Jamal had been practicing soccer all summer. His team, the Tigers, was playing in the championship game against the undefeated Lions. Jamal was nervous because the Lions had won every game that season.
The game was close the whole time. With only two minutes left, the score was tied 2-2. Jamal got the ball near the goal. His heart was pounding. He took a deep breath, remembered everything his coach taught him, and kicked as hard as he could.
The ball flew past the goalie and into the net! The Tigers won 3-2! Jamal's teammates lifted him onto their shoulders. It was the best day of his life.
Elephants are the largest land animals on Earth. African elephants can weigh up to 14,000 pounds—that's as heavy as a school bus! They use their long trunks for many things, including drinking water, grabbing food, and even giving hugs to other elephants.
Elephants are also very smart. They can recognize themselves in mirrors, which very few animals can do. They have excellent memories and can remember friends and places for many years. Elephants live in family groups led by the oldest female, called the matriarch.
Emma wanted to grow tomatoes in her backyard. She planted seeds in the spring, watered them every day, and waited. But after two weeks, nothing was growing. Emma was about to give up.
Her grandmother said, "Plants need patience, just like people." Emma kept watering and waiting. Finally, tiny green sprouts appeared! By summer, Emma had ten tomato plants full of bright red tomatoes. She made salsa for her whole family.
Water on Earth is always moving in a cycle that never stops. The sun heats water in oceans and lakes, turning it into water vapor that rises into the sky. This is called evaporation. When the vapor cools high in the sky, it forms clouds through condensation. Eventually, the water falls back to Earth as rain or snow—this is precipitation. The water flows into rivers and oceans, and the cycle starts again.