-
February 2024
-
December 2023
-
November 2023
-
October 2023
- The Biden Impeachment Inquiry – Lesson
- The Biden Impeachment Inquiry – Quiz
- Israel vs Hamas: One Week in and Still at War – Lesson
- Israel vs Hamas: One Week in and Still at War – Quiz
- 2023 Nobel Prizes Announced – Lesson
- 2023 Nobel Prizes Announced – Quiz
- Trump Ordered Not to Mention Case Against Him – But Will It Last? – Lesson
- Trump Ordered Not to Mention Case Against Him – But Will It Last? – Quiz
-
September 2023
-
August 2023
-
July 2023
-
May 2023
-
February 2023
-
December 2022
-
November 2021
-
September 2022
-
August 2022
- The US Visits Taiwan Again – What Impact Will It Make? – Lesson
- The US Visits Taiwan Again – What Impact Will It Make? – Quiz
- Cold Showers and Hot Days: Europe Limits People’s Energy Use – Lesson
- Cold Showers and Hot Days: Europe Limits People’s Energy Use – Quiz
- Hidden Art Is Being Discovered Around the World – Lesson
- Hidden Art Is Being Discovered Around the World – Quiz
-
July 2022
- Last WWII Medal of Honor Recipient Will ‘Lie in State’ at US Capitol – Lesson
- Last WWII Medal of Honor Recipient Will ‘Lie in State’ at US Capitol – Quiz
- Canada and Denmark Make a Deal over Disputed Arctic Island – Lesson
- Canada and Denmark Make a Deal over Disputed Arctic Island – Quiz
- Texas Schools Spark Debate: What Should Kids Wear in Class? – Lesson
- Texas Schools Spark Debate: What Should Kids Wear in Class? – Quiz
-
June 2022
- New York Court Says: An Elephant is Not a Human – Lesson
- New York Court Says: An Elephant is Not a Human – Quiz
- Finance Classes at School – A New Trend? – Lesson
- Finance Classes at School – A New Trend? – Quiz
- NASA Will Study UFOs for the First Time – Lesson
- NASA Will Study UFOs for the First Time – Quiz
- New York City Removes Last Payphone – Or Does It? – Lesson
- New York City Removes Last Payphone – Or Does It? – Quiz
- US Hosts ‘Summit of the Americas’ – Lesson
- US Hosts ‘Summit of the Americas’ – Quiz
- The National Spelling Bee – A Time-Honored Tradition – Lesson
- The National Spelling Bee – A Time-Honored Tradition – Quiz
- Queen Elizabeth Marks 70 Years on Throne with Platinum Jubilee – Lesson
- Queen Elizabeth Marks 70 Years on Throne with Platinum Jubilee – Quiz
- Lifeguard Shortage Could Limit Summer Swimming – Lesson
- Lifeguard Shortage Could Limit Summer Swimming – Quiz
-
May 2022
- American Artist Warhol’s Painting Sells for Record Price – Lesson
- American Artist Warhol’s Painting Sells for Record Price – Quiz
- Western US Suffering From Harsh Drought – Lesson
- Western US Suffering From Harsh Drought – Quiz
- Time to Say Goodbye to Incandescent Lightbulbs? – Lesson
- Time to Say Goodbye to Incandescent Lightbulbs? – Quiz
- Tibetan Leader Visits Washington to Gain Support for His Culture – Lesson
- Tibetan Leader Visits Washington to Gain Support for His Culture – Quiz
-
April 2022
- Masks on Public Transport – Needed or Not? – Lesson
- Masks on Public Transport – Needed or Not? – Quiz
- Shanghai Under Strict Lockdown in ‘Zero-COVID’ China – Lesson
- Shanghai Under Strict Lockdown in ‘Zero-COVID’ China – Quiz
- Are Roundabouts a Good or Bad Addition to US Cities? – Lesson
- Are Roundabouts a Good or Bad Addition to US Cities? – Quiz
- Is it Chicken Kiev or Kyiv? A Scrumptious Spelling Problem – Lesson
- Is it Chicken Kiev or Kyiv? A Scrumptious Spelling Problem – Quiz
- Ketanji Brown Jackson Confirmed as Next Judge to Join Supreme Court – Lesson
- Ketanji Brown Jackson Confirmed as Next Judge to Join Supreme Court – Quiz
- Gas Prices Rise Dramatically Across America – Lesson
- Gas Prices Rise Dramatically Across America – Quiz
- Washington, DC Celebrates 110 Years of Cherry Blossoms in the City – Lesson
- Washington, DC Celebrates 110 Years of Cherry Blossoms in the City – Quiz
- Billionaire Elon Musk Tries to Buy Twitter – Lesson
- Billionaire Elon Musk Tries to Buy Twitter – Quiz
- Meet Patron, Ukraine’s Mine-Sniffing ‘Hero’ Dog – Lesson
- Meet Patron, Ukraine’s Mine-Sniffing ‘Hero’ Dog – Quiz
- Top American Officials Visit Ukraine in Secret – Lesson
- Top American Officials Visit Ukraine in Secret – Quiz
-
March 2022
- Supply Chain Crisis: Are Pop-Up Sites the Answer? – Lesson
- Supply Chain Crisis: Are Pop-Up Sites the Answer? – Quiz
- Fare Evaders Beware: New York Mayor to Tackle Subway Crime? – Lesson
- Fare Evaders Beware: New York Mayor to Tackle Subway Crime? – Quiz
- Time’s Up For Switching Clocks? Congress Considers Daylight Saving – Lesson
- Time’s Up For Switching Clocks? Congress Considers Daylight Saving – Quiz
- Ukraine’s President Addresses Congress as War Persists – Lesson
- Ukraine’s President Addresses Congress as War Persists – Quiz
- No More Meat? New York Mayor Decrees Vegan Fridays for Schools – Lesson
- No More Meat? New York Mayor Decrees Vegan Fridays for Schools – Quiz
- Big Business Shuns Russia Over Ukraine Invasion – Lesson
- Big Business Shuns Russia Over Ukraine Invasion – Quiz
- ‘People’s Convoy’ Loops Around US Capital in COVID Protest – Lesson
- ‘People’s Convoy’ Loops Around US Capital in COVID Protest – Quiz
- From Train Robberies to Stores – US Sees a Rise in Crime – Lesson
- From Train Robberies to Stores – US Sees a Rise in Crime – Quiz
- President Biden Gives His First State of the Union Speech – Lesson
- President Biden Gives His First State of the Union Speech – Quiz
-
February 2022
- Ukraine War Continues as Peace Talks Begin – Lesson
- Ukraine War Continues as Peace Talks Begin – Quiz
- US States Say Farewell to COVID Rules – Lesson
- US States Say Farewell to COVID Rules – Quiz
- Russia Launches Invasion of Ukraine – Lesson
- Russia Launches Invasion of Ukraine – Quiz
- Feuds Erupt as States Redraw Voting Maps – Lesson
- Feuds Erupt as States Redraw Voting Maps – Quiz
- Monobob Makes Olympic Debut – Lesson
- Monobob Makes Olympic Debut – Quiz
- Canadian Truckers Stage Major Protest Against COVID Laws – Lesson
- Canadian Truckers Stage Major Protest Against COVID Laws – Quiz
- U.S. Sends Troops to Europe as Ukraine-Russia Tensions Rise – Lesson
- U.S. Sends Troops to Europe as Ukraine-Russia Tensions Rise – Quiz
- Winter Olympics Begin in Beijing Amid Calls for Boycott – Lesson
- Winter Olympics Begin in Beijing Amid Calls for Boycott – Quiz
- Afghanistan Faces a ‘Tsunami of Hunger’ Under the Taliban – Lesson
- Afghanistan Faces a ‘Tsunami of Hunger’ Under the Taliban – Quiz
- Dealing With Omicron: COVID Rules Around the World – Lesson
- Dealing With Omicron: COVID Rules Around the World – Quiz
-
January 2022
- Teen Pilot Becomes Youngest Girl to Fly Solo Around the World – Lesson
- Teen Pilot Becomes Youngest Girl to Fly Solo Around the World – Quiz
- No More Meat and Potatoes? Supply Down and Prices Up – Lesson
- No More Meat and Potatoes? Supply Down and Prices Up – Quiz
- Flight Confusion as 5G Causes Safety Worries – Lesson
- Flight Confusion as 5G Causes Safety Worries – Quiz
- English Translations on French ID Cards? Some say ‘Non!’ – Lesson
- English Translations on French ID Cards? Some say ‘Non!’ – Quiz
- Omicron: Did COVID Catch the Common Cold? – Lesson
- Omicron: Did COVID Catch the Common Cold? – Quiz
- Five Countries Agree: Nuclear War Must Be Avoided – Lesson
- Five Countries Agree: Nuclear War Must Be Avoided – Quiz
- Enes Kanter’s American Dream Come True – Lesson
- Enes Kanter’s American Dream Come True – Quiz
- U.S. Bans Products Linked to Uighur Slavery – Lesson
- U.S. Bans Products Linked to Uighur Slavery – Quiz
- Time Capsules Found in Base of Robert E. Lee Statue – Lesson
- Time Capsules Found in Base of Robert E. Lee Statue – Quiz
-
December 2021
- Russia and US Lock Horns Over Ukraine Border – Lesson
- Russia and US Lock Horns Over Ukraine Border – Quiz
- US Military Starts New UFO Research Group – Lesson
- US Military Starts New UFO Research Group – Quiz
- Omicron COVID Strain Comes Out of South Africa – Lesson
- Omicron COVID Strain Comes Out of South Africa – Quiz
-
November 2021
- La Niña Weather Patterns May Affect the US This Winter – Lesson
- La Niña Weather Patterns May Affect the US This Winter – Quiz
- Dads on Duty Help Out at Louisiana High School – Lesson
- Dads on Duty Help Out at Louisiana High School – Quiz
- The Price of Thanksgiving Goes Up in 2021 – Lesson
- The Price of Thanksgiving Goes Up in 2021 – Quiz
- Airlines Struggle with Flights Ahead of the Holidays – Lesson
- Airlines Struggle with Flights Ahead of the Holidays – Quiz
-
October 2021
- Crisis and Kidnappings in Haiti – Lesson
- Crisis and Kidnappings in Haiti – Quiz
- US Feels Effects of Computer Chip Shortage – Lesson
- US Feels Effects of Computer Chip Shortage – Quiz
- California Oil Spill Investigations – Lesson
- California Oil Spill Investigations – Quiz
- Michigan Governor Vows to Fix Lead-Infected Water Supply – Lesson
- Michigan Governor Vows to Fix Lead-Infected Water Supply – Quiz
- Nobel Prize Winners Announced – Lesson
- Nobel Prize Winners Announced – Quiz
- COVID and School – Rules Vary Across the Nation – Lesson
- COVID and School – Rules Vary Across the Nation – Quiz
- Toilet Paper Shortage 2.0? – Lesson
- Toilet Paper Shortage 2.0? – Quiz
- A Very Merry COVID Homecoming? – Lesson
- A Very Merry COVID Homecoming? – Quiz
- Merck COVID Pill – A New Way to Treat the Virus? – Lesson
- Merck COVID Pill – A New Way to Treat the Virus? – Quiz
- Eruptions at La Palma and Kilauea Volcanoes – Lesson
- Eruptions at La Palma and Kilauea Volcanoes – Quiz
-
September 2021
- US Joins UK and Australia in ‘AUKUS’ Defense Deal – Lesson
- US Joins UK and Australia in ‘AUKUS’ Defense Deal – Quiz
- Rules Change for Travelers to the US – Lesson
- Rules Change for Travelers to the US – Quiz
- Is There a Crisis at the Southern Border? – Lesson
- Is There a Crisis at the Southern Border? – Quiz
- What’s Going On With COVID-19? – Lesson
- What’s Going On With COVID-19? – Quiz
- Biden Announces 6-Step COVID Plan – Lesson
- Biden Announces 6-Step COVID Plan – Quiz
- Private Rescue Missions in Afghanistan – Lesson
- Private Rescue Missions in Afghanistan – Quiz
- China’s Crackdown on Video Games – Lesson
- China’s Crackdown on Video Games – Quiz
-
August 2021
- US Military Has Left Afghanistan – But What About Those Left Behind? – Lesson
- US Military Has Left Afghanistan – But What About Those Left Behind? – Quiz
- Hurricane Ida Tests New Orleans – Lesson
- Hurricane Ida Tests New Orleans – Quiz
- Records Set for Paralympic Games – Lesson
- Records Set for Paralympic Games – Quiz
- Storms in Tennessee and Northeast Cause Floods – Lesson
- Storms in Tennessee and Northeast Cause Floods – Quiz
Four Balloons Shot Down After Found Floating in American Airspace – Lesson
What were they, and what was their purpose?
Throughout February, four balloons were discovered floating over the United States. Government officials are reportedly still perplexed about what precisely the flying objects are and why they are hovering above different parts of the US. At this point, the UFOs (Unidentified Flying Objects) are not considered a threat. Still, the military reacted, and the unknown intruders to US airspace have all been shot down from the sky. So what is known about the objects, and why are they in the US?
Balloon #1
The first balloon, believed to be a spying device sent by the Chinese government, was shot down at 2:39 p.m. EST off the coast of Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. The 200-foot-tall object flew approximately 60,000 feet in the air and was first spotted in Alaska on January 28, 2023. The Chinese government has denied accusations of the object being a spying device and instead suggested that it was likely a weather monitoring system that had flown off course.
Balloon #2
The second unknown orb is described as about the size of a small car. It floated at around 40,000 feet and was first located on February 9. This UFO was shot down north of Alaska by an F-22 Raptor at 1:45 p.m. EST on February 10. Those responsible for the recovery of the debris noted that there did not seem to be any mechanism in place that would allow the craft to fly.
Balloon #3
The cylindrical-shaped balloon is the third of four unknown objects shot out of the sky this month. This was smaller than the “spy” balloon shot down on February 4. Canadian forces are responsible for collecting and analyzing the wreckage because it was shot down about 100 miles from the US border in Canada. This object flew at an altitude of about 40,000 feet and was first seen above Alaska on Feb 10.
Balloon #4
The fourth and so far the final balloon was taken out of the air on February 12. This object had eight sides and only floated about 20,000 feet up. Rather than using an F-22 Raptor as they had on the others, the US Air Force used an F-16 Fighting Falcon and missed the target with the first shot. Thankfully, the missile landed in Lake Huron, and no damage was done. The second missile hit its mark, and the retrieval of the debris is underway.
Why Balloons?
The US military has been adamant that the UFOs pose no threat to anyone. Investigations have begun about the objects and why they were found floating mysteriously in American skies. With the recovery of the remains still taking place, little is being said about what exactly the various orbs are. Speaking about the last three floating spheres, a White House National Security spokesperson stated, “These objects did not closely resemble, and were much smaller than, the [4 February] balloon and we will not definitively characterize them until we can recover the debris.”
Differing opinions are surfacing as people attempt to uncover what the balloons actually are. Some believe the objects are aliens, while others are sure they are simply weather-monitoring devices. Some are concerned about whether the strange balloons could be spying on us and question how they could go so long without being noticed or removed from US air space.