Kids News - Social Studies for Kids

New York teen Timothy Doner, has an unusual hobby - He likes to learn languages! And not the way most of us do to get through basic school requirements, but thoroughly enough so that he can conduct a decent conversation. Over the last five years, the 17-year old has been able to master 23! While this has earned him the title of the world's youngest polyglot, he is still not satisfied....

Given that it has been over 20 years since the body of Otzi the Iceman was found, one would think that scientists had discovered all they could, about this Neanderthal who inhabited the earth some 5,300 years ago. Turns out the one thing they had not examined was his teeth, and what they discovered, would make any dentist cringe!...

Though bridge designs have come a long way since humans began using fallen tree trunks or stones to get across stretches of water, they have until now been boring inert structures. That however changed on March 29th, 2013, with the unveiling of Vietnam's Dragon bridge. It not only resembles the legendary mythical creature, but also, acts like it, by breathing out fire!...

On April 8th, 2013, the world mourned the death of former British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher, who passed away after suffering from a stroke at the age of 87. Besides being the country's longest serving leader (1979 to 1990) in the 20th century, she was the first woman to lead a Western democracy. During her 11-year reign, the strong-willed woman, who was nicknamed 'Iron Lady' by leaders of the former Soviet Union, made some hard-charging decisions for which she was loved and loathed in equal measures....

April 15th, marks the 101st anniversary of the sinking of the RMS Titanic. Dubbed 'The ship of dreams', the luxury cruise liner was like no other. Considered an engineering marvel, the 11-story structure was not only the largest ship to ever grace the seas, but also, one that featured unrivaled grandeur and amenities. It is therefore not surprising that the sinking of the 50,000-ton behemoth within days after its launch, continues to capture the interest of people across all ages, even today....

On Thursday, April 4th, 2013, British archeologists announced the discovery of what they described as a breathtaking complex in Southern Iraq. Located in what once was the ancient city of UR, the development is believed to be 4,000 years old or around the same time Abraham would have been living in the area, before leaving for Canaan, according to the Bible....

In this day and age, when we depend on our cell phones for everything - From communicating to snapping photos to even playing games - it is hard to imagine life without one. Yet, it was only 40 years ago on April 3rd, 1973, that Motorola Vice President Martin Cooper, stepped onto a New York City sidewalk and placed the first known cell phone call in history....

The freedom, equality and prosperity that Americans enjoy today, can be attributed to some key historical events or turning points. Here are a few that make for interesting reading and may also provide some help in preparing for those pesky Social Studies State tests....

A ten-year old British student has taken the world of Paleontology by storm with his discovery of a fossilized imprint that experts believe is more than 300 million-years old, from the Carboniferous period around the time when Pangaea was being formed....