Kids News - Articles for Grade 9

Valentine's Day, celebrated on February 14, is observed worldwide, but not always in the same way. While many in the US exchange candy, flowers, and gifts, other countries have their own unique traditions. Some even celebrate on a completely different date. Here are some interesting Valentine's Day customs from around the world....

California's Yosemite National Park is known for its ancient giant sequoia trees and massive rock formations. These include El Capitan and Half Dome. However, from mid-to-late February, the park's main draw is the Horsetail Fall. Under the right conditions, this winter waterfall, takes on a fiery orange glow. This makes it look like lava flowing down El Capitan, giving it the name "firefall."...

After spending months spinning in the Antarctic waters, A23a, the world’s largest iceberg, is on the move again. This massive chunk of ice covers 1,418 square miles (3,673 sq. km). This is more than twice the size of the city of London. It weighs over a trillion tons and is about 1,312 feet (400 m) thick....

On February 9, 2025, over 200 million Americans will tune in to see defending champions Kansas City Chiefs take on the Philadelphia Eagles in the National Football League's (NFL) championship game. With the Chiefs aiming for a historic third consecutive title, Super Bowl LIX promises to be thrilling. But Super Bowl Sunday is about more than football....

Swedish artist Mikael Genberg has been hoping to put a toy red house on the Moon for 25 years. His dream moved a step closer to reality on January 15, 2025. On that day, his "Moonhouse" set off for the Moon aboard a SpaceX rocket with the Resilience lunar lander built by the Japanese company ispace....

Every year on February 2, thousands of people gather in Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania, for one of the most unique US traditions — Groundhog Day. At the heart of the event is Punxsutawney Phil, the famous weather-predicting groundhog. According to custom, if Phil sees his shadow, winter will last six more weeks. If he does not, spring will arrive early....

Mount Everest, Earth's highest peak, is growing faster than expected. Recent GPS measurements indicate it is adding up to 2 millimeters annually. This is nearly twice the previously estimated rate. This growth is mainly due to the collision of the Indian and Eurasian tectonic plates over the past 50 million years. However, a new study by the China University of Geosciences suggests that a river capture event may also be helping the growth of the 29,032-foot (8,849-meter) mountain....

Giant pandas are back at the Smithsonian's National Zoo in Washington, DC, after 15 months! Three-year-olds Bao Li and Qing Bao made their debut to an excited crowd on January 24, 2025. The cubs arrived from China on October 15, 2024. But they had to complete a three-month quarantine before being introduced to the public....

Israel and Hamas signed a ceasefire agreement on January 15, 2025. It marks the first step in ending the 15-month conflict, which has killed thousands and caused widespread devastation in Gaza. The United Nations estimates that 1.9 million of Gaza’s 2.4 million residents have been displaced by the war....