14 Fun Facts

Noses are wonderful things. They help us breathe. They are lined with mucous and hairs called cilia, which trap germs and tiny particles that can make us sick. They generate quarts (litres) of snot. They let us smell flowers and freshly baked foods. They also warn us of dangers from fires, rotten food or last week’s gym bag. The Educational Version has activities that meet Common Core Curriculum S

Pluto was the smallest planet in our galaxy. As more was discovered about other planets and other objects in our galaxy, Pluto fell into debate. How much do you know about Pluto? Why do scientists say Pluto was “discovered by mistake”? Who discovered Pluto? How big is Pluto compared to the U.S.? The Educational Version has activities that meet Common Core Curriculum Standards.

Saturn has seven rings and 62 moons. The rings orbit Saturn, creating shadow bands and rain on the planet. Most of the moons are outside the rings. A few moons are within and between the rings. Some of these tiny moons create and control the rings. They create gaps within and between the rings. They create fascinating structures and phenomena. Find out more in this short book.

We see stars in the night sky as pretty, twinkling objects, but what exactly are they? Here are some fun facts about stars. Do stars twinkle? What are stars made of? Do we know more about the inside of stars or the inside of Earth? Do stars have a life cycle? Is a dead star still a star? The Educational Version has activities that meet Common Core Curriculum Standards.

The Danube is a romantic river. It begins in the Black Forest of Germany, slashes gorges through the mountains and meanders along broad plains. Many castles and palaces have been built along its banks. Many cities have been built, destroyed and rebuilt. A truly international river, it is a source of travel and trade for many European countries. The Educational Version has activities that meet CCSS

On January 7, 1610, Italian astronomer Galileo Galilei turned his newly developed telescope to Jupiter. He discovered four objects orbiting the giant planet. It took him another night’s observations to clearly distinguish between two of them. He called them “The Medicean planets”, after the Medici family. Find out more fun, fascinating facts about these four moons orbiting our largest planet.

On January 7, 1610, Italian astronomer Galileo Galilei turned his newly developed telescope to Jupiter. He discovered four objects orbiting the giant planet. It took him another night’s observations to clearly distinguish between two of them. He called them “The Medicean planets”, after the Medici family who ruled Italy at the time. Educational Versions Include exercises to meet Common Core standa

The Ganges River begins in an ice cave in the Himalayan Mountains. It flows through India and Bangladesh and enters the sea at the world’s largest delta. It supports over 400 million people and thousands of animal and plant species. It is sacred to the Hindu people and worshiped as a goddess. Many people wish to die near the Ganges. Many people do. Find out more in this 15-Minute book. RL: 6.9

The Grand Canyon is located in Arizona. It is a huge group of canyons that have been cut into the landscape by the Colorado River. It is also one of the greatest natural wonders of the world. Find out: How does the Grand Canyon tell us the history of life on Earth? How was the Grand Canyon formed? How deep was the canyon? The Educational Version has activities that meet Common Core Curriculum St

The Great Wall of China is a man-made wonder, spanning thousands of miles. It spreads from the Pacific Ocean in the East to the Gobi Desert and beyond in the west. Much of it has stood for hundreds of years, with some portions over 2000 years old. The Great Wall stood as a wall of defense for many years, against the warring states to the north. Find out more in this short young adult book.

The Hudson River was once thought to be a northwest passage that joined to the Atlantic Ocean to the Pacific Ocean. Instead, a canal system opened up the center of America to settlement. The Hudson has spectacular valleys and dangerous waters. Land shifts have changed the course of the river. Much of the natural beauty of the land is now under the ocean. Learn more in this fun 15-minute book.

It was once thought that our solar system ended at Saturn. Then the first telescopes revealed Uranus and Neptune. Differences in the calculations of the gravity of these giants set off another search and Pluto was discovered. Pluto was then thought to be the last planet of our solar system. Beyond it was empty space – until astronomers started looking further. Educational vers. have CCSS activitie

You see it every night in the night sky, but how much do you really know about the moon? What one thing is different about our moon from every other moon we have found? What kind of atmosphere is there on the moon? How many sides of the moon do we see? What happened to the footprints of the astronauts that stood on the moon? Educational Version has activities that meet Common Core Curriculum St.

The Nile River has amazed people for years. It runs opposite from most river systems. It floods for miles, pushing back the desert and providing farming lands for people to thrive. It fills a massive swamp and has canyons and waterfalls that are as spectacular as anywhere in the world. Most of its course is through the desert, yet it never runs dry. Educational Version has activities to meet CCSS.

There are eight regular satellites in orbit around Jupiter. These are moons that formed within the gravity field of Jupiter. They were formed at the same time and out of the same material as the planet itself. They have circular orbits and orbit in the same direction as the planet. This book is about the four, small ring moons. These little known moons are odd shaped and orbit close to the planet.

There are eight regular satellites in orbit around Jupiter. These are moons that formed within the gravity field of Jupiter. They were formed at the same time and out of the same material as the planet itself. They have circular orbits and orbit in the same direction as the planet. This book is bout the four ring moons of Jupiter. Educational Versions have exercises designed to meet Common Core.

The River Thames has a colorful history. It was a river road long before railways and roads were built. It has brought flood, disease and death to thousands of people. It has over 80 islands, 200 bridges, 20 tunnels, 45 locks, six public ferries and one ford. Yet it still reminds us of its history with about one body a week being found in its waters. Educational Version has activities to meet CCSS

The Seine River is a slow moving river. It begins 1545 feet (471 metres) above sea level and runs 482 miles (776 kilometres) in its journey to the English Channel. Once a major trade route, it is navigable by ocean going ships. The Seine has been subject to monster tides, and great feats of architecture. Its source is a place of worship and its basin was one of the earliest areas settled by man.

Does the Solar System consists of the sun and the eight planets that orbit around it? There are other things out there. There are comets, moons, asteroids, meteors, dust, ice, rock and much more. Plus there is a whole lot of man made junk. How much do you know about the solar system? Find out 14 fun facts in this 15-minute book. Educational Version has activities that meet Common Core Curriculum.

What is a Space Shuttle? How can something that can’t fly go into space? Do spiders spin webs in space? Do astronauts get space sick? This book answers all these questions and more, plus everybody’s favorite: How do astronauts go to the toilet? The Educational Version has activities that meet Common Core Curriculum Standards.

Titan was the first moon of Saturn to be discovered. It took another six years to find the next moon. Since then, 53 definite moons have been found around Saturn. Another nine moons are considered provisional. More study is needed to confirm that they are proper orbiting moons. Titan is covered in thick clouds and has a surface temperature of -178oC (-289oF). Find out more about this frozen moon.

Titan was the first moon of Saturn to be discovered. It took another six years to find the next moon. Since then, 53 definite moons have been found around Saturn. Another nine moons are considered provisional. More study is needed to confirm that they are proper orbiting moons. Find out some amazing facts in this fun 15-minute book. Educational Versions include Common Core exercises.

Our sun is an average star in our galaxy. It is a sphere of burning gas that provides light and heat. It makes our plants grow and allows them to turn carbon dioxide into oxygen. If our sun were to shine a little less or a little more brightly, life as we knew it would not exist. Educational versions have Common Core Curriculum activities.

The Yangtze River is known by many names. From its headwaters in the glaciers of Tibet, it drops nearly 16,000 feet (5000 metres) on its journey to the East China Sea. For millions of years it has cut its path through the land. It flows through mountains and deep gorges and along broad, flat valley plains. The Educational Version has activities that meet Common Core Curriculum Standards.

What did scientists first think Uranus was? What are the names of Uranus’ moons named after? Is Uranus bigger or smaller than Earth? What is strange about the way Uranus spins? Learn the answer to these questions and more fun facts in this 15-Minute Book. In the middle of the galaxy is Uranus, one of the four gas planets in the Solar System. The Educational Version has activities that meet CCSS.