Grade 4

Have you ever changed to a new school? Do you know somebody like Sanjay, who comes from a country far away? How would you feel if you went to a new school in a new country? What would be… Read More →

All of the grownups in Tib's prehistoric tribe know that the dinosaurs disappeared ages ago. So of course they don't believe that Tib has made friends with one. But Tumtum the dinosaur is… Read More →

Henry Ford loved mechanical things: springs and gears, cogs and wheels, and things that clicked and ticked and turned. One hot summer day in 1876, Henry and his father were riding to Detroit… Read More →

Many kinds of living things need soil. Different creatures live in soil. Soil contains nutrients that plants use to grow. And when living things die, they become part of the soil. It is a… Read More →

Henry Ford invented the automobile. The first video game was created in a science research lab. A melted candy bar inspired the invention of microwave ovens. You may have heard these beliefs… Read More →

Adding salt to water makes it boil faster. Eating turkey makes you sleepy. Organic food is best for the environment. You may have heard these common sayings and beliefs before. But are they… Read More →

Does the universe circle around Earth? Do creatures live on the sun? Can you tell the future by looking at the stars? At one time, science supported wild notions like these! But later studies Read More →

If you're under 18, you might be thinking, "Why do voting rights matter to me? I'm too young to vote." Voting is how our country chooses government leaders to make important decisions that… Read More →

Sometimes whales get confused and end up getting stuck on the beach. That's when people need to quickly help to get them back out to the safety of the deep water. What can people do to help… Read More →

The gray whales migrate further than any other mammals. They are always on the move. It's an endless journey to eat, breed and to move with the seasons. Where do you think the gray whales are Read More →

Sometimes whales seem to forget that they need to stay in deep water. Whales are much too big to swim in shallow water. If they come too close to the beach, they get stuck. Kind people try to Read More →

Learn all about the amazing world of whales, and follow their lives from calf to adult. Read More →

Learn all about conspiracy theories that have emerged from the past to today. This accessible overview introduces young readers to thinking critically about the information they may glean… Read More →

What are fiction genres? How is fiction different from other kinds of writing? Find out the key elements of fiction, such as characters, setting, and plot. Then explore different genres,… Read More →

What are graphic novels? How are graphic novels different from other kinds of writing? Find out how graphic novels are similar to and different from comic books. Explore features such as… Read More →

Read about hoaxes and lies that have been spread in both the past and present, and learn how they have deceived people. Readers will discover tips on how to identify a hoax and learn to think Read More →

What are legends, folktales, and other classic stories? How are they different from other kinds of writing? Find out the key elements of classic stories, such as theme, setting, and plot.… Read More →

What are nonfiction genres? How is nonfiction different from other kinds of writing? Find out about nonfiction text features, such as the table of contents, the glossary, and the index. Then… Read More →

What are plays? How are they different from other kinds of writing? Find out about the parts of a play, including characters, scenes, setting, scripts, stage directions, and dialogue. Then… Read More →

Satire and parody existed long before modern times. Readers will get an invaluable overview of how to identify satire and parody and how to think critically about current events. Read More →

A boy wants to know what shadows are. Discover interesting facts about shadows along with him: what makes a shadow, how does a shadow get bigger, what the colors of a shadow mean, and more. Read More →

In June 1776, colonial delegates to the Continental Congress began writing a document to set up a new country—with a government independent from Britain. The Articles of Confederation created Read More →

In 1791 plans for the new capital city, Washington, D.C., were in the works, but someone was needed to help with the surveying. Thomas Jefferson recommended Benjamin Banneker for the job.… Read More →