>> welcome to "teen kids news." i'm mwanzaa. >> and i'm siena. let's start with our top story. >> we often hear about afghanistan. it's a country in the middle east that was taken over by an extremist religious group called the taliban. the taliban created harsh laws that greatly restricted the freedom of the people. they also allowed afghanistan to be used as a base for terrorists, especially those terrorists who attacked the united states on 9/11. shortly after the attacks in 2001, president bush sent our military to afghanistan. they forced the taliban to flee.

under a new, more democratic government, life began to improve for the afghanis. [ piano playing ] while the taliban ruled afghanistan, a scene like this would have been unthinkable. that's because music was forbidden. >> it was illegal to listen to music, to perform it, to enjoy it. and so that was very discouraging for many musicians. many musicians fled afghanistan. they stopped playing music. >> life was even harder for girls like freshta. they couldn't go to school, play sports. they couldn't even go outside unless completely hidden beneath clothes from head to toe. freshta's mother saw music as a way to accomplish that.

>> and so since 2001, people have been struggling to find the best way to bring it back. >> the documentary "dr. sarmast's music school" tells the story of bringing music back to afghanistan, and not just traditional music, but all kinds of music. >> bach, beethoven, mozart. it doesn't belong to europe. it doesn't belong to america. they belong to all world. and i want afghan kids to have access to the musical heritage of the world. >> and that's how the afghan youth orchestra was born. kids who never heard music before, or had to listen to it in secret, are now learning to be musicians. and they're learning to be world travelers, as well. their music program has been so successful that some of the afghani musicians were invited to come to the u.s. to put on a major concert with american students. we'll tell you about that when "teen kids news" returns.

we'll be right back. >> 3...2...1... zero...ignition... and lift-off! >> nasa is on its way back to the moon, but this time with no astronauts. robotic spacecraft ladee's mission is to explore the moon's dust and lunar atmosphere. >> and the reason we'd like to investigate that is that there's a handful of missions going back to the moon over the next decade or so, and we want to understand it before we go and disturb it. >> scientists are also trying to find answers to its mysterious glow. the $280 million spacecraft, which is the size of a small car, will be on its mission for six months and will arrive on the moon on october 6th. some startling news from the centers for disease control about electronic cigarettes, also known as e-cigs. a new survey says that twice as

many teens admit to using them in 2012 than in the year before. the cdc says this is troubling, as it can lead to lifelong addiction to nicotine -- not just to e-cigs but also to traditional cigarettes. the u.s. food and drug administration still does not monitor the use of e-cigs. >> tokyo. [ crowd cheers ] >> crowds celebrating as the international olympic committee announces tokyo will host the 2020 summer games. it beat out istanbul and madrid, who were also in the bidding. more than 150,000 jobs are expected to be created, and it's estimated it will bring 4 trillion yen, or $40 billion, into the japanese economy. for "teen kids news," i'm david lee miller, "fox news channel in the classroom." [ crowd continues cheering ] >> we're continuing our coverage of what may be called a musical miracle -- visiting teens from afghanistan getting the chance to play music side by side with

american high-school students. as daniella reports, while these young musicians from two countries started off worlds apart, they quickly came together while preparing for a very special musical performance. >> for these afghan kids, coming to america is a dream come true, but the nightmare of those terrible years under the taliban is not easily forgotten. >> both boys and girls who decide to study music or listen to music or enjoy music have often faced discrimination and discouragement. girls, in particular, face a lot of discouragement from even going to any kind of school. so anyone studying music, it's a risk. and for a girl to be studying

music, it's a double risk. and so our girls are very courageous, and we're very proud to stand by them and support them and see them breaking barriers day after day. >> teacher and conductor william harvey is breaking other barriers, as well. he's created special arrangements that combine our classical instruments with afghan folk instruments. students from new york's scarsdale high school are finding the experience noteworthy on many levels. >> it's a really great opportunity to both learn about each other's cultures and to have both cultures really appreciate how similar we all are and how we can communicate through the universal language of music. >> you do eighth notes. you do quarter notes. you do eighth notes. and i'll do sixteenth. >> well, i've always been told that music is the universal language, and until now, i haven't really been able to experience that.

i've learned how similar we are as people. >> while touring the u.s., the afghanis stayed with american kids. they got a taste of our popular foods, as well as a slice of life in america. >> how are you enjoying playing with the americans? during their trip, the afghanis visited washington, d.c. they toured the national museum of natural history, met a senator, dined in a diner, as well as in a typical american home, and even learned to play wii. but no doubt the highlight was a sold-out concert at the world-famous carnegie hall. [ middle eastern folk music plays ] they played traditional folk

songs and western classics, ending with a crowd favorite ravel's "boléro." [ ravel's "boléro" plays ] so, the next time you complain about having to practice piano or flute, remember in some parts of the world, music isn't just music. it's the sound of freedom. [ music ends ] [ cheers and applause ] >> which u.s. state had a state flag before it was even a state? keep watching, and you'll find out. >> the tallest building in our part of the world is getting closer to opening, but what makes this building special isn't its height, but what it represents. one world trade center is rising

from the ashes of the 9/11 terrorist attack in new york city. this was all that was left of the famous twin towers that gave the area its name -- the world trade center. the terrorists were able to destroy those original towers, but they couldn't destroy our national resolve to rebuild and to honor those who lost their lives in the attack. in fact, one world trade center will reach a symbolic height. just as 1776 is an important date in american history, 1,776 is precisely how tall the new building is -- 1,776 feet. one world trade center will also have an observatory open to the public. you can expect it'll become a very popular tourist attraction. >> this report is sponsored by the american civil liberties union. it's more than 220 years old, but the constitution is as important as ever. it not only set the framework our government and legal system still follow to this day, it continues to protect the basic

rights of we the people. >> what about my privacy? >> it's protected. >> and the music i listen to? >> protected. >> in this public service announcement, celebs melissa benoist, lucas neff, and nick robinson are helping to remind people that september 17th is constitution day. it's a national holiday celebrating the signing of the constitution in 1787. >> what about how i wear my hair? >> and the things i say and write? >> the constitution protects your rights. >> it isn't an old, fading piece of paper. >> it's a living document. >> every september 17th, teachers and students across the country focus on the history and meaning of our constitutional rights. >> constitution day is important because it helps us appreciate democracy. >> because it makes us remember that we have freedom, equality, and justice. >> because it reminds us how lucky we are to live in america. >> find out how you can become part of constitution day. >> it's easy.

go to... it's an interactive website with lots of activities and games. it also includes a competition where you can win money for your school. >> for me. >> all: for all! >> for real. >> remember constitution day is september 17th. for "teen kids news," i'm diyu. >> ever take a close look at your state flag? you should because you might be surprised at how much you can learn from it. here's brandon with this week's lesson. >> california's state motto is "eureka!" which is greek for, "i found it!" the motto dates back to the gold rush of 1849. california had gained independence from mexico the year before, but it was not yet a state. ironically, though, it already had a flag. >> what i find to be most unique about the california flag is how it came into existence.

it was actually the product of a rebellion. there were pioneers out there trying to settle the land. there was an attack on a fort at sonoma, and the american settlers were able to take the fort. and a fellow by the name of william todd got himself a white bed sheet, a couple of cans of paint, and he painted the original bear flag, which is still today the flag of the state of california. >> that revolt became known as the bear flag revolt. the bear symbolized strength. the star was a reference to the lone star of texas. the californians saw texas as an ally in their struggle with mexico. the original flag was destroyed during the san francisco earthquake of 1906, however early photos of it still existed. and a slightly modified version became the official state flag in 1911. by the way, william todd, the pioneer who drew the flag on a bed sheet, was the nephew of mary todd, abraham lincoln's wife. with "flag facts," i'm brandon. >> next we'll find out what

teens really want to be when they grow up. >> a lot of us have had good times bouncing ourselves silly at street fairs and parties, but as christina reports, we could be bouncing our way to the emergency room. >> bounce houses are popular, fun, and surprisingly dangerous. >> very often, more than one child is using the bouncer at the same time. we know that this increases the likelihood of an injury occurring. injuries, dr. smith found that it's not just the little kids who get hurt. >> in fact, in this study, there were more than 6,500 teenagers who were injured. >> granted, those 6,500 injuries took place over almost 20 years, but the point is that the number of injuries has been going up. [ siren wailing ] and many of those injuries were serious enough to require trips to the hospital. >> because of the alarming, rapid rise and the number of injuries associated with

inflatable bouncers, national safety guidelines must be developed. >> until that happens, bounce with care, especially if you're in a bounce house with smaller kids. >> i'm on my way to go get a haircut, but not just any ordinary haircut. i'm donating some of my hair to charity. come with me. well, here we are. okay, i can do this. hello. >> hi, nicole, how are you? >> i'm great. how are you? >> great to see you. >> fabio has been donating the services of his studio to locks of love for years. >> locks of love is a nonprofit organization that provides hairpieces for children that suffer hair loss. >> there are all sorts of medical reasons why kids lose their hair. some may have a disorder called alopecia. others may be undergoing cancer treatment. so why did you decide to donate your hair? well, i thought it was a really

great cause and just a really easy way to help other people. are you nervous? a little bit. >> are you ready? >> i'm ready. every year, thousands of kids and adults donate their hair to locks of love. whether you're a girl or a guy, 7 or 70, your hair is needed, it is. to be able to donate, your hair must be at least 10 inches long. [ gasps ] oh, my gosh. i love it! oh, my gosh! wow! it's really short, but i love it so much. thank you so, so much... >> locks of love says 80% of all donations come from us kids. you know, i haven't had my hair this short since i was real little. brings back memories of nursery

school. nap time. for "teen kids news," i'm nicole. >> we like to know what's on your mind. so here's our "speak of the week." >> we're young. we're smart. and the opportunities to be whatever we want seem endless. so tell me -- what do you want to be when you grow up? >> i'd like to be an artist. i think that'd be interesting. >> i want to be an insurance broker. my dad owns his own insurance company, and it's actually a fourth-generation business. so that's why i want to do it. >> i want to be a cosmetologist. >> hmm, well, i think i want to be a giraffe trainer 'cause i love giraffes so much. >> i want to be an actress when i grow up. >> when i grow up, i'd like to be a rugby player. >> i want to be a marine biologist because i love the ocean. i love animals. >> when i grow up, i want to be a librarian [chuckles] because i love to read. >> i'm thinking that one day i'll be a tv reporter.

oh, wait. i am one. with "speak of the week," i'm drew. >> when we come back, i'll show you how to make a deliciously crunchy granola. >> students from the culinary institute of america are sharing some of their favorite recipes with "teen kids news." here's what's cooking this week. >> hi. today we'll be making a vanilla-scented granola. it's a really easy recipe for granola with a vanilla scent that's great for breakfast, lunch, or even a snack. so i'm going to start with my oven preheated to 300 degrees. now i'm going to spray a sheet pan so that nothing sticks to it. okay. now, i have my pan right here. i'm gonna add 1/3 cup of vegetable oil, 2 tablespoons of

sugar, and 1/4 cup of honey. i'm gonna put that over medium heat. stir it up a little. now, while that's heating, i'm gonna go over here, and i have 4 cups of oats. i'm gonna add a cup of sliced almonds... 1/2 cup of brown sugar, a pinch of salt, and 1/8 teaspoon of cinnamon. now, i'm gonna stir this up. so, you know, if you don't like almonds, but you like a different kind of nut, you can sub that in. you can add dried fruit to this.

you can really do whatever you want with it. sometimes i add peanut butter. i used to make this all the time when i was younger. and i still do, actually. so just gonna combine this till it's all well-mixed. make sure there are no clumps of anything. remember to use a towel or an oven mitt because handles get hot. so i'm just gonna take this. it's my oil and honey and sugar. i'm gonna pour it over my oats. don't forget to add your vanilla. i'm gonna add 4 teaspoons of the vanilla. so... yeah, this is gonna make it smell so good. so, in the morning sometimes, i have this with milk. and that's always really delicious. or i just eat it dry.

now i'm just gonna stir this up, make sure everything is nice and coated. yeah, i can remember making this with my mom when i was younger. okay, that looks good. now i'm just gonna take it over here, pour it on to my sheet tray. spread it out nice and evenly. i'm gonna put it in my oven. and that'll just take about 30 minutes. just stir it up a couple times during that. luckily, we already have one made. so, it's been 30 minutes, and my granola is all finished. and it smells amazing, like cinnamon and vanilla. so i'm just gonna take it over here, and all you have to do is

take a ziploc bag and put as much as you want in. you can also keep this in tupperware or anything else that's airtight. and it should keep for about two weeks. so... i'm just gonna seal this up, and then with the yogurt and a banana, you have a lunch. all you have to do is open up your yogurt, spoon some granola in, and stir it up. add your banana, and that's a great lunch for any time -- school or even at home. so, that is vanilla-scented granola. at the culinary institute of america, for "teen kids news," i'm andrea. >> this is my last "teen kids news" program. i've been anchoring since it first went on the air 11 years ago. it's been a wonderful experience, but it's time to say goodbye. as a final goodbye, here's a look back at my years as an anchor. it's the job of some people to watch for dangerous weather and to give us warning, like they did with hurricane isabel.

in the united states, all kids have the right to an equal education. it's the law. if you use a computer lab at school, you might want to wash your hands afterward. the youth market alert reports that computer keyboards are often contaminated by germs. studies show a disturbing trend in the united states. fewer and fewer students are going into careers that have to do with math and science. a new study finds that parents often don't know about their teenagers' use of alcohol, tobacco, and drugs. having trouble sleeping and you're not sure why? if you already cut out caffeine and turned off your computer and video games, there's another culprit to consider -- your cellphone. it affects all of us, and we all want to know what it's going to do next -- the weather. finding alternatives to oil as an energy source is a national priority. so harnessing the wind would sound like a natural solution. scientists call them n.e.o.s -- near-earth objects. they're asteroids and comets that might someday be on a course to collide with our

planet. i bet you didn't know that the u.s. marines have a regularly scheduled battle right here in america, a battle of the bands, that is. if that sounds like an interesting career, this next report is for you. >> mwanzaa, you were so cute. and we have a surprise for you. as you know, "teen kids news" recently won an emmy, and we would like you to have the statuette. >> thank you. >> we couldn't have done it without you. >> thank you. >> you're welcome. >> and i guess "teen kids news" will be back next week. and i hope you'll be watching. >> i definitely will be. [ both chuckle ]

>> welcome to "skyweek." i'm tony flanders from "sky & telescope" magazine,

and i'll be your guide to the astronomical wonders that are currently on display overhead. ♪ let's see what's happening in the sky from monday, september 16, to sunday, september 22. dazzling venus shines directly below saturn low in the southwest at dusk on monday. and the two planets remain very close for a few more evenings before pulling apart late in the week. venus appears a smidge higher each evening, but saturn is sinking and will soon be lost from view. autumn begins on sunday, september 22. that's when the sun shines directly above earth's equator, and both hemispheres get the same amount of sunlight. for the next six months, the sun will be above the southern hemisphere, and nights will be longer than days north of the equator.

the full moon closest to the start of fall is called the harvest moon. this year's harvest moon rises just before sunset on wednesday and sets just after sunrise on thursday. traditionally, farmers worked late into the night harvesting their crops by the light of the harvest moon. these days, most farmers use artificial lights at night. but the full moon is still wonderful to look at with binoculars or your unaided eyes. this is when the huge dark circles that make up the familiar rabbit, or man-in-moon ttern, show up best. 17th century astronomers called them "maria," latin for "seas." in fact, they were seas once, but seas of lava, not water. the maria started out as huge

impact craters that formed 4.1 to 3.8 billion years ago. apparently, something disrupted the normally well-behaved asteroid belt, scattering asteroids into the paths of the moon and planets. the impacts also fractured the moon's crust, allowing lava to ooze out and fill the craters long after they first formed. the lava soon cooled to form the smooth, dark surfaces that we see today. you can tell that the lava flowed relatively recently because very few new craters have formed in the maria. september is the best month for hiking in most of the u.s., so i think of the harvest moon as the "hiker's moon." the full moon is super-bright, ten times brighter than the half-lit moon. and full moons always rise around sunset, allowing you to walk all night long without a flashlight. more surprisingly, this remains true for one or two nights after

the harvest moon. on average, the moon rises 50 minutes later each night, so a little less than one month after full moon -- 28 moonrises and 29 sunrises -- the moon is back to where it started, and full again. but around the harvest moon, the interval between successive moonrises is only about a half-hour. so, thursday's just-past-full moon rises while it's still quite light out. and even friday's moon rises before it's fully dark. that's because the ecliptic, the path that the sun, moon, and planets follow, is closest to horizontal around sunset in september. so, if you track the moon's position around 9:00 p.m. all week, you'll see that it moves mostly right to left, and only a little bit lower each evening. that means that it rises only a little bit later each evening. don't confuse the moon's

night-to-night motion -- leftward through the stars -- with its hourly motion -- left to right, together with the stars. what's really happening is that everything in the sky appears to move left-to-right, due to earth's spin. but the moon moves 4% slower than the stars, so by the time the stars have made a full circle and return to their original position one night later, the moon has lagged behind, appearing quite a bit farther to the left. next week, we'llalk about the autumn constellations. until then, this is tony flanders from "sky & telescope" magazine, wishing you clear skies and great views. >> brought to you by... manufacturers of telescopes and binoculars. and binoculars. ♪

- in this episode of travel with kids, join us as we head through the amazon rain forest by boat and by foot to get a good look at what's beyond all that green... - i think i see a monkey. - sometimes getting a bit too cozy with nature... - that's an anaconda? - plus, we'll meet the locals, learn about their customs and beliefs, and learn the language... - vamonos. - coming up next. female announcer: this program is made possible by the reno-sparks convention and visitors authority. with year-round outdoor family activities, including skiing, snowboarding, white-water rafting, horseback riding, and biking, reno tahoe is far from expected. also by csa travel protection. since 1991, csa travel protection has been providing travel insurance,