Closed syllables are one of the first types of syllables kids learn to read. However, if a child doesn't understand phonics, they may struggle to spell the same words they can easily read. Phonics is a powerful tool for teaching spelling and reading. The following worksheets on closed syllables can help students learn to read, but they will need adult assistance. Readers can use the closed syllable worksheets to understand the rules of closed syllables and improve their spell

This month, my second graders are learning about culture. Culture is one of those things that is hard to understand in the abstract. Instead, kids find it easier to learn about culture through specific examples. To help my students understand culture, I created these slide shows on Mexican and Chinese culture. The slide shows teach about language, food, music, art, clothing, and holidays. Students can use these slide shows to compare and contrast the two cultures, or to discu

I am back to teaching second grade! I love teaching second grade. This is a huge year for building the foundational skills students will...

Protein synthesis is the process cells use to build proteins, which are essential for nearly everything your body does. This process...

Your body is made up of tiny units called cells . Cells are so small that you need a microscope to see them! These cells work together...

Your body is made up of trillions of cells —tiny building blocks that work together to keep you alive and healthy. Each cell has a...

Photosynthesis  is the process that plants and some other organisms use to make their own food using sunlight . Instead of eating like...

Metabolism  is the set of chemical reactions that happen inside living organisms to keep them alive and working. These reactions help...

An organism  is any living thing. Organisms can be as small as a single-celled bacterium or as large as a blue whale. All organisms share...

Plant cells  are the basic building blocks of plants. Just like animal cells, plant cells are very small and can only be seen with a...

Space  is the vast, dark area beyond Earth’s atmosphere. It is a place filled with stars, planets, moons, comets, asteroids, and...

The Moon  is Earth’s only natural satellite and plays an important role in our lives. Scientists believe the Moon formed about 4.5...

Our solar system—including the Sun, Earth, planets, moons, and other objects—formed about 4.6 billion years ago  from a large cloud of...

Scientists believe the universe began about 13.8 billion years ago  with the Big Bang . The Big Bang wasn't an explosion like a bomb...

The Sun, Moon, and Earth work together in an amazing system that affects everything from the weather to the ocean tides. Their movements...

In 1977, NASA launched two special spacecraft called Voyager 1  and Voyager 2 . Their mission was to explore the outer planets of our...

When you look up at the night sky, you’re seeing only a tiny part of our galaxy. A galaxy  is a huge collection of stars, gas, dust, and...

For thousands of years, people have gazed at the stars and wondered what lies beyond Earth. Ancient civilizations used the night sky to...

A screw  is a simple machine that helps hold things together, lift objects, or move materials. At first glance, it may just look like a...

A wedge  is a simple machine that helps us cut, split, or push things apart . It may look like a triangle or a sharp edge, but it’s...