Where did butterfly get their names?
What are some things with interesting names?Piggy banks? Polka dots? teddy bears? – How about “butterfly”?
Because the word “butterfly” has been around for a very long time, no on is sure of its exact origin. Some people say that the butterfly got its name because it was originally called a “flutter-by” (since these cool bugs can flutter right by you) and that eventually, the name got switched around to become “butterfly,” instead!
Believe it or not, another commonly cited idea is that butterflies were once believed to be witches in disguise! These witches were thought to steal milk and butter at night, thus giving our friendly butterflies a reputation that gave them this name! Another theory says the name comes from the butter-like color of many butterflies’ wings!
In most other languages, butterflies are not known by a name that has anything to do with butter, which is why it’s all the more silly and funny that they have this very strange name in English!
Beyond the butter !
Aside from their name, here are some other really cool facts about butterflies!
Many types of butterflies taste with their feet!
What other neat things have you learned about these awesome insects?
Because the word “butterfly” has been around for a very long time, no on is sure of its exact origin. Some people say that the butterfly got its name because it was originally called a “flutter-by” (since these cool bugs can flutter right by you) and that eventually, the name got switched around to become “butterfly,” instead!
Believe it or not, another commonly cited idea is that butterflies were once believed to be witches in disguise! These witches were thought to steal milk and butter at night, thus giving our friendly butterflies a reputation that gave them this name! Another theory says the name comes from the butter-like color of many butterflies’ wings!
In most other languages, butterflies are not known by a name that has anything to do with butter, which is why it’s all the more silly and funny that they have this very strange name in English!
Beyond the butter !
Aside from their name, here are some other really cool facts about butterflies!
Many types of butterflies taste with their feet!
- The world’s largest type of butterfly is the Queen Victoria Birdwing, and the smallest is the Pygmy Blue!
Male and female butterflies can often be told apart by the colors on their wings, or even their behavior! (Males are more likely to sit and perch, while females spend more time moving around and looking for a place to lay eggs.)
- Butterflies are believed to live on every continent except for Antarctica!
What other neat things have you learned about these awesome insects?
Where does the water go when I flush the toilet?
When you flush the toilet, wash your hands, or take a bath, you see some water disappear down a drain. The water that goes down our pipes enters sewers or septic tanks, where it is kept with other dirty “wastewater.”
Because this water is unhealthy, we keep it in this separate place where it’s away from us and our fresh drinking water. Eventually, the water in the sewer or septic tank is sent to a “water treatment plant,” where it is cleaned and treated in a special way so the unhealthy parts are removed. Then, when the water is clean again, it’s ready to be released back into the environment!
Don’t forget that even though the water which goes down the drain can be cleaned and released back into the environment, it’s never a good idea to waste water.
Because this water is unhealthy, we keep it in this separate place where it’s away from us and our fresh drinking water. Eventually, the water in the sewer or septic tank is sent to a “water treatment plant,” where it is cleaned and treated in a special way so the unhealthy parts are removed. Then, when the water is clean again, it’s ready to be released back into the environment!
Don’t forget that even though the water which goes down the drain can be cleaned and released back into the environment, it’s never a good idea to waste water.
Where does money come from?
People have been using types of money for thousands of years as a form of trading. For example, a butcher could trade meat to a tailor in exchange for a new shirt.
But if the butcher needs a new shirt, while the tailor doesn’t need meat, then the trade won’t work! Instead, the butcher can just give the tailor some money, which the tailor can then use to buy whatever he does need!
Early forms of money might surprise you. – Before paper money, people used things like shells, stones, fur, gold, and silver as their currency! “Money” can be any item with a value that is agreed upon.
Today, most money is paper money that has been specially printed by a country’s government. It gets its worth simply by being something that everybody agrees to use in exchange for goods and services! Since everybody uses money as their system for trading, everybody agrees to let it have value and be worth something!
But if the butcher needs a new shirt, while the tailor doesn’t need meat, then the trade won’t work! Instead, the butcher can just give the tailor some money, which the tailor can then use to buy whatever he does need!
Early forms of money might surprise you. – Before paper money, people used things like shells, stones, fur, gold, and silver as their currency! “Money” can be any item with a value that is agreed upon.
Today, most money is paper money that has been specially printed by a country’s government. It gets its worth simply by being something that everybody agrees to use in exchange for goods and services! Since everybody uses money as their system for trading, everybody agrees to let it have value and be worth something!
Where does water come from?
Water that flows into our sinks and bathtubs either comes from rivers and lakes or from water flowing down below the Earth's surface called groundwater.
Most towns and cities have a big system of pipes that go deep into the Earth, suck groundwater up from down below and pump it through a series of pipes all the way into our homes and schools.
You may be wondering, “How does water get under the ground?” To understand where water comes from, we need to learn about a process called The Water Cycle.
Water in oceans, rivers, ponds and lakes is heated by the sun, which turns it into water vapor, (which is kind of like invisible water) and the vapor forms a cloud up in the sky. When a cloud gets so full of water that it can't hold anymore, it rains!
The rain water travels back into our rivers and oceans, or it soaks down deep into the ground, creating more groundwater. It's a great system!
Most towns and cities have a big system of pipes that go deep into the Earth, suck groundwater up from down below and pump it through a series of pipes all the way into our homes and schools.
You may be wondering, “How does water get under the ground?” To understand where water comes from, we need to learn about a process called The Water Cycle.
Water in oceans, rivers, ponds and lakes is heated by the sun, which turns it into water vapor, (which is kind of like invisible water) and the vapor forms a cloud up in the sky. When a cloud gets so full of water that it can't hold anymore, it rains!
The rain water travels back into our rivers and oceans, or it soaks down deep into the ground, creating more groundwater. It's a great system!
Where does ice cream come from?
Ice cream is a delicious treat, especially on a hot summer day! But where does this awesome, icy dessert come from??!
At it’s most basic, ice cream is actually a pretty simple food -- it’s made up of mostly just milk or cream, sugar, flavoring, and air!
Making it involves mixing together the right amount of each ingredient and then freezing it using a special machine or a technique that churns the ingredients at the same time as it’s being frozen, so that air gets stirred in and the mixture doesn’t end up like a hard frozen block. (To make ice cream fluffy and soft, up to 50% of its volume can be air!)
Have you ever heard the rumor that ice cream is made with seaweed? Believe it or not, this claim is partially true! – Some types of ice cream use carrageenan, a special type of gum made from seaweed which helps ice cream to stay smooth and fluffy!
At it’s most basic, ice cream is actually a pretty simple food -- it’s made up of mostly just milk or cream, sugar, flavoring, and air!
Making it involves mixing together the right amount of each ingredient and then freezing it using a special machine or a technique that churns the ingredients at the same time as it’s being frozen, so that air gets stirred in and the mixture doesn’t end up like a hard frozen block. (To make ice cream fluffy and soft, up to 50% of its volume can be air!)
Have you ever heard the rumor that ice cream is made with seaweed? Believe it or not, this claim is partially true! – Some types of ice cream use carrageenan, a special type of gum made from seaweed which helps ice cream to stay smooth and fluffy!
Where did the Pyramid came from?
Pyramids were first built over 4,000 years ago as monuments to important Egyptians who passed away.
It had been traditional to build large tombs for Pharos but eventually the shape of those tombs developed into the pyramid shape we recognize today- a four sided structure with rows of steps that narrow to a point. It is thought that there are over 100 Egyptian pyramids still standing!
Archeologists (scientists who study artifacts from previous cultures) have different ideas about the symbols behind pyramids, but many believe that the shape represents the rays of the sun.
Egyptians of this time believed that after people died on Earth, they traveled to a new place. The tombs within the pyramids were a way to take care of the bodies and prepare them for their next life.
It is thought that the great pyramids were built by paid Egyptian workers who spent very long days moving rocks in the hot sun. Talk about hard work!
One of the largest pyramids, the Pyramid at Giza, is said to have taken decades to build with thousands and thousands workers. This pyramid was the tallest man made structure for over 3,800 years. Wow!
Project
Pyramid Project! Build your own! Use some sticks from the yard, thin blocks, pick-up sticks or even pretzel-sticks to create your own pyramid. First take 2 sticks and lay them side by side several inches apart.
Then take 2 more sticks and lay them on top of the first set, but in the opposite direction. Keep adding layers using slightly smaller sticks and see how high you can go! The sky is the limit!
It had been traditional to build large tombs for Pharos but eventually the shape of those tombs developed into the pyramid shape we recognize today- a four sided structure with rows of steps that narrow to a point. It is thought that there are over 100 Egyptian pyramids still standing!
Archeologists (scientists who study artifacts from previous cultures) have different ideas about the symbols behind pyramids, but many believe that the shape represents the rays of the sun.
Egyptians of this time believed that after people died on Earth, they traveled to a new place. The tombs within the pyramids were a way to take care of the bodies and prepare them for their next life.
It is thought that the great pyramids were built by paid Egyptian workers who spent very long days moving rocks in the hot sun. Talk about hard work!
One of the largest pyramids, the Pyramid at Giza, is said to have taken decades to build with thousands and thousands workers. This pyramid was the tallest man made structure for over 3,800 years. Wow!
Project
Pyramid Project! Build your own! Use some sticks from the yard, thin blocks, pick-up sticks or even pretzel-sticks to create your own pyramid. First take 2 sticks and lay them side by side several inches apart.
Then take 2 more sticks and lay them on top of the first set, but in the opposite direction. Keep adding layers using slightly smaller sticks and see how high you can go! The sky is the limit!