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Haunts for Halloween

October 23, 2017

Author WILLIAM ALEXANDER loves reading ghost stories. He won the National Book Award for his first novel, Goblin Secrets. His new one, A Properly Unhaunted Place, tells another spooky tale. But it’s also about friendship, courage, and history. In the story,…

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Out of This World!

October 20, 2017

Astronaut SCOTT KELLY spent a year aboard the International Space Station without gravity, fresh air, or family. He endured physical and mental challenges to help scientists study the health impacts of long-term space travel. In his new book, My…

United States

California Fires

October 20, 2017

A state of emergency was declared in California last week. More than a dozen wildfires broke out in the state. Most of them began on October 8, in Northern California. They grew rapidly. The fires were fueled by winds of…

Technology

Building a Smart Kitchen

October 18, 2017

When it comes to getting help at home, people are putting technology to work. Robots have already done many of the things that most people feel are a chore. A battery-powered robot can vacuum your floors. A robot can clean…

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…

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Business

Sports Inc.

October 16, 2017

Joey Erace knocks pitches into the netting of his backyard batting cage. The cage cost $15,000. Joey lives in southern New Jersey. His private hitting coach is charging $100 for this evening batting practice. Earlier in the day, Joey had…

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A Magical Lesson

October 11, 2017

Malala Yousafzai, 20, fights for girls’ right to education. In 2014, she was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize. She won the top honor together with children’s rights activist Kailash Satyarthi. Malala was 17 at the time, making her the youngest…

Text Sets

G3-4 Text Set: Fighting for the Planet

October 10, 2017

On average, global temperatures have gone up almost 2°F in the last century, largely due to human activity. Everyone is affected by changes in our planet, and everyone plays a role in either contributing to or fighting climate change. This…

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Acting 101

October 6, 2017

Shai and Emmie Star in Break an Egg! is the first book in a new series written by actress and author QUVENZHANÉ WALLIS. The tale about friendship and growth follows Shaianne “Shai” Williams, a young actor who attends a performing…

Video

United States

NFL Protests

October 6, 2017

On September 24, more than 200 National Football League (NFL) players protested during the national anthem. They sat, knelt, or raised a fist. Some locked arms on the sidelines. Three teams stayed in the locker room. In 2016, Colin Kaepernick…

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United States

Puerto Rico's Plea

October 5, 2017

Puerto Rico is trying to recover from Hurricane Maria. The storm struck the U.S. territory on September 20. The Category 4 hurricane knocked down trees and destroyed homes. It also killed at least 16 people. The entire island has been…

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Arts

10 Questions for Margarita Engle

October 4, 2017

1. What is it like to be the Young People’s Poet Laureate? It’s an amazing thrill and a responsibility. I have a theme for my two years: peace. There are so many forces working against peace. Young people are the…

Science

Into the Eye

October 3, 2017

Whipping wind and pounding rain take hold of the aircraft. Stomachs drop. The radar screen goes fuzzy. This would frighten most people. But flight director Jessica Williams remains focused. Williams is a hurricane hunter. She works for the National Oceanic…

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Science

Reversing Extinction

October 2, 2017

Bringing species back from extinction may seem more like science fiction than reality. But scientists are close to being able to bring animals back from the dead. The first major breakthrough in de-extinction happened about 15 years ago. A team…

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Taking a Stand

September 29, 2017

The Statue of Liberty is an American icon. At 305 feet tall, she stands as a symbol of freedom and democracy. She welcomes Americans, immigrants, and visitors from her perch in New York Harbor. But what does she stand for? In…

World

Mexico's Quake

September 28, 2017

Sections of Mexico City and nearby areas were left in ruins after an earthquake. The quake had a magnitude of 7.1. It struck Mexico on September 19. Buildings collapsed, and homes were destroyed. Thousands were injured. At press time, it…

Opinion

Should Grades Be Eliminated?

September 27, 2017

Some schools are giving letter grades an F. In their place, students will get detailed progress reports. Critics argue that grades don’t say much about which skills a student has mastered. That C in math could mean you’re struggling with…

Technology

Eyes on the Road

September 26, 2017

Austin Russell hops on a motorized cart. He speeds through a huge building in California. He passes a mannequin, a tire, and a coworker on a bicycle. They are all part of a demonstration. He wants to show how well…

Arts

The Music Maker

September 25, 2017

Yannick Nézet-Séguin (pronounced nay-ZAY say- GHEN) conducted some of the world’s most prominent orchestras before joining the Philadelphia Orchestra in 2012, at the age of 37. He has become famous for his youthful energy, and for his passion for getting…

Technology

Virtual Learning

September 25, 2017

Imagine flying through space, diving deep under the sea, and traveling the world. With virtual reality (VR), students don’t need to imagine it. They can experience it without leaving their classroom. Google is creating VR for students. It launched Google…

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