Kids News - Articles for Grades 4-5

A Chinese farmer is making headlines all over the world thanks to his unusual mode of transport - a motorized suitcase! The steerable scooter-suitcase that weighs 15lbs when empty, is powered by a rechargeable lithium battery and can carry two passengers for up to 60km (37-miles) at a maximum speed of 20km/h (12mph)....

From May 15th to June 15th, Muscovites seeking entertainment have a unique option - vocal, dance and even stand up comic performances by some of the world's most advanced robots. Called 'Ball of Robots', the month-long event at the city's Artplay Center features over 20 skilled robot entertainers from countries all around the world, including Canada, United States, Japan, France and New Zealand....

The fact that dogs and cats dislike each other is no secret. Now the results of this new study may evoke a similar feeling between the animal owners. That's because it asserts that cat owners are generally smarter than dog owners!...

Judging by their looks, one would never guess that New Zealand's national bird - the tiny flightless kiwi and the colossal African elephant bird that roamed Madagascar until the 17th Century, had much in common. While the kiwi is roughly the size of a modern chicken and weighs between three to seven pounds, the elephant bird loomed a massive ten feet tall, and could weigh as much as 600 pounds! In addition to the difference in size, the two species lived 7,000 miles apart, making any connection between the two almost impossible....

The next time you are moaning and groaning about having to run a mile or two at school, be sure to think of 91-year-old Harriet Thompson, who not only completed the San Diego Rock N' Roll marathon on Saturday, May 31st, but also broke two records. What's even more impressive is that she accomplished the feat while still recovering from burns on her legs caused by recent radiation treatments to help treat her skin cancer....

Anyone that has attempted to build a free-standing Lego tower knows how difficult it is to keep it from toppling over. So it is not surprising to hear that the elementary students in Budapest requested a team of official Lego builders from Denmark to help them build one that would surpass the existing record holder - a 112-ft 11-inch tower constructed in August 2013, by students from John Dickinson High School in Wilmington, Delaware....

This has been an exciting year for the 89-year-old Scripps National Spelling Bee. First there were the Missouri kids that exhausted the spelling list and had to have a rematch and now, two finalists who pulled off the same impossible feat in National Harbor, Maryland. This time around there was no second round. Instead, both were declared winners....

Looking for an excuse to chow down warm gooey donuts? Then you are in luck because Friday, June 6th, happens to be National Donut day. Since the only way to celebrate this important holiday is by eating the sweet rings, you really have no choice but to devour a few or even a few dozen!...

First there was the Milwaukee Zoo that provided their primates with iPads - complete with free apps and games and now, Smithsonian's National Zoo that has equipped their otters with a keyboard so that the animals can show off their musical talent....