If the world’s population was reduced to a village of precisely 100 people this is what it would look like. There would be 60 Asians, 14 Africans, 12 Europeans, 8 Latin Americans, 5 from the USA and Canada and 1 from the South Pacific. 51 would be male, 49 would be female. 82 would be non-white; 18 white. Only one would have a college education and only 7 would have access to the Internet. 67 would not be able to read. 50 would be malnourished and 1 dying of starvation. That’s over half the people in the village who are hungry all the time. Now imagine those figures with the world’s true population. It makes you think. If you would like to find out more interesting information like this read If the World Were a Village by David J Smith. You will be amazed.
Did you know that you can use milk, lemon juice, egg white and even urine as invisible ink? You just need to write your message and then heat the paper gently over a flame (carefully – without setting the paper or your clothes on fire!) to make the words appear. I learned this, and loads of other good tricks, when I read The Dangerous Book for Boys. This is a fantastic book, filled with interesting and useful bits of information, as well as great pictures, charts, maps and diagrams. If you would like to learn how to make a bow and arrow, build a tree house or a go-cart, learn about the history of piracy or all about the solar system, then this is the book for you. It’ll make you want to turn off the TV and stop playing computer games and go and do something really fun! There is a website too (www.dangerousbookforboys.com) where you can download badges and certificates. Disney is making a movie of this book, so stay tuned for more information….
Kelly
The Manticore was a mythical being with the head of a man and the body of a lion. Its name comes from an ancient Persian word for “man-eater”, as the Manticore was believed to eat people. It was said to be blood red in colour. It had three fearsome rows of teeth, and a long tail with spines. It was said to wear a hat called a “Phrygian Cap.” The Manticore was very powerful, and could leap over any obstacle. It had a voice like a trumpet. Right up until the 17th century people believed the Manticore was a real creature.
Did you go and see the fireworks display on the waterfront? It was pretty spectacular, and lots of fun, but do you know why we even celebrate the 5th of November with fireworks and bonfires?
It’s a British tradition, dating back to 1605. A man called Guy Fawkes and his friends didn’t like the English king, James I, so they tried to blow him up, along with the Parliament buildings. Their plan was called the Gunpowder Plot. They managed to sneak 30 barrels of gunpowder into the cellar of the Houses of Parliament, but before anything exploded, they got caught, and were eventually executed for treason (that means for not being loyal to the government).
You can find more information about Guy Fawkes and the Gunpowder Plot here and here, or check out the links on Kids Cat.
Ok, I’ve done some very important research and found these weird and disgusting facts that you can tell everyone…..but i bet they don’t believe that they are for real!
Guess what Ancient Romans used to dye their hair with? Something white and sticky that comes out of pigeons bottoms, yes, pigeon poo! How gross!
Speaking of poo, did you know that beetle poo is called a ‘twissle’?!
Mmm, feeling hungry? Fancy some hedge-hog flavoured chips? Yes, apparently they do exist but I’ve never seen a shop selling them! And in
South-East Asia some people eat deep friend insects instead of chips, yum yum, crispy cockroach……Arrgghh! I just read something really horrible! In Sardinia (that’s an island off
Italy) you can eat a cheese that has live maggots in it! They leave the cheese in the sun so that the flies lay their eggs on it and when the maggots hatch out it’s ready to eat! That is making me feel really sick!Ug, that’s all the disgusting facts I can take right now I think but if you want more check out the quiz books in the library, they’ll be in the junior non-fiction section 793.73, if you can’t find any, find a librarian and ask them! (plus see if they believe you about the facts!!) Eleanor
Mermaids or Sirens were seen as medieval emblems of vanity, and to represent everything that was bad about females. In Greek and Roman myths they were described as looking like women above the waist, and like birds below, with bird’s feet and talons. The 12th century writer Philip de Thaun, mentioned fish’s tails, and later, writers added two tails. The bird wings were also later changed to fins.
Mermaids were often pictured holding a fish, a mirror, a comb, and a harp. The Mermaid was said to sing such a sweet song that it lulled sailors to sleep, causing their ships to crash onto the rocks. This was meant to explain why so many ships were lost on the open sea.
Find out more about mermaids here.
Did you know that all the Black Robins alive today are descended from one bird? Black Robins are native to the Chatham Islands and in 1980 there were only five left in the world. Old Blue was the only female left that could lay fertile eggs and the scientist had the brilliant idea of fostering her eggs to other birds. When Old Blue laid her eggs they were taken away and put in a Chatham Island tit’s nest who raised them as her own. Old Blue would them lay some more. Old Blue is so special she has appeared on a postage stamp and a dollar coin. She also has a memorial plaque at the Chatham Island airport terminal. She lived for over 13 years and laid more eggs than any other know Black Robin. Check out the Kiwi conservation club for more information on Old Blue. Talk to you soon. DJ
