Odysseus longed to return home to Ithaca, but where exactly was ancient Ithaca? Some researchers think they have found the answer. Watch a video to learn about a place that just might be Odysseus’s home—modern-day Cephalonia Island in Greece.
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Teen Refugee: Prince Charming Is Dead
A 14-year-old refugee from Syria to Lebanon, Cayanne speaks candidly about what it felt like to have her childhood stolen by war. Read her story, and watch the video of her interview.
Can You Die of a Broken Heart?
Did you know that there is such a thing as broken heart syndrome? Read to learn about the health risks of love and loss.
‘Gnomeo & Juliet’: Shakespeare, Cheerfully Plastered
The story of Romeo and Juliet has been retold in countless book and film adaptations, not all to great success. Read one reviewer’s critique of a recent animated attempt to recreate Shakespeare’s characters as garden gnomes.
New Apps for Help Reading Shakespeare
Though his work is more than 400 years old, William Shakespeare pervades popular culture. And what could be more modern than Shakespeare apps? Learn about all kinds of ways to interact digitally with the Bard’s timeless texts.
Ten Out-of-the-Ordinary Valentine’s Day Customs
Not everyone gives chocolates and flowers on Valentine’s Day. Read about a few unusual customs from the past.
Urban Farms Herald Green City ‘Revolution’
In today’s world, who would have thought that farming could unite those living in bustling urban areas? Find out how some city dwellers are coming together to feed themselves with locally grown fruits and vegetables.
Apartheid
Nobel Prize-winning author Nadine Gordimer writes about South Africa and the effects of apartheid on its people. Learn more about apartheid, from its origins to its end in 1994.
African-American Girl Blazing a Trail Through Chess
Read or listen to this story about 17-year-old Rochelle Ballantyne, who is about to become the first ever African-American female chess master. Balancing chess with volunteering in after-school programs, helping out at home, and applying to colleges, Ballantyne works hard for everything she’s earned.
3 Awesome Teen Entrepreneurs Who Will Put You to Shame
Meet some teenagers who are well on their way to running successful businesses—long before they enter college!
Anne Frank
Visit the Anne Frank house online, where you can read about the events in her life, enter a 3D version of her hiding place in the secret annex, examine her writing, view photographs, and more.
Young People More Likely To Drive Drowsy
Have you ever heard of Drowsy Driving Prevention Week? On top of concerns about adolescent brains and texting while driving, new studies show teens aren’t getting enough sleep to be alert drivers.
E-Book Recreates a Monster
What does it mean to “interactivate” a book? And how would you like to interact with Frankenstein’s monster? Read this article about how some ebooks are allowing readers to climb into the story and experience the horror firsthand.
Why Do People Love Horror Movies? They Enjoy Being Scared
If horror movies are so scary, why do people like them? Discover why people enjoy being scared out of their wits.
Ellis Island
Did you know that more than one-third of all current United States citizens can trace an ancestor to Ellis Island? For more than 60 years, Ellis Island was an entry point to the United States for millions of immigrants from all over the world. Explore this site to learn more about Ellis Island and immigration to the United States.
World Wastes Half Its Food
A recent study by the Institution of Mechanical Engineers reveals that, across the world, about half of the food we are producing is being wasted. But why? And where is it going?
National Parks
Did you know there are more than 2,000 natural arches in Arches National Park? Or that there are more geysers and hot springs at Yellowstone National Park than anywhere else on Earth? Explore this National Geographic site to find out what makes these places so special.
Library of Congress Digs into 170 Billion Tweets
The largest library in the world, the Library of Congress includes in its collections millions of books, recordings, photographs, and manuscripts. Here, you can find some of the earliest stories written in America. But the Library isn’t just preserving the nation’s oldest stories. Now it is collecting billions of 140-character tweets!
Where Did Dragons Come From?
Did you ever wonder where the idea of dragons came from? And how did so many isolated civilizations come to believe in them? This article explores potential theories behind the dragon myths.
Greek Mythology
Are you interested in learning about Greek mythology? Visit this site to read about the Olympian gods, their heroes and monsters, and the origins of their stories. You can also watch a variety of video clips.