Innholdsfortegnelse for No. 124 i The Week Junior

SHOWING YOU CARE Clarissa and her granny, Denise, are best friends. So when Denise became ill, four-year-old Clarissa decided to cheer her up. She asked people from all over the world to post a message to her granny so she could create a scrapbook. She has so far received more than 340 letters of love. THE PERFECT HANDSTAND Bolingo, a gorilla at Busch Gardens animal and theme park in Florida, US, has performed a handstand, mimicking his keeper. Rachel Hale has been working with Bolingo for three years at the theme park and is part of a team helping to boost the gorilla’s wellbeing. Watch Bolingo in action at tinyurl.com/bolingotrick FINDING TREASURE Luca Malaschnitschenko, 13, was metal detecting in Germany when he stumbled across something shiny. It turned out to…

Samantha Guillaume ZSL London Zoo Aquarium People hear by detecting sound vibrations with their eardrums. Our brains translate the vibrations into sounds. Fish don’t have ears on the outside of their heads, but they can hear. Most fish have ears that are on the inside. They detect vibrations, which pass through their skulls and onto the otoliths (known as ear stones) behind their brains. Their brains then process the sounds. Do you love animals? ZSL London Zoo’s Junior Zoo Academy is a great way to learn about creatures from all over the world. Find out more at zsl.org/experiences…

Once upon a time, all stories were written by humans, but one day, a very clever computer wrote a fairy tale. People were amazed by what they read. “How is this possible?” they said. The story, titled The Lost Grimm Fairy Tale, recounts the story of a magical golden horse, a love-struck princess, a poor miller’s son and a talking fox. It is released as an audiobook this month and was produced as an artificial-intelligence (AI) collaboration between app developer Calm and art group Botnik. AI is when a computer learns human-like mental skills over time. They used predictive-text software called Voicebox, teaching it every word of the Brothers Grimms’ stories, such as Hansel and Gretel and Rumpelstiltskin. Voicebox was then told to create new sentences and phrases that sounded…

Name: Frank Year: 7 To understand, we need to look at how the Moon moves around Earth. Grab a large ball (like a football) and put it on a table – this is your Earth. Now get a tennis ball and place a finger at the top and bottom of it – this is your Moon. Circle your Moon around your Earth, making sure that you keep your fingers pointing in the same direction all the way round. You’ll notice that as you move the tennis ball around the larger ball, the side of the tennis ball facing the larger ball changes. This means, here on Earth we’d see different sides of the Moon. However, the Moon actually rotates completely in sync with the time it takes to orbit the…

The Chocolate Factory Ghost by David O’Connell. Illustrated by Claire Powell (Bloomsbury) Archie McBudge is amazed to learn he’s inherited Honeystone Hall and the famous McBudge Confectionery Company. Being in charge of the family business isn’t easy, though, and Archie must team up with new friends in order to solve Honeystone’s mysteries. The Dragon with a Chocolate Heart by Stephanie Burgis (Bloomsbury) When Aventurine is transformed from a fierce dragon to a puny human girl, she discovers an unexpected new passion: chocolate! Soon she’s found a job as an apprentice at a chocolate house, surrounded by delicious treats – but trouble lies ahead. This is a warm-hearted fantasy full of magic, friendship and fun. The Whizz-Pop Chocolate Shop by Kate Saunders (Scholastic) Oz and Lily’s family have inherited a chocolate…

In the late 18th century, a revolution swept the UK. Advances in technology made wonderful new things possible: incredible bridges; powerful steam trains that could take the public to all corners of the country; and vast factories in which more products could be made than ever before. This period in history became known as the Industrial Revolution, and one of its most important centres was the city of Newcastle. Workers there built ships and steam trains, turbines and lamps. Today, all this activity is mainly in the past, but on 28–29 April, the city of Newcastle will come alive with industrial invention all over again. Newcastle’s Life Science Centre will play host to Maker Faire UK, a two-day celebration of creativity. The event brings together more than 300 coders, creators,…

Ava Airborne iOS (Free) Ava is the hero of this beautiful mobile game, and she’s got a lot of different ways of getting airborne, from a hang-glider to a saxophone jetpack. The game is all about getting Ava to glide as far as you can before landing, helped by some friendly birds who lend her a hand (or wing) along the way. It’s not always easy: each level has obstacles to avoid, from giant bombs to airships. Controlling Ava is simple: you tap and hold to glide, and let go if you want to swoop downwards. Mastering her flights, however, is a harder task.…

If you love horses and team sports, here’s a game you might want to try – although it’s not for the fainthearted. Horseball is a fast and exciting sport where riders pass a ball to each other along a pitch and shoot at a hoop to score goals, while walking, trotting or cantering. It’s best described as a cross between rugby and basketball – but on horseback. The sport uses a football bound with six leather handles. If the ball is dropped, any player can swoop to the ground to pick it up. This involves letting go of the reins and sliding down from your saddle to reach for the ball, then hauling yourself back upright on your horse. And you’ll be on the move, so you’ll need good balance…

Plastic pollution is a big problem. From oceans filled with floating plastic rubbish, and plastic bags caught up in bushes and branches, to the millions of tonnes of trash that is buried each year, our planet and our health is suffering because of plastic. The aim of this year’s Earth Day – on 22 April – is to end plastic pollution. It might feel as if the problem is too big for you to tackle, but if everyone does a little bit it will make a massive difference and will help improve the environment for yourself and for generations to come. Find out what you can do to help at earthday.org  and tell us what you did for Earth Day at hello@theweekjunior.co.uk Editor, The Week Junior PS Did…

Whale sneezes out a rainbow Footage of what looks like a rainbow emerging from a whale’s blowhole has been viewed thousands of times online. The video, from wildlife photographer Domenic Biagini, shows a humpback whale spouting out water vapour from its blowhole, an opening at the top of a its head that allows it to breathe air. In this video, the vapour caught the sunlight at just the right moment to create a rainbow. So, although the whale didn’t actually sneeze out a rainbow, it certainly looks like it. Watch the video at tinyurl.com/TWJ-whalerainbow Singing road ordered to shut up A “singing road” designed to improve driver safety in the Netherlands has been silenced after just one day. Specially designed strips were placed on a road near the village of…

On 16 April, Parliament held an urgent debate after it was revealed that thousands of people who moved to the UK from places such as Jamaica, Trinidad and Tobago in the Caribbean could be forced to leave the country. These people are known as the Windrush Generation. Who are the Windrush Generation? After the Second World War, people from the Caribbean were invited to move to the UK. Many of them fought for Britain in the war. The first group came on 22 June 1948, when 492 people arrived at Tilbury Docks, Essex. Many of the immigrants (people who move from one country to another to live) were children. They became known as the Windrush Generation because the first ship to arrive in 1948 was called Empire Windrush. Tens of…

Dame Daphne Sheldrick, who passed away on 12 April aged 83, was a famous conservationist, known around the world for her passion for elephants. She considered them “human” animals and dedicated her adult life to their protection. Throughout her incredible life, Dame Daphne helped save the lives of more than 230 elephant calves, most of whom had lost their parents to ivory hunters or drought (a shortage of water caused by a lack of rain). She cared for these baby elephants like she was their mother – even applying sunscreen to them from time to time. Sheldrick was born in Kenya, in Africa, on 4 June 1934, and was surrounded by animals from an early age. She soon became passionate about Africa’s remarkable wildlife and spent many years working alongside…

Hop to the beat A Javan gliding tree frog busts some moves in Indonesia. Not now, son… A baby gorilla at Prague Zoo picks the wrong moment to approach his grumpy dad. On the up A young man is shown the secrets of the Amazon. Teamwork makes the dream work An army of ants collect seeds on a washing line. Empty vessel This image of a capsized ship just off Greece was captured by a drone. Holy showtime A man dressed as a Hindu god at a religious festival in Agartala, India. Whale of a time A humpback whale takes a turn in Tromsø, Norway.…

You Are Awesome by Matthew Syed. Illustrated by Toby Triumph (Wren & Rook) Matthew Syed knows a thing or two about being successful. After all, he’s a bestselling author who has twice competed in the Olympic Games! In this book, he shares the secrets of how you can excel at anything you set your mind to – whether it’s maths, music, sport or whatever. You’ll learn how practice, perseverance and embracing mistakes can take you from average to awesome. You’ll also discover the inspiring stories of how J.K. Rowling and Serena Williams became successful – as well as some of their epic failures. There are tips to help you make your own plan to tackle whatever it is you’d like to achieve – from becoming a vlogger, a footballer or…

Bill & Ted’s Excellent Adventure (1989) DVD, Blu-ray, Prime Video, iTunes Starring Keanu Reeves and Alex Winter, Bill & Ted’s Excellent Adventure finds the title characters on the verge of failing their history class. Their solution? A time machine. Instead of reading about historical figures, they go and meet them. Although the film was hugely popular, it had a troubled journey to the screen, not least when its financial backers ran out of money. There were also concerns that the duo’s time machine was too similar to a certain Time Lord’s Tardis, too. MORETO COME? The film already has one sequel – Bill & Ted’s Bogus Journey from 1991 – but another is planned. The problem is, Bill & Ted 3 has…

Is it for me? If you can safely control a pony or horse and are confident trotting and cantering, then yes, you should give horseball a try. How do I get started? Riding clubs, pony clubs and horse shows will sometimes hold have-a-go sessions, so look out for events in your local area. The British Horseball Association (BHA) can put you in touch with a local group or club that welcomes beginners. Find out more at britishhorseball.co.uk Do I need my own pony? Not always. Some clubs will let you borrow one of their ponies to ride for the session. The BHA can direct you to a riding school that offers lessons on hired horses.…

Name: William Year: 6 “ Piers Torday came to my school and signed my copy of The Last Wild. He gave a very funny talk about the books he has written. I love The Last Wild, so much so that I think Torday could rival David Attenborough. The book is all about his concern for endangered species. Torday wrote the book to raise awareness. The title shows the urgency of the situation because it is the last wild. It is based on planet Earth, possibly on the last island which is not yet underwater. It is set in the future around Kester Jaynes – a boy whose father is away in a city and, since his mother’s death, cannot speak. I like this book because of the urgency regarding endangered…

Teacher’s name: Alessandra Valdarnini School: Scuola Primaria Mattia Moneti, Pergo, Italy “Alessandra is a wonderful teacher. She has shown me how fun learning can be. She has lots of creative ideas and we do lots of projects. She borrowed an incubator and we hatched chicks. I think she is great and I want the whole world to know it. I love going to school!” Sofia, Year 4 If we pick your teacher as Teacher of the Week, we’ll send your school three free issues of The Week Junior. Send your nominations, along with a picture of your teacher and your school’s full name and address, to hello@theweekjunior.co.uk…

21 April 1816 Charlotte Brontë is born English author and poet Charlotte Brontë was born in Yorkshire, England on 21 April 1816. She wrote one of the world’s most famous novels, Jane Eyre. It was published in 1847, at a time when female writers were not taken seriously. Brontë pretended she was a male writer, using the pseudonym (false name) Currer Bell, to help get Jane Eyre published. After its publication, she revealed herself to be the author of Jane Eyre. It was the most successful book of 1847 and is still popular today.…

At 978 metres, Scafell Pike is the highest mountain in England. Walking the peak became popular during the 18th century. Now, hundreds of thousands of people visit each year to tackle the terrain and reach the top. The view from the summit has inspired many poets, writers and artists. The mountain is home to a wide variety of wildlife including buzzards, golden eagles and kestrels. You may also see goats and sheep roaming the slopes. Find out more at scafellpike.org.uk…

Wind power The most powerful wind turbine in the world has been built off the coast near Aberdeen, Scotland. It rises 191 metres out of the water and has three blades each 80 metres long. Every full circle turned by these blades makes enough electricity to power the average UK home for a whole day. Mary river turtle Only found on the Mary River in Queensland, Australia, this funky green-haired turtle has been added to the Zoological Society of London’s (ZSL) list of the planet’s most endangered reptiles. Its numbers plummeted after their nests were raided during the 1960s and 1970s.…

World Malaria Day falls on 25 April. Around 216 million people are infected with this killer disease every year and half a million of them die – often young children. The problem is getting worse, as the bloodsucking mosquitoes that carry the disease from person to person are growing resistant to pesticide chemicals used to kill them. Now, a new kind of bed netting has been developed to fight back. As well as blocking the insects from biting people as they sleep, this new netting is covered in pesticide and another chemical that stops mozzies fighting off the effects of the pesticide. Tests show that these nets could prevent more than a third of new malaria infections.…

Are you the type of person who thinks: You need a special type of brain to do maths? You’re either good at sport or you’re not? You’ll never get a part in the school play? If so, then this is the book for you. Whatever you want to be good at, the right mindset can help you achieve your dream! We know you can do it because … YOU ARE AWESOME FUN FACTS! What links these three people? J K Rowling • Steve Jobs • Jay-Z They all failed! Yes, you read that right. Each of these super-successful people failed before they succeeded. So what changed? They practised and persevered UNTIL they achieved their goals! ‘If you’re a bit nervous or unsure of trying new things then I think you…

Who has been your biggest inspiration? Muhammad Ali. The greatest boxer of all time. He had amazing self-belief and wasn’t afraid to try new things. You were a star table tennis player. What is your favourite shot? The forehand chop. Lots of backspin to (hopefully!) bamboozle the opponent. What’s the one piece of advice you would give your 10-year-old self? Don’t be afraid of making a mistake. Everyone who has ever been successful has made thousands of them, and learned from them. If you could try out one job for a day what would it be? I would love to be a barrister during a big trial. The dexterity needed to unpick a really complicated legal puzzle really appeals to me. What is the best birthday you have ever had?…

Officially Amazing 5.25pm on 20 April, CBBC and iPlayer Ben Shires is on a mission to find the funniest, scariest and most amazing Guinness World Records attempts from around the world. What’s new in this series? Apart from featuring the 100th episode, expect a jelly-and-chopsticks challenge and the Gunge Tank of Doom. Isle of Dogs Showing at cinemas nationwide Twenty years in the future, an outbreak of dog flu in Megasaki City, Japan, causes Mayor Kobayashi to banish all dogs to Trash Island. Twelve-year-old Atari sets off to rescue his pooch, Spots. Along the way he meets five furry friends who agree to help him on his mission. Mercury 13 Available now on Netflix Ever dreamed of blasting off into space one day? These women did. This documentary tells the…

Froggipedia iOS (£3.99) Frogs tend to hop out of the way if you try to catch them, so getting a close look at their bodies can be difficult. This app makes that easier, using augmented-reality (AR) technology to let you explore a virtual animal – even if you’re nowhere near a pond. AR projects virtual images into the real world when you look through a smartphone or tablet. The app includes three parts. Its Life Cycle section shows you how a frog develops from its earliest days as a fertilised egg, through its tadpole stage and up to fully grown adulthood. Its AR Anatomy section gets you to find a flat surface, then pops a virtual frog on it for you to look at, switching between different views so you…

The Great Bug Hunt Could you name all of the types of critters that live in your garden, local park or school playground? The Association for Science Education and the Royal Entomological Society (entomology is the study of insects) are calling on children to explore the wild outdoors in search of insects. First, find a suitable local habitat – these could range from vast nature reserves to your own back garden. Next, explore your chosen space. Record your findings and draw any mini beasts you discover. The winner will receive a Bug Day for their primary school, which includes the chance to get up close to lots of creepy-crawlies. Head to schoolscience.co.uk/bughunt to find out how to enter before the 15 June deadline. GET INVOLVED Email your news, viewsandpictures to…

Follow The Week Junior on Popjam@TheWeekJunior. You can download the free Popjam app from the App Store or Google Play. A gadget called AlterEgo has been created to turn your thoughts into speech. We asked you if you would like to try using it... “That is so clever. I would use it on my sister because she always finishes my sentences and it’s really annoying” @panda123panda “That sounds awesome! It could help people who can’t speak, although it’s probably soo expensive” @Jcool100 “Nah! It sounds kind of creepy” @Crazygirl5878 Every March, a group of residents called The Toad Patrol gather in Nottinghamshire to help amphibians cross the road. You said... “How nice of them. Other people should do it more often so the toads can cross the road” @WooWoo1 “That’s…

1How many medals did England, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales win in total at this year’s Commonwealth Games in Australia? a) 228 b) 238 c) 248 2Where is the Giant’s Causeway? 3True or false? Mark Hamill is the founder of Facebook. 4Where do dogs sweat from? a) Their tail b) Their paws c) Their ears 5True or false? Dame Daphne Sheldrick founded the David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust in 1977. 6Which former Prime Minister tried to reintroduce the black-veined white butterfly? 7How many of Pluto’s moons was Hubble responsible for discovering? a) Three b) Four c) Five 8What is Mars also known as? 9What is the largest animal alive on Earth today? a) The African elephant b) The blue whale c) The colossal squid 10True or false? Ants are team workers.…