Deeply religious, the ancient Greeks honored many gods and goddesses. The ancient Greeks believed these gods and goddesses had great power over the weather and the Earth. But they weren’t all-powerful, and they had flaws. From Zeus to Athena, read about the family of gods and goddesses that the ancient Greeks believed watched over them.

The Maya civilization thrived in southeastern Mexico and northern Central America for thousands of years. Its culture was known for its impressive stone buildings and pyramid temples, as well as developments in astronomy and mathematics. But what was it like to live there during the height of this civilization? Explore life in a farming village that faces a devastating volcanic eruption. Assume power in a city-state at risk of plunging into war with a rival community. Work as a scribe duri...

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...

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.

George Washington knew he was setting an example in everything he did. The first American president had been a heroic military commander during the Revolutionary War, leading his forces to victory. As president he would guide the citizens of a new republic with a strong central government. No more would each state make its own decisions. Instead, they would band together, with the beloved Washington leading the way. It was up to him not to abuse the power of his mighty position.

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—...

On-point historical photographs combined with strong narration bring the story of the civil rights marches to life. Kids will learn about the way in which Southern states kept African Americans from voting and the history that led to nonviolent civil rights marches to fight for the right to vote guaranteed by the Constitution. As an added bonus, readers will learn about how this played out on TV and galvanized the civil rights movement, leading to the passage of the Civil Rights Act of 196...

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 seen by mill...

The Chumash thrived along the Pacific coast in California for centuries. But eventually new settlers wanted their land and forced the Chumash into a new way of life. Today, the Chumash celebrate their traditions as they move toward the future in modern America.

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...

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.