The Trail of Tears tragedy in Creek history reminds the Creek how far they've come. The Muscogee people rebuilt their lives in a new territory and adapted to many changes. The Creek now thrive in modern America, celebrating their culture and ancestors' traditions.

Two American athletes made history at the 1968 Summer Olympics, but not on the track. They staged a silent protest against racial injustice. Tommie Smith and John Carlos, gold and bronze medalists in the 200-meter sprint, stood with heads bowed and black-gloved fists raised as the national anthem played during the medal ceremony. The Australian silver medalist wore a human rights badge in support. All three would pay a heavy price for their activism. A Life magazine photograph see...

Millions of tons of plastic slip into oceans every year. Some floats and travels slowly with the currents, endangering the health of marine animals. The rest is hardly visible but is far more dangerous. Tiny bits of plastic sprinkle the ocean's surface or mix into the sandy seafloor and beaches. It ends up inside birds, fish, and other animals, harming them-and ultimately humans. Experts struggle with fear and hope as they work to stop the flood of plastic threatening living organisms acro...

To the untrained eye, Photo 51 was simply a grainy black and white image of dark marks scattered in a rough cross shape. But to the eye of a trained scientist, it was a clear portrait of a DNA fiber taken with X-rays. And to young scientists James Watson and Francis Crick, it confirmed their guess of deoxyribonucleic acid's structure. In 1953 the pair was racing toward solving the mystery of DNA's structure before other scientists could beat them to it. They and others believed that findin...

On the planet Terranu, two families have established a research base to look for extraterrestrial life. One day four young friends spot a watery tentacle slither out of the nearby river—and a pair of eyes watching from across the water! Soon the two families meet the planet’s natives, but they aren’t pleased by the humans’ presence. The aliens challenge them to a contest. If the humans win, they can stay on Terranu. But if they lose, they must leave immediately. It’s up to the young friend...

Present-day Virginia was home to the early Powhatan tribes. But settlers were eager to explore the rich land and the rivers in the area. The Powhatan were forced to adapt to new ways of life. But they continue to thrive in modern America, remembering and honoring their past traditions.

A massive tsunami caused by the strongest earthquake to ever hit Japan triggered the world's worst nuclear crisis since the Chernobyl accident 25 years earlier. The monster waves that crashed into the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant in March 2011 killed 15,000 people and caused nuclear reactor meltdowns that threatened the lives of thousands more. The waves receded long ago, but the devastating effects of the nuclear accident still linger.

On the planet Terranu, two families have established a research base to look for extraterrestrial life. One day four young friends spot a watery tentacle slither out of the nearby river... and a pair of eyes watching from across the water! Soon the two families meet the planet's natives, but they aren't pleased by the humans' presence. The aliens challenge them to a contest. If the humans win, they can stay on Terranu. But if they lose, they must leave immediately. It's up to the young fri...

Hate crime in the United States is on the rise. The FBI has reported that hate crimes rose by 17 percent in 2017, increasing for the third straight year, and the trend continued into 2018 and 2019. The crimes are most commonly motivated by hatred related to race, ethnicity, or country of origin. Many crimes are also motivated by bias against sexual orientation or gender identity. Students will learn why hate crime is on the rise and how they can help combat it.

Created in collaboration with the Smithsonian Institution’s National Museum of the American Latino, Nuestras Voces shares inspiring Latino stories. In the summer of 1493, eleven-year-old Cocuyo is eager to find her place within her Taíno community on the island of Quisqueya. But in less than a year, her home, her family and friends, and her daily life will be forever changed by the arrival of Europeans. As Cocuyo learns more and more about the strangers who arrive by sea—...

Betsy Ross made many flags during the American Revolution, but did she sew the first flag? Infographics, leveled text, and primary sources help readers follow the fact and fiction found in this tale of stars and stripes.

Two American athletes made history at the 1968 Summer Olympics, but not on the track. They staged a silent protest against racial injustice. Tommie Smith and John Carlos, gold and bronze medalists in the 200-meter sprint, stood with heads bowed and black-gloved fists raised as the national anthem played during the medal ceremony. The Australian silver medalist wore a human rights badge in support. All three would pay a heavy price for their activism. A Life magazine photograph seen by mill...