Curious Kid Times Issue 4 – June 2026 monthly ebook cover

Issue 4 — June 2026

What's inside this issue

News in this issue

The School Where Grandmothers Learned to Read

In a small village called Phangane in Maharashtra, India, many elderly grandmothers never had the chance to go to school when they were young. A kind young teacher named Sheetal More noticed this and decided to do something about it. She started Aajibaichi Shala — "Grandmothers' School" — where women aged 60 to 90 come every afternoon in matching pink sarees to learn reading, writing, and math. Today, these grandmothers can write their own names, recite the alphabet, and do multiplication. Their families and village are incredibly proud of them.

Curiosity questions in this story

Why learning is important?
Can someone begin learning at any age? Why?
What new skill would you love to learn this year?

Clean Power from Deep Underground Heat

In February 2026, the UK switched on its very first geothermal power plant in Cornwall, England. A company called Geothermal Engineering Ltd drilled 3 miles deep into the Earth, where rocks are incredibly hot, to bring up super-heated water. That hot water spins turbines and generates clean electricity for about 10,000 homes. The same water also contains lithium — a special mineral used to make batteries for electric cars. This project took nearly 20 years to build and is a big step toward clean, affordable energy for the future.

Curiosity questions in this story

How can hot rocks under the ground help make electricity?
Why is clean energy helpful for our planet?
Why is the ground deep below so hot?

Astronauts Upgraded Power on the Space Station

NASA astronauts Jessica Meir and Chris Williams stepped outside the International Space Station for Spacewalk 94 on March 18, 2026. They worked for six and a half hours to prepare the station's power system for new solar arrays. A second spacewalk, number 95, was also planned for the same upgrade. These were the first spacewalks of 2026, originally delayed from January due to crew scheduling changes.

Curiosity questions in this story

Why does a space station need strong solar power?
Why astronut float like balloons in space?
How does sunshine turn into power

How a River Recovered After a Fishing Ban

China's Yangtze River — Asia's longest river — suffered 70 years of severe overfishing that caused fish populations to drop by 85%. In 2021, the Chinese government introduced a bold 10-year, river-wide fishing ban and helped over 230,000 fishermen find new jobs on land. A study published in the journal “Science” in 2026 confirmed the results are remarkable — fish numbers have doubled and biodiversity has grown by 13%. Even the endangered Yangtze finless porpoise — a freshwater dolphin-like animal — has bounced back, growing from 400 to 600 individuals. Scientists call this one of the most hopeful freshwater conservation stories in the world in the last 20 years.

Curiosity questions in this story

Why do fish numbers fall when too many fish are caught?
What can we do to protect a river?

Activity in this issue

Match the Energy Type

This issue includes a fun activity that asks, "Which energy is this?" Kids match pictures to the right renewable energy type (like solar, wind, hydropower, and geothermal). As they play, they learn how clean energy works and how it helps us care for our planet.

Curiosity questions in this story

Which type of energy comes from the sun?
Which one uses moving water to make power?
Can you name one clean energy source used near your home or school?

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