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United States

A New Trade Deal

August 29, 2018

President Donald Trump is working to renegotiate the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA). NAFTA is a trade agreement between Canada, Mexico, and the United States. It took effect in 1994. NAFTA allows for free trade in North America. It…

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Back-to-School Gear Guide

August 29, 2018

Back-to-school season means new gear to get you through the year. Here’s a collection of new products that will make heading to class a little more enjoyable. Totally Middle School A new school year can be scary. Totally Middle…

Polar Bear

TFK Library

What is Global Warming?

August 28, 2018

Earth’s climate is changing at an unprecedented rate. As a result, storms and droughts are becoming more intense. Temperatures are rising. Polar ice caps are melting. This is causing oceans to rise. Low coastal areas are flooding. Animals are losing…

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…

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TFK Kid Reporter Summer Book Reviews

August 24, 2018

TFK Kid Reporters Benje Choucroun, Christopher Nguyen and Nolan Watson review two of the summer's exciting new books. Book Title: Peeves Author: Mike Van Waes Reviewed by TFK Kid Reporter: Benje Choucroun Genre: Science Fiction Number of pages: 336 …

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

United States

Animals Go Free

August 22, 2018

Do you pay attention to the packaging of your favorite foods? Many people do. Sometimes, they see things they want to change. Take Nabisco’s popular Barnum’s Animals Crackers. The snack company began making the crackers in 1902. For more…

TFK Library

What Are Magnets?

August 21, 2018

What do compasses, fans, and high-speed trains have in common? They all use magnets to function. Magnets are rocks or metals that create a powerful, invisible field. This field attracts other magnets and certain metals. The presence of a magnetic…

World

Korean Reunions

August 20, 2018

Dozens of elderly South Koreans are crossing the armed border between the Koreas this week. They are meeting for three days with relatives in North Korea. On August 20, a South Korean woman named Lee Keum-seom, 92, met with her…

TFK Library

What Are Storms?

August 16, 2018

A storm is a powerful disturbance of the atmosphere. Thunderstorms, tornadoes, and hurricanes are storms. Storms are a common event on Earth and other planets, too. There are about 16 million thunderstorms worldwide each year. That is according to the…

Video

TFK Library

What Are Volcanoes?

August 14, 2018

Take a bottle of soda. Shake it really hard. Gas bubbles inside the bottle cause a buildup of pressure. Twist the cap off. Pressure is released. Soda shoots everywhere. A volcanic eruption works much the same way. Pressure builds up…

Video

Environment

Penguins in Peril

August 13, 2018

The world’s largest colony of king penguins has shrunk by 90%, researchers say. Thirty years ago, there were some 2 million king penguins on France’s remote island of Ile aux Cochons. It is located in the Indian Ocean, between Africa…

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A Magical Swap

August 10, 2018

In the Disney Channel movie musical Freaky Friday, actress Cozi Zuehlsdorff plays a messy teenager named Ellie Blake. Ellie couldn’t be more different from her super-organized mother, Katherine. They can’t see eye-to-eye and often bicker. “At the start of the…

TFK Library

What Are Planets?

August 9, 2018

Stargazers in ancient Greece noticed that during the night, 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 celestial bodies has grown since…

Video

World

Help for Earthquake Victims

August 8, 2018

Rescuers are working to help victims of a powerful earthquake on the Indonesian island of Lombok. The earthquake struck Lombok on August 5. It left 131 people dead. That’s according to Sutopo Purwo Nugroho. He is the spokesperson for the…

Science

Into Space

August 6, 2018

NASA has selected nine astronauts to ride the first commercial capsules into space. These astronauts will travel to the International Space Station. They will ride in capsules built by two private companies. The company SpaceX is developing a capsule…

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A Beloved Bear Returns

August 3, 2018

Author A.A. Milne introduced the sweet and lovable Winnie-the-Pooh to readers more than 90 years ago. The four books in the Winnie-the-Pooh series follow the adventures of the honey-loving bear and his friend, a boy named Christopher Robin. The adventure…

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…

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

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…