Speaker 1

The Time Capsule
Alex and his friends spent an entire afternoon carefully packing their time capsule. They added letters to their future selves, small toys, and even an old baseball card. Before burying it, they stood in a circle and made a pact: "We’ll dig this up in five years—no sooner!" But curiosity got the best of them after just one year. "What do you think we'll find?" asked Sam as they grabbed their shovels. When they unearthed the capsule, they discovered a mysterious coin that no one had placed inside. It was shiny, with strange symbols none of them could read. Excited and a little spooked, they decided to rebury it. “Maybe future us will understand,” Alex said. They covered the hole, leaving the mystery to grow with time.

Speaker 2

The Magic Eraser
Jenna found a dusty eraser in her desk drawer at school. It wasn’t just any eraser—it was shaped like a star and sparkled faintly under the light. When she used it on her math quiz, the answers erased themselves, but so did the entire question! "What just happened?" Jenna whispered to herself. Intrigued, she tried it again on her doodles, and the entire page went blank. The more she used it, the more it seemed to erase not just marks but memories. By the end of the day, her notebook looked brand new, and she couldn’t remember anything she'd written. “I think I’d better stop using this,” Jenna muttered, tucking it into her backpack. But deep down, she knew she wasn’t ready to throw it away just yet.

Speaker 3

The Haunted Locker
Every day after gym class, Mia avoided Locker #13. Rumors said it was haunted, but she wasn’t sure she believed them—until the day it creaked open on its own. Inside was a dusty basketball jersey with the name "Williams" printed on the back. "That’s weird," Mia muttered, glancing around to see if anyone else noticed. As she reached for the jersey, a cold breeze swept through the room, even though the windows were shut. Startled, she dropped it and ran out. The next day, a note was taped to her locker: Thanks for finding my jersey—Williams. She never saw anyone leave the note, but from then on, the locker stayed closed, and Mia made sure to steer clear of it.

Speaker 4

The Forgotten Garden
Lila loved exploring the woods behind her house, but one day, she stumbled upon a gate hidden by thick vines. Pushing it open, she found a garden unlike anything she’d ever seen—flowers in colors she couldn’t even name, trees with glittering leaves, and a fountain that sparkled as if it were made of diamonds. "Who takes care of this place?" she wondered aloud. As if in response, a rabbit hopped out from behind a bush, holding a tiny watering can. Lila blinked, unsure if she was dreaming. The rabbit nodded politely and disappeared. From then on, the garden became her secret retreat, where everything felt magical, even if she never quite figured out who—or what—kept it alive.

Speaker 5

The Invisible Friend
One morning, Liam woke up to find a note on his nightstand that read, Hi, my name is Theo. I’m invisible, but I’d like to be friends. At first, Liam thought it was a prank, but when his cereal spoon floated in mid-air at breakfast, he realized Theo was real. “What do you want to do today?” Theo’s voice whispered. Over the next few days, Liam had the best adventures—playing pranks, exploring the neighborhood, and solving puzzles Theo seemed to know the answers to. But one day, the notes stopped appearing. “Theo?” Liam called out, but there was no reply. Liam smiled, realizing that even though Theo was gone, the memories of their friendship would always be there.

Speaker 6

The Midnight Train
At exactly midnight, Max snuck out of bed when he heard a train whistle outside his window. But there were no train tracks near his house—or so he thought. Peeking through the curtains, he saw an old-fashioned train glowing faintly in the moonlight. “Where could it go?” he whispered. Unable to resist, Max tiptoed outside and climbed aboard. Inside, the passengers wore clothes from another era, and the conductor greeted him with a tip of his hat. “Ticket, please,” the man said. “I don’t have one,” Max admitted nervously. The conductor smiled. “First ride’s always free.” The train took off, and Max watched the world blur into a silvery mist. When he woke up the next morning, he was in his bed—but his pocket held an old train ticket stamped One Way Only.

Speaker 1

Scientists Discover a New Dinosaur Species
Paleontologists in Argentina recently uncovered fossils of a dinosaur never seen before. The dinosaur, named Chiquitosaurus, was a small plant-eater that lived about 70 million years ago. It was roughly the size of a large dog, with sharp claws to help it grab plants from tough branches.

“This discovery shows us that even small dinosaurs could survive alongside giant predators,” said Dr. Elena Ramos, the lead scientist on the team.

The fossil was found in a desert region, where the dinosaur’s bones were preserved in rock. Scientists are excited to study it further to learn more about how small dinosaurs lived and thrived millions of years ago.

Speaker 2

Historic Robot Lands on Asteroid
A spacecraft named OSIRIS-REx made history by landing on the asteroid Bennu, collecting samples to bring back to Earth. Scientists believe the rocks on Bennu are over 4 billion years old, offering clues about the early solar system.

“This mission is like opening a time capsule,” explained NASA scientist Dr. Carla Mason. “The materials on Bennu could teach us how planets like Earth were formed.”

The spacecraft took tiny samples of rock and dust and is expected to return to Earth next year. If successful, this will be the first U.S. mission to bring back pieces of an asteroid.

Speaker 3

Student Raises Money for Homeless Pets
12-year-old Mia Johnson from Portland, Oregon, has raised over $10,000 for a local animal shelter. Mia started by selling homemade dog treats in her neighborhood. As word spread, more people donated, and she began selling online.

“I just wanted to help animals find homes,” said Mia. “Every pet deserves to be loved.”

The shelter plans to use the money to buy food and supplies for animals in need. Thanks to Mia’s efforts, dozens of pets will have better care while waiting for adoption.

Speaker 4

New Video Game Teaches Climate Awareness
A new video game, EcoQuest, is teaching kids about the environment while they play. In the game, players explore a virtual world, cleaning up pollution, planting trees, and saving endangered animals.

“Kids today care about the planet, and we wanted to create something fun and educational,” said game designer Luis Martinez.

The game is free to play and has already been downloaded over a million times. Players say it’s both exciting and inspiring. “It makes me want to recycle more and take care of nature,” said 13-year-old gamer Jasmine Lee.

Speaker 5

Rare Sea Turtle Rescued in Florida
A rare Kemp’s ridley sea turtle, one of the most endangered sea turtles in the world, was rescued after being injured by a boat. Marine biologists in Florida nursed the turtle back to health over several months.

“It’s always a relief when we can help an animal like this,” said Dr. Emily Perez, who led the rescue effort. “Every single turtle counts when the species is this endangered.”

The turtle was released back into the ocean last weekend, with a tracking device to monitor its journey. Researchers hope the turtle will thrive and contribute to its population’s recovery.

Speaker 6

Solar-Powered Airplane Breaks World Record
A solar-powered airplane, the SunChaser 3, has broken the world record for the longest flight using only solar energy. The plane flew non-stop for 25 hours, proving that renewable energy can power even challenging journeys.

“This is a huge step for green aviation,” said pilot Captain James O’Hara. “It shows that we can travel without relying on fossil fuels.”

The airplane’s wings are covered in thousands of solar panels that collect energy from the sun. The team behind the SunChaser 3 hopes this achievement will inspire more projects using clean energy in the future.

Speaker 1

Grandpa Joe’s Secret Talent

My Grandpa Joe is full of surprises. To most people, he’s just a quiet old man who spends his time tending the garden or reading the newspaper. But one day, I discovered his secret talent: he’s a master chess player.

“Let’s play a quick game,” he said one rainy afternoon, setting up the board. I didn’t think much of it at first. How hard could it be to beat Grandpa?

Within minutes, I realized I was completely outmatched. Every move I made seemed to play right into his plan. “Always think three moves ahead,” he advised as he captured my queen. By the end of the game, I was in checkmate.

Grandpa Joe’s calm demeanor hides a brilliant mind. He taught me more than just chess that day—he showed me the importance of patience, strategy, and learning from mistakes. Now, whenever it rains, I look forward to another game with him.

Speaker 2

The Girl with the Golden Voice

In my school choir, everyone knows about Ava. She’s the girl with the golden voice. When she sings, it feels like the world stops to listen.

I remember the first time I heard her perform. The school auditorium was packed, and people were chatting and laughing, not paying much attention. But as soon as Ava started singing, the room fell silent. Her voice was clear and powerful, yet full of emotion.

“I get nervous every time,” she confessed to me backstage. I couldn’t believe it—someone as talented as Ava still got stage fright!

Ava inspires me because she’s not just gifted; she works hard to improve. She practices for hours, even when she doesn’t feel confident. Her dedication reminds me that talent is only part of the equation. It’s the effort you put in that makes you shine.

Speaker 3

The Bike Shop Hero

Mr. Leon owns the small bike shop in our neighborhood. He’s not just a mechanic; he’s a hero to anyone with a broken bike.

Last summer, my chain snapped while I was riding, leaving me stranded miles from home. I walked my bike to Mr. Leon’s shop, feeling frustrated and sure it would cost a fortune to fix. Instead, he smiled and said, “Let’s see what we can do.”

Within minutes, he had the chain repaired. “Good as new,” he said, refusing to charge me. “You just keep riding.”

Mr. Leon doesn’t just fix bikes; he fixes bad days. He teaches kids how to maintain their bikes and always has time to help, no matter how busy he is. To me, he’s proof that kindness and generosity can make a big difference in a community.

Speaker 4

The Chess Champion Who Couldn’t See

Our school recently invited a guest speaker, Mr. Ravi, who is blind but is also a world champion chess player. At first, I didn’t understand how that was possible. How could someone play chess without seeing the board?

Mr. Ravi explained that he memorizes the positions of every piece. He played a demonstration match against one of our best players, and it was incredible to watch. “E5 to D4,” he announced confidently, making moves faster than his opponent could think.

After the match, I asked him how he stayed so focused. “It’s not about what you see,” he told me. “It’s about what you imagine.”

Mr. Ravi showed me that limitations don’t define a person. His story made me realize that determination and creativity can overcome almost any obstacle.

Speaker 5

The Librarian Who Knew Everything

Ms. Thompson, our school librarian, has an answer for every question. Need a book about space? She’ll find the perfect one. Struggling with a history project? She’ll point you to resources you didn’t even know existed.

One time, I needed help finding a novel for my book report. “What are you in the mood for?” she asked. When I shrugged, she handed me a book and said, “Trust me, this one will change your life.”

She was right. That book became my favorite, and it sparked my love for reading.

Ms. Thompson isn’t just a librarian; she’s a guide to new worlds. Her ability to connect people with stories inspires me to explore more, ask questions, and never stop learning.

Speaker 6

The Fastest Runner I Know

Every morning, I see Miguel sprinting down our street. He’s training for the state track championship, and he runs like the wind.

Miguel’s story is unique because he wasn’t always fast. A few years ago, he struggled to keep up with the team. But instead of giving up, he practiced harder than anyone else. “I just wanted to prove to myself that I could do it,” he told me.

Now, Miguel is one of the best runners in the state. Watching him reminds me that improvement takes time and effort. He’s taught me that being great isn’t about starting out strong—it’s about refusing to quit.

Miguel’s determination inspires me to work harder in everything I do, whether it’s running, studying, or trying something new.