My 10 year old Geek

Marie sent me this email about a recent conversation she had with our middle daughter - the 10 year old.
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Well, last night, I was looking at a website about Trichoplax adhaerens, a 'wee beastie' I only learned about a few days ago. There was some video of it dividing and Julia watched it over my shoulder. I told her that it is the simplest multicellular animal known, grows up to 3 mm in diameter so it is barely visible to the eye, has only 4 cell types, (gave a comparison to the 200 cell types in humans), and the shortest DNA sequence of any known animal. I pointed out that it was simpler than sponges, which have about 12 cell types. I also mentioned that they have no idea where T.adhaerens fits in the taxonomy, so for now it is in it's own phylum.

Julia pondered that, then asked, "Shouldn't it be in --- I don't remember the name of it but it starts with a P."

I gaped at her. "You mean Protista?"

"Yeah!" she responded."

No," I said. "Protista are mostly unicellular organisms and this is multicellular."

"Oh"

My goodness, that kid is soaking up information like a member of the Porifera (sponges). I used the words in my conversation with her that I have typed above, and she understood everything that I said, or asked for clarification. I told her that for an experiment I am going to collect some sea water when we [next go to] Florida and see if we can get some T. adhaerens. I don't think it will work because the water may be colder than they like (subtropical to tropical), but worth a try. And if that doesn't work, I will hit the pet stores and ask for some salt water samples. Could be interesting!

A Bartlett-Sloan Thanksgiving

Louisa and Joylyn peeling potatoes.

We combined forces with old friends (at their house) for Thanksgiving this year. It was a blast.

Marie got the measurements of the Mayflower and we drew an outline of the ship in the cul-de-sac.

 

Joylyn labels the ship.

 

Julia is standing in the Windlass room in the bow.

 

Julia shows Louisa how to be a figurehead (even though the Mayflower did not have one)

 

Joylyn coloring something in the gun room. Alana in back drawing sharks while Mary gets more chalk.

 

Marie getting ready to make the final touches while being shadowed by Julia. Louisa is drawing a mouse in a little boat.

 

The Mayflower drawing gets the final touches. 102 Pilgrims + 30 Crew + Chickens + 2 Dogs. You can see a Hatch to the hold and the place where the capstan was (just above the "102")

Mary wanted me to include this picture of her and some of her artwork. I told her that it would not show up well in the picture, but she insisted. She drew several Catbuses. (from the Miyazaki movie My Neighbor Totoro.

 

Joylyn and Louisa make sand furniture (tables and chairs) in the sand box.

 

Julia

 

Thanksgiving in suburban Atlanta. Bare feet and a hammock for Mary.

 

Mary gets instructions from Marie on grating the chocolate for the top of the Marshmallow Cream pie.

 

Julia made the mistake of coming inside from playing, which got her drafted into setting the kid's table. Here she explains, complete with the universal "quote" hand gesture, that she was sent inside by the rest of the girls to go on a "business trip".

 

Julia putting the finishing touches to the Meringue on the Lemon pie.

 

So THAT'S a Shirley Temple!

 

Alana and Mary. Guangxi buddies.

 

Louisa and Joylyn. Jiangxi buddies.

 

Arrr! The napkin rings transform into a telescope for the Dread Pirate Mary.

 

Julia wants some pie.

 

Starting closest to the camera and going clockwise around the dessert table. Louisa, Joylyn, Julia, and Alana

 

Julia digs into several different pies.

 

Louisa - Age 11 (School Picture)

Julia - Age 10 (School Picture)

Mary - Age 8 (School Picture)