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United States

Decision Time

October 26, 2018

On November 6, Americans will vote in midterm elections. Midterms are held about halfway through a president’s four-year term. The purpose is to elect members of Congress. This year, there are also state and local elections. The midterms will decide…

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United States

Journey's End

October 18, 2018

At the end of summer, Hailey Dawson, 8, stepped up to the plate at Angel Stadium. It is in Anaheim, California. She threw the game’s ceremonial first pitch. By doing so, she also achieved a big goal. It was to…

Environment

Climate Crisis

October 12, 2018

On October 8, the United Nations (U.N.) issued a warning: The worst effects of climate change could come sooner than expected. A U.N. panel of scientists says the Earth has warmed by 1.8°F since the 1850s. The temperature could rise…

Opinion

Should Plastic Straws Be Banned?

September 20, 2018

People are taking a stand against plastic straws. On July 1, they were banned in Seattle, Washington. Then Starbucks announced plans to phase out plastic straws by 2020. More plastic-straw bans have followed. Plastic is harmful to the environment.…

Science

Moon Mission

September 7, 2018

People first set foot on the moon on July 20, 1969. Astronauts Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin stepped from the Apollo 11 spacecraft. They planted an American flag on the moon’s surface. After that, NASA sent six more missions to…

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Health

In the Moment

August 31, 2018

Ten fifth graders are sitting on a bright-blue rug. They are in a classroom at P.S. 54, an elementary school in Brooklyn, New York. Their teacher, Adrienne Heim, strikes a bell. The students take a deep breath. The kids…

World

Toppled Trees

August 31, 2018

There was once a tree in South Africa so wide it could fit 60 people inside its hollow trunk. The tree reached 62 feet into the sky. It was more than 1,100 years old. But recently, that tree and others…

United States

Farewell to a Senator

August 27, 2018

The flag atop the U.S. Capitol building is flying at half-mast today, in honor of Senator John McCain, of Arizona. McCain passed away on Saturday, August 25, after a yearlong battle with brain cancer. He was 81. Leaders from both…

TFK Library

What Are Planets?

August 9, 2018

Stargazers in ancient Greece noticed something extraordinary in the night sky. They observed that a few bright objects moved among the constellations. They called these objects planetes, meaning “wanderers.” We still call them planets. But our understanding of these…

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Technology

France Makes the Call

August 1, 2018

French children 15 and under will no longer be allowed to bring smart devices to school. Lawmakers in France voted July 31 to ban cell phones, tablets, and other Internet-connected devices from school grounds. The ban will start in September. …

TFK Library

Lin-Manuel Miranda

July 26, 2018

Lin-Manuel Miranda is a writer, singer, composer, songwriter, rapper, and an actor. He is best known for creating and starring in the Broadway musicals In the Heights and Hamilton. Lin-Manuel Miranda was born on January 16, 1980, in New…

Video

Environment

Changing the Tide for Coral Reefs

July 9, 2018

Hawaii lawmakers are on a mission to save coral reefs. On July 3, Hawaii governor David Ige signed a bill to help. It bans sunscreens containing chemicals that are harmful to reefs. It is the first bill of its kind…

United States

Fires Rage in California

June 27, 2018

On Tuesday, wildfires continued to spread through a rural area of Northern California. The area is still recovering from last year’s devastating fires. The Pawnee Fire is the biggest blaze. It began on Saturday evening. So far, it has destroyed…

World

Soccer Excitement

June 18, 2018

The 2018 FIFA World Cup is off to a roaring start. The international soccer competition is held every four years. It lasts for a month. This year, the competition is held in Russia. The opening games were played on June…

Video

Arts

Bridging the Arts Gap

June 14, 2018

Jayden Hairston was frustrated. More than anything in the world, he wanted to learn how to sing. His elementary school in Yonkers—just north of New York City—didn’t offer the music instruction he needed. So he begged his parents to sign…

World

End of a Dynasty

April 27, 2018

For the first time in almost 60 years, Cuba has a president who is not a member of the Castro family. President Raúl Castro (above, right) formally stepped down on April 19. The Cuban government chose Miguel Díaz-Canel (above, left)…

United States

Cactuses at Risk

April 20, 2018

The sun goes down in the Sonoran Desert. A truck pulls up to a giant saguaro (sa- wah -ro) cactus. Poachers step out. They are wearing protective gloves. They dig up the cactus and wrap it in a carpet. Then…

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Environment

SOLUCIONES DULCES

April 6, 2018

El año pasado, los estadounidenses gastaron más de $22 mil millones en chocolate. Pero esta delicia tiene un costo mucho más grande que este. Esto se debe a que los agricultores con frecuencia cortan árboles en el bosque tropical cuando…

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