Calculating angles while popping wheelies? That’s what students in Baltimore are doing in an unusual program that channels students’ love of dirt bike riding into lessons in science, math, and engineering. Off-road motorcycle riding is very popular in Baltimore, especially among Black youth, but it’s often illegal. The B-360 program gives kids a place to ride, helping them stay off the streets, while building academic skills and a sense of community. Listen to hear participants describe the joys of dirt bike riding and how the program is making a difference in their lives.
Story Length: 6:47
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April 9, 2021
3:49
Many students have struggled academically and socially during the pandemic. Some education leaders are suggesting that a longer school year could help fill the learning gaps. It would allow at-risk students to get the academic support they need and give all students a chance to reconnect socially after a year of relative isolation. Summer jobs, camp, and family time would suffer, though, and some are unwilling to give up these valuable activities. Listen to a school superintendent discuss his plans for extending the school year and then debate: Should kids go to school all year round?
Read MoreFebruary 19, 2021
3:27
Remote schooling during the pandemic has negatively affected both the learning and the mental health of many students. As schools start to resume in-person learning, some people are suggesting that summer school could help. They argue that extending the school year would allow time for intensive programs to help students catch up academically and reconnect with teachers and peers. Summer school programs cost money, though, and require teachers to work extra hours. Listen to learn about programs that have helped struggling students in the past and then debate: Should learning time extend into the summer?
Read MoreJanuary 3, 2020
2:02
It’s official: A team of students from MIT can toss a hotdog farther than anyone else in the world. The young scientists recently beat the existing Guinness world record in the hotdog throw, a title once held by an NFL quarterback. To prepare for competition, the group systematically tested different throwing techniques, cooking methods, and types of wieners. Listen to hear a STEM student explain what motivated her to take on the challenge and how her team’s scientific approach helped lead them to victory.
Read MoreSeptember 13, 2017
3:00
The rate of summer jobs for teenagers has significantly decreased from the previous generation. There is a lot of disagreement about whether this decline is due to an overall lack of opportunity in the workforce, or laziness on behalf of the current generation. Listen to this story to hear from two struggling teenagers, a skeptical mother, and an economist as they discuss the many factors that go into the severe decline in summer jobs for high school students.
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