as water for the people in the castle to grow plants.

In some countries like Japan a castle might have 3 different moats, and the moats might be built like a winding river going around the castle.


(from: wikipedia - moat)


Kid Facts - Blast from the past: Cité de Carcassonne

True Cross

We just learned about the Church of the Holy Sepulchre where Helena said she found the true cross.

The True Cross is said to be the actual wooden cross that Jesus was crucified on.

In her travels, Saint Helen went to Jerusalem and looked for it.
She had buildings torn down and had people dig around to try and find the cross, and they found three different crosses that they thought might be the right one.

The legends of Saint Helen say that she had a woman who was very sick come to see the crosses.
She touched the first two crosses and nothing happened, and then she touched the third one and was healed.

Today there are many churches that say they have a piece of the True Cross.


(from: wikipedia - helena (empress))


Kid Facts - Blast from the past: Crescens - Bishop of Carchedon in Gaul