How the universe works

Paige had a look at the current thinking about the "Big Bang" and the evolution of the universe.  Who knows what really took place but scientists are peeling back the layers in the mystery and they figure that they can trace the events back to when the universe was smaller than an atom and time/space did not even exist.

Here are some pictures Paige drew of the stages as they are envisioned by physicists going from nothing to the bang then the formation of the first atoms and molecules then galaxies and finally settling down to the space we see today.

What is a tornado?

Tornado forming - click the refresh button on your browser to see the animation

Paige and Ellie are sometimes in a crisis for one reason or another.  A few days ago we had a centipede in the kitchen - this caused a major panic.  Another day it was a thunderstorm and lightening.

We have found that even these situations can be great opportunity to learn. 

When is a bug dangerous?  Are there different types of centipedes? Was this a baby or a grown-up centipede?

Does lightning always strike your house?  How far away is a storm if you see the flash then count the seconds till the bang?

Tornados were in the news but they still seemed to be a distant threat until one hit a neighborhood closeby.  So Paige used her animation and drawing skills to visualize a tornado from pictures and video.  Paige and Ellie also thought about a safe place to go and a disaster kit that we could keep in the basement. 

What should we keep in the disaster kit?

Have a look at this related post
http://adlcprojects.blogspot.com/2011/06/natural-disasters-and-how-to-prepare.html

The funnel cloud touches down

Artist sketch

Can you tell who it is? See below for the answer.

Paige continues with her art classes with enthusiasm.  Her teacher Terri Austin Beech gave the class an exercise to draw a portrait.  The students used an interesting technique to complete the initial sketch - draw it upside down! Apparently, your brain is less preoccupied with "getting it right" when you just focus on the shapes and shades.

ANSWER:  Beyonce - popular singer