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Environment

Kid Heroes for the Planet

April 11, 2019

Earth Day is April 22. On this day, people around the world focus on environmental issues. But you don’t have to wait for Earth Day to take action. You can improve our planet every day of the year. TIME for…

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

Charging Ahead

April 10, 2019

Do you ride a school bus? If not, 
you might know someone who does. In the United States, more than 
25 million students take one every day, according to the American School Bus Council. That’s more than 480,000 buses on…

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World

Life on the Line

April 9, 2019

In 1953, a three-year war on the Korean Peninsula, in East Asia, ended with a cease-fire agreement. The agreement established an area that divided the two countries on the peninsula: North Korea and South Korea. That area is called the…

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Science

Changing Tunes

March 8, 2019

Blue whales love to sing. Males sing to attract mates and to communicate across long distances. People are capable of hearing only certain parts of a whale song, so scientists use special audio equipment to record and study the songs…

Community

Maker Moment

February 15, 2019

Last year, Izzy Goldstein, 12, learned in science class that we can reduce air pollution by using natural energy sources, such as wind and solar power, instead of gasoline. This made her wonder what she and her schoolmates could do…

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Time Off

Into the Wild

January 24, 2019

Some 30 years ago, IAN MCALLISTER (pictured) set out to explore the Great Bear Rainforest, in western Canada. McAllister expected his trip to last a week, but he fell in love with the beautiful habitat, and with the animals and…

Science

Language Learning

January 10, 2019

Learning a new language can be tricky at any age. But in a recent study, scientists have pinpointed the exact age at which your chances of reaching fluency in a new language seem to quickly drop off: 10. Does this…

Technology

Best Inventions of 2018

January 4, 2019

Each year, TIME magazine picks the best of the inventions that will change how we live, work, and play. Here, TFK has selected 12 that we think will improve the world. Some help people overcome obstacles. Others help protect the…

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Time Off

Kid Power

October 24, 2018

CHELSEA CLINTON is the daughter of former U.S. president Bill Clinton and 2016 presidential candidate Hillary Clinton. But Chelsea is more than just a famous daughter. She’s an activist. That’s a person working to make the world a better place.…

Health

Food for Thought

October 19, 2018

In a lab at the University of New South Wales, in Australia, scientist Margaret Morris is giving her rats a memory test. She sets them in their usual box. But she has rearranged the objects in the box. Some rats…

United States

8 Questions for Mandy Manning

September 26, 2018

Mandy Manning teaches immigrant and refugee children in Spokane, Washington. She is the 2018 National Teacher of the Year. TFK’s Lina Mai spoke with her about Manning’s goals as an educator and the potential she sees in every student. 1.…

Opinion

Should Plastic Straws Be Banned?

September 20, 2018

People are taking a stand against plastic straws. On July 1, Seattle, Washington, became the first major U.S. city to ban plastic straws. Eight days later, Starbucks announced plans to phase out single-use plastic straws by 2020. More companies and…

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,…

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…

Video

TFK Library

Theodore “Teddy” Roosevelt

July 17, 2018

Theodore Roosevelt (October 27, 1858—January 6, 1919) was the 26th president of the United States. He pushed the country toward progressive social and economic reforms. Theodore Roosevelt stares down from Mount Rushmore, in South Dakota. He is alongside giants: George…

Video

Science

Science with Nate

June 22, 2018

Eight-year-old Nate Butkus remembers what sparked his curiosity about the universe. “I first got interested when I saw a picture of Uranus,” Nate told TIME for Kids, referring to the seventh planet from the sun. But it wasn’t just space…

portrait of Thomas Jefferson

TFK Library

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,…

Environment

Hope for the Wild

April 6, 2018

One of the last unspoiled areas of Amazon rain forest lies in a remote region of northeastern Peru called Yaguas. The lush land stretches along 125 miles of the Putumayo River. Amazon rain forests are so massive that they…

World

Trees, Please

April 5, 2018

China is known for its long history, rich culture, and cute pandas. It’s also known for some of the worst air quality in the world. But the Asian country is now wielding a natural weapon against air pollution—trees. In February,…