In the first lesson, students look closely at Lincoln the man by studying two photographs from 1860 and 1865 and two plaster “life masks” made in those same years. By looking carefully at these pictures and masks, students think about how Lincoln’s face and his feelings changed. This helps students learn about the events that happened between those years—events that changed Lincoln a lot. It can also be a starting place for a unit about the Civil War.

In the second lesson, students study a drawing made by someone who saw Lincoln arrive in Richmond, Virginia, the enemy capital, at the end of the war. When Lincoln walked among people who had been enslaved, he came to represent freedom to them. Never before had a president’s appearance—just showing his face—meant so much to the people who saw him.

Long ago, people from Germany came to live and take over the Netherlands. They arrived on May 10. They made rules and were very mean to many people.

Amsterdam is a big city. Many Jewish families lived there. Some came from other countries to live in Amsterdam.

One day, on February 22, the German police took many Jewish people away. They put them on trains and sent them far away. Most of those people were hurt and did not come back. People in Amsterdam were very sad and scared. Many workers stopped working to show they were unhappy. After a few days the police stopped the protest and were very cruel.

The German leaders made Jewish people live in certain parts of the city. Some were sent first to a place called Westerbork. Later, many Jewish people were put on trains and taken to very bad places in another country. Lots of people helped the Germans find and send the Jewish families away.

In 1943 the Germans tried to make 7,000 Jewish people come together in a city square. Only a few came. Then the Germans locked up the Jewish neighborhood and looked for people to take away. From May to September, they kept taking many Jewish people.

The Germans took the things from the homes of people who were taken away. Many families hid to stay safe. Some hiding families were found and taken away. Very many Jewish people in the Netherlands died during this time.

In the spring of 1945, soldiers from Canada came and freed Amsterdam and the rest of the Netherlands. People were finally safe again.

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Have you ever wondered why we don’t get sick all the time, even though there are germs like viruses, bacteria, and parasites all around us? That’s because our immune system is always working to protect us. The immune system is made up of different types of cells, and the ones that help fight off infections in our blood are called white blood cells. Each type of white blood cell has a special job. For example, granulocytes attack anything that looks dangerous, while B cells and T cells are more specialized—they can recognize specific infections and help our body remember them for the future.

B cells and T cells start out as immature cells in the bone marrow, which is the soft tissue inside our bones. B cells mature in the bone marrow, but T cells travel to a gland in our chest called the thymus to finish growing. Once T cells are fully developed, they are called “naive T cells.” These cells move through our blood, lymph nodes, and spleen, always on the lookout for infections.

Naive T cells don’t last forever. In humans, they live for a few years, and in mice, only a few weeks. That’s why our body needs to keep making new T cells to replace the old ones. When we are young, our thymus makes lots of new T cells, but after puberty, the thymus slowly gets smaller and makes fewer T cells each day. Even though the production slows down, the total number of T cells in our body stays about the same as we get older.

Scientists wanted to find out how our body keeps the number of T cells stable as we age. They used experiments with mice and mathematical models to study this. Their research showed that as T cells spend more time in the blood, they get better at surviving. This means that older T cells can last longer, helping to keep our immune system strong even as we get older.

Some questions scientists are still exploring include: How do naive T cells change as we age? Do they become better at surviving or replacing themselves? Are some T cells naturally stronger than others? And do T cells compete with each other to survive? These questions help us understand how our immune system adapts over time to keep us healthy.

Space is a big place with lots of secrets. There are things like black holes and dark matter. Now, scientists have a new way to look at space. They use a very big camera to see stars!

This camera is called the LSST camera. It is part of a special place called the Vera C. Rubin Observatory. This camera is on top of a mountain in a country called Chile. It is on a very big telescope.

On June 23, the scientists showed the first pictures from the camera. They took these pictures in just a few days. The pictures showed stars, galaxies, and many space rocks called asteroids.

The Big Camera

The LSST camera is very special. It took 10 years to make! A person named Željko Ivezi helped build it. He said it is the best space camera ever. The new pictures from the camera show two clouds of stars called nebulas. These are very far away from Earth.

A person named Margaux Lopez works on the camera. She told kids that the camera is one of a kind. It is very big, like a car! It can take lots of pictures really fast. It can take 1,000 pictures every day!

This is important because space is very big. There is a lot to see, and things are spread out far away. In the first year, the camera will take more pictures than all the other cameras ever have!

Eating a juicy, ripe fruit can make you smile! But if you try to eat the same fruit before it's ready, it might not taste so good. Unripe fruits are hard and bitter because they protect the seeds inside. Once the seeds are ready, the fruit changes color, becomes softer, and tastes sweeter. This attracts animals and people to eat the fruit and spread the seeds, helping new plants grow.

How Does a Fruit Ripen?

Ripening is a special process where fruits change. This change happens because of a chemical called ethylene. Ethylene is a gas that plants make, and it helps fruits become ripe. When a fruit is ready to ripen, it makes more ethylene, which causes it to change color, get softer, and taste sweeter. Once a fruit is ripe, it can't go back to being unripe.

Types of Fruits

There are two main types of fruits: non-climacteric and climacteric. Non-climacteric fruits, like strawberries and oranges, do not ripen after being picked. Climacteric fruits, like bananas and tomatoes, keep ripening even after being picked. These fruits make a lot of ethylene, which helps them and other fruits nearby ripen faster. For example, if you have an unripe avocado, you can put it in a bag with a ripe banana to make it ripen faster.

What Happens When Fruits Ripen?

When fruits ripen, they become sweeter and change color. Inside the fruit, there are tiny parts called genes that help this happen. The genes make the fruit's skin and inside softer and change the fruit's color. For example, a green banana turns yellow and gets sweeter as it ripens.

How Do We Get Ripe Fruits in Stores?

Fruit producers have ways to make sure fruits are ripe when they reach stores. They pick some fruits before they are ripe and keep them in cold places to slow down ripening. They also use special rooms to control gases like oxygen, which helps keep fruits fresh longer. When they are ready to sell the fruits, they let them ripen so they taste just right for us to enjoy.

Next time you eat a sweet fruit, remember the amazing changes that made it taste so good!

Soon after Thanksgiving, very cold air will move into the northern United States. This is because something called the polar vortex is getting weaker.

Think of a girl spinning on ice skates. When she spins fast, she stays steady. When she slows down, her arms fly out and she wobbles. The polar vortex works kind of like that.

The polar vortex is a big swirl of cold air near the North Pole. A strong wind called the jet stream usually keeps that cold air up north. But when the jet stream slows down, the cold air can slip south and make places in the US very chilly.

This happens high up in the sky, in layers of air called the atmosphere. Warm air rushing into the sky above the North Pole is making the polar vortex weaker. That means colder weather will spread across much of the US in early December.

Scientists say it’s unusual for this to happen so early in winter.

❄️ Think about it: What is the coldest weather you have ever felt?

With 2025 training camps near, ESPN asked coaches, scouts, and team leaders to pick the best players at 11 positions. Over 70 people voted. The lists named the best players for 2025, not for the future. They released one position each day from July 7–17.

The running backs are back in focus. Teams ran the ball more in 2024; seven teams averaged at least 140 rushing yards per game. Scouts say the best play is often handing the ball to your fastest player.

Top 10 Running Backs (short notes):

1. Saquon Barkley, Eagles — Big year in 2024, very fast, many voters put him at No. 1.

2. Derrick Henry, Ravens — Hard to tackle, lots of yards after contact, keeps producing.

3. Jahmyr Gibbs, Lions — Very fast, scored 20 touchdowns, can change a game in one play.

4. Bijan Robinson, Falcons — Improved in year two, good runner and pass catcher.

5. Christian McCaffrey, 49ers — Elite when healthy but has missed many games.

6. Josh Jacobs, Packers — Strong, reliable runner and pass catcher.

7. Jonathan Taylor, Colts — Fast and productive when he plays a full season.

8. James Cook, Bills — Great in open space and catching passes; rose after 16 TDs.

9. Joe Mixon, Texans — Good vision and balance; steady scrimmage yards each year.

10. Alvin Kamara, Saints — Came back strong in 2024 and is good at screens and catching.

Honorable mentions included players like Bucky Irving, Aaron Jones Sr., and De’Von Achane.

How Mike Vrabel Helped the Patriots (short):

A year ago the Patriots were weak. Owner Robert Kraft hired Mike Vrabel to bring energy and teamwork. Vrabel asked players to relax, bond, and share stories. He gave each player a blue work shirt to symbolize hard work. He added veterans and rookies who helped the team improve. Drake Maye, the young quarterback, played very well. The Patriots had a long winning streak but still had issues: a weaker running game, some defensive struggles, and injuries. Vrabel wants the team to keep improving and be ready every week.

The Dart Dilemma — Giants Quarterback (short):

Rookie Jaxson Dart loves to run and compete. He suffered multiple concussions after running into heavy hits. Coaches and teammates worry and want him to protect himself by sliding or going out of bounds more. Dart can score and has real talent, but the team must keep him healthy. The Giants plan to limit designed runs and teach him safer ways to be aggressive so he can stay available and help the team long-term.

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A Family-Friendly Guide for Parents and 2nd–4th Graders**

Sometimes kids deal with ADHD. Sometimes they’ve been through hard or scary experiences (also called trauma). And sometimes, kids experience both — which can make life feel confusing, overwhelming, or “too much.”

This guide helps families understand how ADHD and trauma can affect each other, what signs to look for, and how new tools — including somatic therapy — can help kids feel safer, calmer, and more in control.

🌟 ADHD & Trauma: Why They Sometimes Get Mixed Up

Imagine a giant ball of yarn. If the yarn is pulled in one spot, everything else gets tangled.
ADHD and trauma can feel the same — their symptoms often overlap.

Kids with ADHD and kids who’ve been through tough experiences may both show things like:

• Trouble paying attention

• Forgetting things easily

• Big feelings that come fast

• Hard time sleeping

• Feeling restless or impulsive

• Worrying about safety

• Trouble getting along with peers

This is why it’s sometimes difficult to tell what’s ADHD and what’s trauma — and why kids need understanding adults who know how to help with both.

🧠 What Is ADHD?

ADHD is a brain-based condition. Kids with ADHD may:

• Get distracted easily

• Feel “busy” or fidgety

• Act without thinking

• Have strong emotions

• Struggle with organization or routines

ADHD usually shows up in early childhood, often when school gets more demanding.

❤️ What Is Trauma?

Trauma happens when a child goes through something very scary, stressful, or upsetting — something that made them feel unsafe. This could be:

• A car accident

• Seeing or experiencing violence

• A sudden change in the family

• Loss of someone important

• Being bullied

• Experiencing racism

• A natural disaster

Not all kids who go through hard things develop trauma symptoms, but some do — and those symptoms can look a lot like ADHD.

🔄 How ADHD Can Lead to Trauma-Type Stress

Kids with ADHD often hear:

• “Sit still!”

• “Pay attention!”

• “Stop it!”

They might struggle socially, get in trouble more, or feel misunderstood.
Over time, this can create stress in the body — a constant feeling of being on “high alert.”

This can look like:

• Tight muscles (clenched jaw, shoulders raised)

• Tummy aches

• Fast heartbeat

• Trouble calming down

• Feeling like everything is an emergency

This is the body’s fight-or-flight stress system working overtime.

🧩 Why Treating Only ADHD or Only Trauma Doesn’t Work

Because the symptoms blend together, treating only one issue leaves the other “in the driver’s seat.”

Kids need support for:

1. Executive functioning (ADHD part)

2. Feelings, safety, and stress (trauma part)

Together, these help the child feel more regulated and confident.

Medication, when appropriate, can help kids feel calmer and able to participate more fully in therapy or school routines.

🌿 **What Is Somatic Therapy?

(A Parent & Kid-Friendly Explanation)**

Somatic therapy is a body-based therapy that helps kids:

• Notice what their body is feeling

• Understand why their body reacts a certain way

• Learn to calm their nervous system

• Feel safer in their own skin

Kids do not have to retell scary stories.
Instead, the therapist helps them tune into things like:

• Tightness

• Butterflies

• Heavy or light feelings

• Warmth or cold sensations

The therapist guides the child until their body feels safer and more settled — kind of like untangling that big ball of yarn, one gentle tug at a time.

This type of therapy helps kids:

• Reduce stress responses

• Feel more confident and in control

• Improve focus

• Understand their emotions better

🎒 How Somatic Therapy Helps with ADHD

A calmer body = a calmer brain.

When kids learn how to regulate their nervous system, ADHD symptoms often become:

• More manageable

• Less overwhelming

• Easier to treat with skills and strategies

Somatic therapy doesn’t “cure” ADHD, but it strengthens the brain-body connection in powerful ways.

🏡 5 Kid-Friendly Somatic Activities You Can Do at Home

These simple exercises help kids learn to listen to their bodies and calm their nervous system.

1. Notice the Good Stuff

Ask your child:
“What feels good in your body right now?”
Warm tummy? Relaxed hands? Soft breathing?
Help them “take a picture” of that feeling in their mind.

2. Create Predictable Routines

Structure = safety.
Kids feel calmer when mornings, homework time, and bedtime follow a routine.

3. Strengthen the Basics

Check in often:

• Are they sleeping enough?

• Eating well?

• Moving their body daily?

Small improvements can make big changes in stress levels.

4. Look for Moments of Control

ADHD and trauma can make kids feel powerless.
Help them notice:

• “You chose your outfit today.”

• “You decided what book to read.”

• “You picked the order of your homework.”

These small choices help kids feel capable.

5. Use “All Clear” Signals

Teach the body that the situation is safe:

• Slow down your walking

• Speak softly and slowly

• Relax your shoulders

• Shake out hands or legs when stressed

These gentle signals tell the brain it's okay to relax.

💬 Final Message to Kids & Parents

Having ADHD, trauma, or both is not your fault — and you are not alone.

With care, connection, and the right tools, the body and brain can learn to feel safe again.
Kids can focus better, feel calmer, and start to enjoy school, friendships, and family time in new ways.