Have you ever heard of a “Renaissance man”? The term refers to a person who has talents in many different areas. James Weldon Johnson was the definition of a Renaissance man. He was a teacher, … Read more
You might have seen these types of lighted signs hanging outside of businesses or on walls in your town. They are often called neon lights. They are named after one of the gases used to … Read more
Fazlur Khan was an Asian American engineer who designed skyscrapers. His ideas completely changed the way tall buildings are built. Khan was born in 1929 in what is now Bangladesh. He later moved to the … Read more
Did you know that Kansans were trailblazers for women’s rights? The 19th Amendment finally recognized a woman’s right to vote in nationwide elections in 1920. But long before that, women could vote in Kansas! In … Read more
Are you wondering what happened to these trees? No—they haven’t been painted. This is the rainbow eucalyptus tree, or Mindanao gum (Eucalyptus deglupta). Its bark has natural stripes of brilliant colors. The rainbow eucalyptus is … Read more
Did you know that Anna May Wong was the first Chinese American film star? She lived from 1905 to 1961. Her given name was Wong Liu Tsong, but she used the name Anna May Wong … Read more
Have you ever noticed that your eyes hurt or get tired after looking at screens for a long time? Some eyeglasses claim to protect our eyes from damaging light coming from these screens. Are these … Read more
March is a big month for festivals in Texas, with over 100 celebrations happening across the state. These events take place in big cities and small towns. They celebrate many things, like local history, music, … Read more
Did you know the United States had expeditions to Antarctica? It was on one of these expeditions in 1956 that the young Robert Barger III arrived on the icy continent. More specifically, he arrived at … Read more
Often called “water bears,” tardigrades are microscopic invertebrates [animals without backbones] with a real-life superpower. These tiny creatures are nearly indestructible. Tardigrades live in both water and land environments. They are considered aquatic because they … Read more
© 2026 McGraw-Hill Education. All Rights Reserved.
