The Conversion of Saul - Michelangelo

We just learned about Michelangelo's Sagrestia Nuova at the Medici Chapel.

Another work of art by Michelangelo is The Conversion of Saul - Michelangelo.

In 1545 Michelangelo was paid by the Pope to make a painting of the Bible story of Saul from the book of Acts.
Acts 9 tells about how Saul was on his way to put the followers of Jesus in jail.
He saw a great light and had a vision from God telling him to help Jesus' followers instead of putting them in jail.

The painting shows Jesus and his angels in heaven, and Saul down below.
Jesus is sending light down to Saul who is on the ground looking scared.


(from: wikipedia - the conversion of saul (michelangelo))


Kid Facts - Blast from the past: Roden Crater - James Turrell

Hindi - January, February

We just learned about the days of the week.

Let's learn about the months of the year in Hindi!

January - जनवरी (janavaree) - sounds like jah-nah-vah-ree - 文A

February - फरवरी (pharavaree) - sounds like pha-rah-vah-ree - 文A



(from: wikipedia - devanagari)

Swahili: Januari, Februari

Russian: Январь (Yanvar'), Февраль (Fevral')

Norwegian: Januar, Februar

Greek: Ιανουάριος (Ianouários), Φεβρουάριος (Fevrouários)

ASL: January, February

Italian: Gennaio, Febbraio

German: Januar, Februar

Spanish: Enero, Febrero

French: Janvier, Février

Oil Sands

We just learned about the Crude Oil.

One type of oil found in the ground is Oil Sands, also called tar sands, crude bitumen or bituminous sands.

In places like Canada, the oil is not a runny liquid like in other places, it is more like a chunk of sticky clay that is mixed up with sand.
That chunky type of clay without the sand is called bitumen or asphalt.
When you see a road or parking made using hard black chunky stuff that is rolled over with a steamroller, that is ashphalt.

If you want to use that sandy bitumen oil for something like a car engine, it takes a lot of work and uses a lot of other things like natural gases, acids, salts, other chemicals, water or heat to try and change it.
Because it is harder to get liquid oil from it, these oil sands are very expensive to refine, and it can cause a lot of pollution changing it into liquid oil.


(from: wikipedia - oil sands)


Kid Facts - Blast from the past: Fuel Injector

North American River Otter

We just learned about the Sea Otter.

Another type of animal in the same family is the North American River Otter, or lontra canadensis.

This otter is a lot like the sea otter, and a lot of people think they are the same animal.
But the sea otter lives in the saltwater of the ocean, and sometimes lives their whole life in the water.
The river otter lives in the rivers and lakes of the northern parts of the United States and Canada.

They love the water and can swim all day, but they also have a home on land called a den where they raise their little baby otters.
River otters grow to be about 100 centimeters long, and weigh about 10 kilograms.
Their fur is short and very thick to keep them warm.
Just like the sea otter they can close their ears and noses to keep water out.


(from: wikipedia - north american river otter)


Kid Facts - Blast from the past: Mandrill

Primary Olfactory Cortex

We just learned about the Olfactory Bulb.

Another part of the way humans smell is the Primary Olfactory Cortex.

This is the last part of the brain that takes the messges from the Olfactory Bulb, figures out what the smell is that you are smelling, and tells the rest of your brain whether it is a good smell or a bad smell!

(from: wikipedia - primary olfactory cortex)


Kid Facts - Blast from the past: Sustained Angiogenesis

Anguilla

We just learned about the country of Montserrat

Let's learn a little about the country of Anguilla!

This country is in the Caribbean Sea, east of Puerto Rico.
It is about 91 square kilometers, and about 15,000 people live there.
The people in this country mostly speak English.


(from: wikipedia - anguilla)

The flag of Anguilla is blue, with the British flag in the top left, and shield on the right with the three orange dolphins and a blue and white background.
The dolphins stand for friendship, wisdom and strength, the white stands for peace, and the blue stands for the sea.


(from: wikipedia - flag of anguilla)

To eat in this country you might have breadfruit, which is a type of fruit that tastes kind of like potatoes, and looks like bread when it is cooked.


(from: wikipedia - breadfruit)

Visiting this country you might go see one of the many beautiful beaches like Juluca.
The beach is named after a legendary magical feathered creature that was lucky for fishermen.


(from: wikipedia - )


Kid Facts - Blast from the past: Bahrain

Michael, Row the Boat Ashore

We just learned about the Down to the River to Pray.

Another famous African American spiritual is Michael, Row the Boat Ashore.

During the Civil War the Union troops of the north were fighting to end slavery, and the Confederates of the south were fighting to keep it.
When the northern Union troops came down to South Carolina, they freed the slaves and the southern Confederates ran away.

On one of the islands in South Carolina called Saint Helena Island, there was an old farm where people that used to be slaves were still working to keep the farm going.
When a man named Charles Pickard Ware came down to see how the freed slaves were living, he was in a boat with them and they were singing this song.
He wrote it down and shared it with others to show that the slaves were good Christian people and should never have been made slaves.

The song talks about Michael, which most people think is supposed to be the angel Michael that the Bible talks about.
Michael is rowing the boat ashore, and the song is about woring to a great place with milk and honey on the other side, which is supposed to be heaven.

Michael row the boat ashore, hallelujah. Michael row the boat ashore, hallelujah.
Sister help to trim the sail, hallelujah. Sister help to trim the sail, hallelujah.
Michael row the boat ashore, hallelujah. Michael row the boat ashore, hallelujah.
The River Jordan is chilly and cold, hallelujah. Chills the body but not the soul, hallelujah.
Michael row the boat ashore, hallelujah. Michael row the boat ashore, hallelujah.
The river is deep and the river is wide, hallelujah. Milk and honey on the other side, hallelujah.
Michael row the boat ashore, hallelujah. Michael row the boat ashore, hallelujah.


(from: wikipedia - michael, row the boat ashore)


Kid Facts - Blast from the past: It Is Well With My Soul