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[A Weekly Roundup of Culture, Sports, Science, and Holiday Traditions]-[Native American Heritage Month, Turkey Day Traditions, and a Final Cent-off]

The Ten News, News For Curious Kids · B1 · 2025-11-20

Preschool Enlightenment
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📋 Summary

Weekly Highlights: From Native American Heritage to Space Milestones

This week’s episode of The 10 News offers a diverse look at current events, ranging from the celebration of indigenous history to remarkable athletic feats and unique scientific discoveries. Hosts Pamela Kirkland and Ryan Willard guide listeners through ten essential stories.

Honoring Native American Heritage Month

November is officially recognized as Native American Heritage Month, a federal observance dedicated to honoring American Indians and Alaska Natives. The journey toward this formal recognition began in the early 20th century with local initiatives, such as the Boy Scouts' "First Americans Day" (1912–1915). Following decades of state-level advocacy and the creation of "American Indian Week" in 1986, President Bush finally designated November 1990 as the first National American Indian Heritage Month. The month serves as a vital time for learning about indigenous cultures, histories, and traditions.

The Retirement of the Penny

After 238 years in circulation, the United States Mint has struck the final one-cent coin. Originally introduced in 1787 with a design by Benjamin Franklin, the penny later featured Abraham Lincoln in 1909. Economic factors drove this decision, as it currently costs four cents to produce a single coin. By ending production, the government expects to save taxpayers approximately $56 million annually, though the 250 billion pennies currently in circulation remain legal tender.

Athletic Triumphs and Records

Sports news was dominated by incredible performances. Shohei Ohtani made history by securing his fourth career National League MVP award in a unanimous vote, becoming the only player to achieve this honor more than once. Meanwhile, Aaron Judge earned his third American League MVP award. Additionally, 80-year-old Natalie Grabao set a record as the oldest woman to complete the Ironman World Championship, finishing the 140.6-mile triathlon in under 17 hours—a testament to her rigorous training regimen.

Science, Nature, and Space Exploration

  • Wildlife Encounters: In the Salish Sea, a harbor seal narrowly escaped a pod of killer whales by using a boat’s stern platform as a "makeshift life raft." The whales attempted a coordinated "wave washing" technique to knock the seal off, but the seal successfully escaped after 15 minutes.
  • Spiders and Caves: Scientists have discovered the world’s largest spider web in an underwater cave on the Greece-Albania border. Spanning 10,764 square feet, the web hosts an estimated 110,000 spiders across two species.
  • Space Milestone: The International Space Station (ISS) recently celebrated 25 years of continuous human presence in orbit. Since 2002, over 290 astronauts have conducted research on the ISS that would be impossible to replicate on Earth.

Holiday Traditions and Giving

As Thanksgiving approaches, the show highlighted the heartwarming story of Wanda Dench and Jamal Hinton, whose accidental text message exchange in 2016 sparked an annual tradition of celebrating the holiday together. This year marks their 10th anniversary. Additionally, the show teased the upcoming "Giving Tuesday," an initiative focused on community support and charitable giving.

Trivia: The Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade

Looking ahead to the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade, trivia master Owen noted that the first balloon to appear in the parade was Felix the Cat in 1927. Unlike modern helium balloons, it was filled with air and carried on stilts. This year’s 99th parade will feature new additions, including a 51-foot-long Mario balloon from the Super Mario Galaxy franchise.

🎯Key Sentences

1
I never thought I'd say this, but that is way too many pies.
2
I haven't even gotten to my experimental pies.
3
Thanksgiving greatness requires innovation.
4
I'm going to start the show before you think of another.
5
I was going to offer you a penny for your thoughts, but guess what?
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📝Key Phrases

1
take it upon themselves to
2
a penny for your thoughts
3
to absolutely no one's surprise
4
make history
5
crush the
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📖 Transcript

Wow, that is a lot of smells.
What is happening here, Ryan?
Thank you for asking, Pam.
I am doing my pre-Thanksgiving baking, and this year is all about the pies.
Behold!
That's a lot.

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