Kidneys

We just learned about the Primary Olfactory Cortex and a lot of things about how the human nose works.

Another part of the human body are the two Kidneys.

The kidneys are an important part of the body that helps keep the blood clean with the right amount of liquids.
When the heart is pumping blood through the body, it gets sent through the kidneys where it gets cleaned up.


(from: wikipedia - )


Kid Facts - Blast from the past: Metastasis

Saint Martin

We just learned about the country of Anguilla

Let's learn a little about the country of Saint Martin!

This is an island in the Caribbean, just east of Puerto Rico.
It is about 87 square kilometers, and about 73,000 people live there.
The people in this country speak English, French and Dutch.

This island is actually divided into two parts. One that is called Saint-Martin and is owned by France, and the other is called Sint Maarten and is owned by the Netherlands.


(from: wikipedia - saint martin (island))

The flag of Saint-Martin is the same as the flag for France.
The flag of Sint Maarten is a white triangle on the left, then stripes of red and blue on the right.
The red is for the blood of the people, the blue is for the sea and sky, and the white has the coat of arms for the country in the middle.


(from: wikipedia - flag of sint maarten)

To eat in this country you might have a drink or jam made from guavaberry.


(from: wikipedia - myrciaria floribunda)

Visiting this country you might go see one of the many famous beaches.

(from: wikipedia - saint martin (island))


Kid Facts - Blast from the past: Bhutan

Twelve Tribes of Israel

We just learned about the song Michael, Row the Boat Ashore, and a whole lot of other old Christian songs.

Another part of the Bible is the Twelve Tribes of Israel.

In the Old Testament, we learned about one of God's followers named Jacob, and we learned that later on God told him to change his name to Israel instead of Jacob.
God's people later on in the Bible are sometimes called the Israelites, meaning the people from the man called Israel who was called Jacob.

Israel had twelve children, and because those children went on to rule God's people they are called the Twelve Tribes of Israel.
The children were: Reuben, Simeon, Ephraim, Judah, Issachar, Zebulun, Dan, Naphtali, Gad, Asher, Manasseh, and Benjamin.


(from: wikipedia - twelve tribes of israel)


Kid Facts - Blast from the past: Great Is Thy Faithfulness

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