World

On every schoolyard across the world you will find games invented by children. Hand-clapping routines, rhyming stanzas and intricate rules for tiny competitions; games born of the creativity, insight and idiosyncrasy of children’s minds. In New York City’s diverse playgrounds, kids play games in Haitian Creole, Korean, Spanish, Arabic and Polish, just to name a…

4. Next, join the conversation by clicking on the comment button and posting in the box that opens on the right. (Students 13 and older are invited to comment, although teachers of younger students are welcome to post what their students have to say.) 5. After you have posted, try reading back to see what…

Find all our Lessons of the Day here. Lesson Overview Featured Article: “The World Can Make More Water From the Sea, but at What Cost?” The issue of water quantity and quality is increasingly a global problem. According to the Environmental Protection Agency, over 80 percent of the world is covered in water, but only…

Find all our Lessons of the Day here. Lesson Overview Featured Article: “48 Hours in the Strange and Beautiful World of TikTok” TikTok is an app that many teenagers are already likely familiar with — adults, less so. In this feature, five critics of The New York Times with different specialties and varying familiarity with…

Contest Dates: Dec. 5, 2019 - Jan. 14, 2020 So you’re studying the Civil War — or Shakespeare, or evolution, or “The Bluest Eye.” Why? What does it have to do with your life and the lives of those around you? Why should you remember it once you’ve turned in that paper or taken that…

Before reading the article: What do you know about Ramadan, the Muslim holy month that began on Sunday? Read the short article “Ramadan Is Here. What Islam’s Holiest Month Is About.” Or watch this three-minute video from history.com to learn more about Ramadan. Then respond to the following questions: • What does Ramadan commemorate? •…

Before reading the article: What do you know about endangered species? Do you think of the world as a safe place for all animals and plants? What does it mean for a species to be endangered? What animal or plant species do you know are endangered now? Go to the World Wildlife Fund’s website and…

3. Why have some colleges made standardized test scores optional for students applying for admission? How does this policy help to maintain a level playing field for students applying to college? 4. William Singer, a college admissions consultant, pleaded guilty on Tuesday to charges of racketeering, money laundering and obstruction of justice. What were some…

Before reading the article: What is a year? Why is it important to know when a year begins or ends? How would you explain the concept of a year to, say, a 5-year-old? Now try to name as many holidays as you can that are fixed, or celebrated on the same day every year. Then…