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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,…

Business

Lego Goes Green

April 5, 2018

Lego bricks are among the world’s most popular toys. But fans might be surprised to learn that the process for making the colorful playthings—as with many other toys—is harmful to the environment. That’s because Legos are made with plastic derived…

Environment

Kid Heroes for the Planet

April 5, 2018

You don’t have to be a superhero to help the environment. Even small, simple actions can add up to big change. People around the world will celebrate Earth Day on April 22. But anyone—including kids—can work to help the Earth…

United States

Climate in Court

April 5, 2018

Levi Draheim lives in Satellite Beach, Florida. It’s warm year-round there, and Levi, 10, spends most of his time outside. He often walks from his house to the beach to go swimming and boogie boarding. But when Levi grows up,…

Time Off

Poetry in Motion

March 9, 2018

Can your surroundings ignite your creativity? JUAN FELIPE HERRERA thinks so. Herrera was the first Mexican-American U.S. Poet Laureate, from 2015–2017. Growing up, he moved many times. Each new environment sparked ideas. His new book, Jabberwalking, is aimed at helping…

Health

A Healthier Happy Meal

March 9, 2018

McDonald’s is making Happy Meals healthier. By June, all Happy Meal menus in the U.S. will be 600 calories or less. That’s an average reduction of 150 calories. Meals will have less sugar, fat, and salt, and no artificial colors…

Science

Mission-Ready

December 11, 2017

Life can be very unpredictable for astronauts living and working on the International Space Station (ISS). There is no gravity. Parts of the station might stop working at any time. Space objects come flying at the station out of nowhere. …

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World

Troubled Waters

October 17, 2017

Plastic can be found in almost everything. That includes toys, food containers, and car parts. Most plastic can—and should—be recycled. Instead, it often is thrown away. Much of this plastic trash ends up in the oceans. It gets there mainly…

Video

Arts

10 Questions for Margarita Engle

October 4, 2017

1. You’ve been named the Young People’s Poet Laureate. What’s it like? It’s an amazing thrill and a responsibility. I’ve chosen to have a theme for my two years: peace. There are so many forces working against peace, from peace…

Technology

Eyes on the Road

September 26, 2017

Austin Russell hops on a motorized cart. Then he goes whizzing through a cavernous building on the edge of San Francisco Bay, in California. As the 22-year-old rides along, he passes a mannequin, a tire, and a coworker on a…

Technology

Virtual Learning

September 25, 2017

Imagine flying through space, diving deep under the sea, and traveling the world—without ever stepping foot outside your classroom. With virtual reality (VR), these experiences are possible. Google is one of the companies creating VR experiences for students. It…

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Spanish