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Environment

Turning the Tide

April 11, 2019

The Tappan Zee Bridge, north of New York City, carried automobiles across the Hudson River for 62 years. But in 2017, a new bridge replaced it. The next year, the old bridge was demolished. Workers picked apart the structure piece…

Environment

Waste Not

April 10, 2019

Each weekday, more than 30 million students eat meals served in school cafeterias in the United States. And when lunch period is over, they fill the trash cans with uneaten food. Half-eaten apples, chicken tenders, and turkey sandwiches come…

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Technology

Share the Screen

February 21, 2019

Anya Kamenetz is the author of The Art of Screen Time: How Your Family Can Balance Digital Media and Real Life. She argues that a healthy life includes limited screen time enjoyed in the company of family and friends. Have…

Health

An Oasis on Wheels

November 30, 2018

In 2011, Josh Trautwein was working as a nutrition educator in Boston, Massachusetts. He wanted to teach kids how to live healthy lives. Then he learned that the neighborhood’s only grocery store was closing for a year of renovations. …

World

Safe in School

September 27, 2018

COX'S BAZAR, Bangladesh — Just as the last little kid walks single-file out the door, about 30 very eager 7- to 10-year-olds burst in to take their place. Quickly, they claim spots around the perimeter of the lively one-room Golap…

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World

Muppet Helpers

September 27, 2018

When Hanadi was 4, a bomb destroyed her school. Soon after, her family fled their home, in Syria, to live as refugees in nearby Lebanon. Hanadi enrolled in school there but was scared to go. Her experience is not unusual.…

Community

Fish for Lunch

September 14, 2018

Salmon burgers, salmon mac-and-cheese, and king salmon corn dogs are served in schools in Sitka, Alaska. In Sitka, it’s easy to hook kids on fish. Fresh and locally sourced, the fish tastes great. Thanks to the Fish to Schools program,…

John F. Kennedy

TFK Library

John F. Kennedy

September 6, 2018

John F. Kennedy (May 29, 1917—November 22, 1963) was the 35th president of the United States. While in office, he led the country though several international crises. He also worked to achieve major civil rights reforms and promoted public service.…

Health

In the Moment

August 31, 2018

Ten fifth graders are sitting on a bright-blue rug in a classroom at P.S. 54, a public elementary school in Brooklyn, New York. When their teacher, Adrienne Heim, strikes a bell, they take a deep breath. The kids are practicing…

luminous mushrooms

TFK Library

What Is Bioluminescence?

August 24, 2018

Fireflies twinkle in a field. Mushrooms illuminate a dark forest. Colorful sea creatures light up the ocean. These natural light displays come from bioluminescent creatures. Bioluminescent organisms can produce their own light. Bioluminescence is a chemical reaction. It takes place…

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TFK Library

Lyndon B. Johnson

August 2, 2018

President Lyndon B. Johnson (August 27, 1908—January 22, 1973) advanced equality through major civil rights legislation and social service programs. He is also remembered for expanding U.S. military involvement in the Vietnam War. Lyndon B. Johnson was vice president when…

TFK Library

Alexander Hamilton

July 31, 2018

Alexander Hamilton (January 11, 1755 or 1757—July 12, 1804) is one of America’s most influential Founding Fathers. In his short life, he served as a delegate to the Constitutional Convention, was the first U.S. secretary of the treasury, and established…

Benjamin Franklin

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Benjamin Franklin

June 14, 2018

Benjamin Franklin (January 17, 1706—April 17, 1790) was a scientist, an inventor, a writer, and a statesman. He helped draft the Declaration of Independence and the U.S. Constitution. Benjamin Franklin was born January 17, 1706, in Boston, Massachusetts. At the…

portrait of Thomas Jefferson

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Thomas Jefferson

May 25, 2018

Thomas Jefferson (April 13, 1743–July 4, 1826) was one of the Founding Fathers of the United States. He drafted the Declaration of Independence, served as the country’s first secretary of state, and was elected the third U.S. president. As president,…

United States

A Plan for Parks

April 27, 2018

The National Park Service (NPS) has backed down from a controversial plan. It has decided not to double admission prices at 17 popular national parks. Instead, it will raise fees by $5 at 117 parks across the United States. In November, the NPS announced that it…

Time Off

Rhyming in the Ring

April 19, 2018

Knockout, by K.A. Holt, is about a boy named Levi. As a baby, Levi suffered from a medical condition that made it hard for him to breathe. Now a seventh grader, Levi has recovered but still feels trapped. His dad…

Science

Science Fair Fun

April 12, 2018

I know what it feels like to be transported into a completely new world—a world of innovation, science, and discovery. That’s because I attended the USA Science & Engineering Festival, held April 7 and 8, in Washington, D.C. (The day…

World

Knitting Hearts

March 5, 2018

Bolivia is a South American country known for the majestic Andes mountains. It is also one of the poorest countries on the continent. Bolivia is not considered a leader in medical innovation. But a Bolivian doctor is helping to change…

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