. Skip to main content

Yosemite Valley with the granite cliff of El Capitan and Bridalveil Fall rising above the Merced River and pine forest.
PBS News Hour Classroom September 01, 2026

National Parks Impacted by Political Pressure and New Construction

National parks drew more than 320 million visitors last year, but they're facing new political pressures, from revised exhibits to construction projects. Students explore who decides how public lands are managed and funded.

Read More
A firefighter loads bags of ice into a chest freezer at a fire station, viewed from inside the cooler.
PBS News Hour Classroom August 31, 2026

In One of the Nation's Hottest Cities, Bags of Ice Are Helping Save Lives

Extreme heat kills more Americans than any other weather threat. In Phoenix, where heat outpaces homicides, firefighters are turning to a low-tech lifesaver: bags of ice. Students explore how cities can protect people from deadly heat.

Read More
Tane Danger and Angela Lunde of the Mayo Clinic speak during an interview about using the arts in dementia care.
PBS News Hour Classroom August 28, 2026

How the Mayo Clinic Is Using Improv and Music to Engage Dementia Patients

What if improv and music could reach patients that medicine alone cannot? At the Mayo Clinic, artists and researchers are weaving the arts into dementia care. Students explore the idea of "music as medicine" and the science behind it.

Read More
Dolly Parton poses in a red beaded gown on a red carpet in front of a wall of Grammy Award statuettes.
PBS News Hour Classroom August 26, 2026

Remembering Dolly Parton, Whose Artistry and Generosity Touched Generations

Dolly Parton left a mark far beyond country music, from songwriting and film to literacy programs that mailed millions of books to children. Students explore her extraordinary life and why she resonated with so many.

Read More
A man in rubber boots wades through floodwater carrying a wooden plank past a mailbox and storm debris outside a home.
PBS News Hour Classroom August 25, 2026

Indiana Residents Frustrated by Extended Power Outage

More than 70,000 people in northwestern Indiana lost power for over a week after storms downed lines and flooded neighborhoods. Students explore why recovery stalled, who's responsible, and how communities can prepare for disasters.

Read More
A domed research station sits on rocky terrain beside a glacier as a person in a red hat carries equipment nearby.
PBS News Hour Classroom August 25, 2026

Scientists Explore Large-Scale Geoengineering to Slow Glacier Melt

As glaciers melt faster, some scientists are floating bold geoengineering ideas to slow the loss. Students explore how these interventions might work, why critics push back, and what's at stake for coastal communities worldwide.

Read More
The number "40,000,000,000,000" overlaid in white on a blurred background of hundred-dollar bills.
PBS News Hour Classroom August 24, 2026

National Debt Nears $40 Trillion — Why Does That Matter?

The U.S. national debt is about to cross $40 trillion, a milestone economists call a warning sign. Students explore how the debt grew, what interest costs mean, and why Congress struggles to agree on a fix.

Read More
An F-35 fighter jet sits on an aircraft carrier flight deck at sea, surrounded by Navy deck crew in colored jerseys.
PBS News Hour Classroom August 19, 2026

Trump Dismisses Concerns over Conditions on Long-Deployed USS Abraham Lincoln

The USS Abraham Lincoln has been at sea 208 straight days, a record in modern times, and sailors' families are raising alarms about mental health and supplies. Students weigh the Trump administration's response and the stakes of long deployments.

Read More
The CISA seal on a blue wall flanked by a U.S. flag and an agency flag inside the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency.
PBS News Hour Classroom August 18, 2026

Are Midterms Safe from Cybersecurity Threats?

Just three months before the 2026 midterms, CISA held its first broad security call with state election officials, and some said it came too late. Students explore who protects elections and how.

Read More
Brig. Gen. Mohammad Reza Naqdi, in military camouflage, gestures during an interview in front of an Iranian flag.
PBS News Hour Classroom August 18, 2026

Top Adviser to Iran's Revolutionary Guard Leader Sits Down for Rare Interview

As the war on Iran continues its uneasy stalemate, we're hearing from a top adviser to the commander of Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, the force largely responsible for border and intern

Read More
Subscribe to