Innholdsfortegnelse for No. 133 i The Week Junior

LOTS OF GOSLINGS A “nanny” goose helped out with the babysitting duties when she took 51 goslings – another word for baby geese – for a swim. While the parents took a rest, she led the group onto a lake in Leduc, Canada. The photographer who captured the event said his first reaction was “Wow!” and that he’d never seen so many goslings before. BREAKING A RECORD Cyclist Mark Beaumont smashed a 127-year-old British record for the distance ridden on an old-style penny-farthing bike in one hour, after completing 21.92 miles. He broke the record in London on 14 June, and was just 265 metres short of the world record. THIS 10-YEAR-OLD AUTHOR Ten-year-old Frasier Cox is set to become one of the UK’s youngest published authors. His book, There’s…

Charles Rennie Mackintosh was born in 1868 in the Scottish city of Glasgow. He was a groundbreaking designer of buildings, furniture and textiles and attended the Glasgow School of Art during the 1880s. Nicknamed Toshie, he worked with his wife, her sister and her husband; they became known as Glasgow’s “Four”. They were seen as one unstoppable artistic force. Mackintosh would often decorate his furniture with floral motifs, such as roses. He worked in Glasgow for many years and died in London in 1928.…

Frida Kahlo, one of Mexico’s greatest artists, is as famous for her life as for her art. A new exhibition, Frida Kahlo: Making Her Self Up, which is on now at the Victoria and Albert (V&A) Museum in London, celebrates both. Her eventful life was one of pain and passion. Kahlo was born in 1907, in Mexico City. When she was six years old, she caught polio, which left her with one leg shorter than the other. Then, in 1925, when she was 18, Kahlo was involved in a bus accident that left her with serious injuries, including broken bones in her back. The accident would affect the rest of her life, and she went on to have more than 30 operations. Kahlo channelled all these unfortunate events into her…

The biggest review of Britain’s mammals for more than 20 years has revealed good news for some species and some not-so-great news for others. The Mammal Society – a British charity devoted to the conservation of the country’s mammals – released the results of their review on 13 June. The report studied more than 1.5 million volunteer- and citizen-scientist mammal sightings from across the UK and combined these results with more than 500 other studies. It found that within the past 20 years, five species of mammal have increased their numbers. This includes a boost for otters, thanks largely to a ban on certain pesticides (chemicals used to kill pests such as insects) that can poison them. The range of habitats for another 18 species has also increased meaning that…

Ex-circus elephants Europe’s first sanctuary for circus elephants is due to open this autumn in France. It will provide a place for the animals to live in peace and it comes after 15 European countries announced their commitment to banning circuses from using wild animals in performances. Baobab trees Ancient baobab trees in Africa, some of which are 2,500 years old, have been mysteriously dying over the past 12 years. Scientists suspect their demise may be linked to the planet’s changing climate resulting in hotter temperatures and longer periods of low rainfall.…

The RAF, which is celebrating its 100th anniversary this year, is responsible for protecting the UK from the air and delivering aid. It is split into a number of groups. Wing Commander Robert Hart supports the No 1 Group, which operates all of the combat and intelligence (collecting information) aircraft. This includes the fighter and bomber planes, along with the aircraft that collect all the information on what the country’s enemies are doing. Hart wanted to join the Air Force from a very young age. “I remember writing to my local careers information office when I was eight or nine, asking them to help me identify all the aircraft flying near our house,” he says.…

Critics of nuclear power say that the problem that needs solving is not the supply of nuclear fuel. There is plenty of yellowcake and other uranium minerals in rocks around the world, they say. The big problem is what to do with the fuel once it has been used. It cannot produce fission reactions any more but it is still dangerously radioactive, which means it is very poisonous, and can remain so for at least 10,000 years – probably much longer. Engineers must build safe places to put this stuff, but each year the world’s nuclear industry produces the weight of 100 double-decker buses in waste. The best idea so far is to encase the waste in glass and bury it inside mountains. However, we’ve never built anything designed to…

Spider silk is remarkable. Finer than a human hair, it is five times stronger than a steel wire of the same diameter. Biochemist Thomas Scheibel decided to recreate the miracle material in a laboratory. He took some DNA (a chemical that carries the information about all living things) from a spider and found the gene (a short section of DNA) that is responsible for silk. Scheibel and his team then made an exact copy of the gene and inserted it into the DNA of a bacteria called e.coli. This resulted in a bacteria that could produce silk proteins. The proteins were then spun into gossamer strands using a mechanical system. The artificial spider silk, called Biosteel, is stronger and more flexible than the real thing.…

The Sand Dog by Sarah Lean (HarperCollins Children’s Books) Azi lives on a beautiful island in the Mediterranean. Since his grandfather left two years earlier, Azi has been living with his uncle, helping out in his uncle’s busy restaurant. All Azi really wants is Grandfather to come back home again. When a nesting sea turtle and a sandy stray dog turn up, Azi decides they must be good omens – positive signs that Grandfather might finally be on his way home. He teams up with a new friend named Beth and the pair dig deeper into the truth behind Grandfather’s departure – only to stumble on some unexpected secrets. Set in a wonderful island location, with lots of vivid descriptions of beautiful beaches and wildlife, this is a moving, sometimes…

Mario Tennis Aces Nintendo Switch Mario and his friends have a brand new Switch game, but instead of platforms and karts, this time it’s all about rackets and balls. Mario Tennis Aces gets you serving, smashing and hitting some superpowered shots that you definitely won’t see at Wimbledon. You can play singles or doubles matches on your own, with a friend or family member in your living room, or online with pals from around the world. It’s easy to hit shots, but to become a top player, you’ll need to master special moves like slowing down time, and hitting unstoppable, racket-smashing zone shots.…

Farallone is a mysterious place, where the mystical Wild Folk lurk and precious stargold runs through the land. But now Farallone is under threat. The Star-Priest Brotherhood from the City will ravage and destroy it unless two young hares, and their human companions, Tin and Comfrey, can save the day. If you love fantasy and folklore, then join Tin – an orphan City boy with a passion for adventure – and Comfrey – a curious Country girl – in their quest to protect the stargold. The daring pair must complete seemingly impossible tasks set by the mysterious and terrifying Wild Folk, each stranger than the last, to find the one who holds the secret to saving their world. With summer on the doorstep, this timeless and magical fantasy adventure will…

On page five we have a story about some recent research into fake news. One of the positive things to have resulted from The Children’s Charter on Fake News is a list of five recommendations that will help children identify information that isn’t accurate. They include: ● Having the critical literacy skills to navigate the digital world and question the information that you find online. ● Having the right to access accurate news from trustworthy media companies, and not to have to read or hear news stories that will scare you or cause anxiety without having opportunities to discuss them and put them into context. ● To be given opportunities to practise your critical literacy skills by looking at news stories. ● To understand how the…

Do you fancy yourself as a poet? Now’s your chance to be named St Pancras International’s next Poet Laureate. The award is in honour of Sir John Betjeman, who famously saved London’s St Pancras station from being knocked down in the 1960s. To enter, you need to submit a poem of any length and style around this year’s selected theme, which is “Place”. The six finalists will go on a very special Betjeman Poetry Camp and the top 50 poems will be printed in a book. The winner will receive fantastic prizes for both themselves and their school. To find out more, head to betjemanpoetryprize.co.uk before 31 July.…

Follow The Week Junior on Popjam@TheWeekJunior. You can download the free Popjam app from the App Store or Google Play. Did you know that it’s believed that the Moon is a piece of Earth that flew into space after another planet hit ours? “OMG that is so cool” @mudflaps “Wow! That’s so amazing! Imagine an Earth with no moon!” @JoshTheMagePup “Cool! I wonder what it would’ve looked like?” @snowyx “Wow, I didn’t know that” @gothpusheen We asked you if you’re planning to make a mouth-watering summer pudding while the Sun shines... “We have summer puddings at home and we love them! I recommend them to anyone who likes a summery treat” @glitterymermaid2009 “Yum, I’m definitely gonna make that!” @UnicornLover211 “It looks really healthy but…

The Army is responsible for completing tasks on the ground, which are carried out by soldiers. Private Stephanie Sustins was 16 when she joined the Army. As a child, she had wanted to become a police officer, but when she grew up she decided to try something different. After nine years of service and having children, Sustins became a reservist – a member of the armed forces who combines a civilian job with frequent army training and trips away to military locations. For Sustins, “The best part of being in the Army was being part of a team and pushing myself above and beyond what I thought I never would be able to achieve.”…

There are hundreds of free Armed Forces Day events being held around the UK, which kick off on 23 June. This year’s National Event is taking place in Llandudno, North Wales, on 30 June, when about 1,000 serving and former members of the armed forces take part in a parade, beginning at 11am at the Llandudno War Memorial. To find your nearest Armed Forces Day event, visit armedforcesday.org.uk/find-events If nothing is happening where you live, why not organise your own event? You can find plenty of ideas at tinyurl.com/TWJ-armedforcesevents…

Claudio, this is a great question as it was one of the subjects covered by Professor Sophie Scott in the Royal Institution’s Christmas Lectures last year. If you hold your hand gently against your throat and say “Zzzzz”, you’ll feel a vibration. It’s your vocal cords (or vocal folds) vibrating and this is the start of your voice. These vocal folds cause your throat and the air within it to vibrate, which makes a buzzing sound, rather than the voice you are used to. We then use our throats and other spaces within our face and chest to make these vibrations stronger and shape them carefully to produce our voices. Find out more on the Royal Institution’s website at tinyurl.com/TWJ-RI Email questions to hello@theweekjunior.co.ukwith the words SCIENCE QUESTION in the…

Cristiano Ronaldo Football star Ronaldo scored a stunning hat trick (three goals) for Portugal as they drew 3-3 with Spain at the Fifa World Cup. England women’s cricket team The 2017 World Cup winners beat South Africa in Canterbury, Kent, to seal victory in the one-day international series. Fernando Alonso The Formula One driver, along with teammates Kazuki Nakajima and Sebastien Buemi, won the famous Le Mans 24 Hours race in France. Coryn Rivera The US cyclist won the Women’s Tour event, which was a five-stage race around parts of England and Wales.…

Head to Queen’s Park Book Festival in London from 30 June to 1 July for a weekend of lively literary-themed events. Author David Solomons will be kicking things off with an event for the festival’s charity partner, Real Action, which provides literacy courses for children and adults. Plenty of other authors for young readers will be making an appearance, and there will be lots of exciting children’s events and family-friendly activities. Find out more at qpbookfest.com…

Dame Jane Goodall Goodall spent more than 40 years studying chimpanzees in Tanzania, east Africa. She made major breakthroughs showing the similarities between chimpanzees and humans. Today, she campaigns to protect chimpanzees and their environment. Claude Lévi-Strauss Lévi-Strauss looked at myths told by different cultures. He studied the way the stories were told and worked out what that revealed about the cultures. In his most famous book, Mythologiques, he covered more than 800 myths and their variations from across the world. Alfred Russel Wallace Wallace is credited, alongside Charles Darwin, with inventing the theory of natural selection – the process by which the most suited organisms survive and pass their characteristics on to their offspring. He used this to become a founder of evolutionary anthropology.…

Saving Mr.BankS (2013) DVD, Blu-ray, DisneyLife, iTunes, Prime Video Ahead of the release of Mary Poppins Returns in cinemas this year, Saving Mr Banks is a terrific film, that tells the story of Mary Poppins’s creator, P.L. Travers. In particular, it focuses on her friendship with Walt Disney and the pair’s bumpy relationship as the first Mary Poppins film was being brought to the screen. If you sit through the end credits, you can hear some original recordings of Travers making her forceful views about the whole project known. WOW! To prepare for the film, star Emma Thompson listened to nearly 40 hours of recordings of P.L. Travers.…

Bees are crucial for pollinating native wild flowers and fruit trees. Sow wild flower seeds to invite them into your garden, and then sit and listen closely to what they might be saying. Owls know the night’s secrets. You can help your local owls by doing some research into what species of owls live near you: barn owls? Tawny owls? Then you could build an owl nesting box to put in a nearby tree. Pick a spot near your home, anywhere will do, maybe beneath a tree in the park or in your garden, and take some time each day to sit and listen. What birds do you hear? What are the clouds like? Make notes in a journal. If you do this, even for a little while, you'll soon…

Over the last 80 years, bumblebee populations in the UK have fallen at an alarming rate. Two species have been driven to extinction and many more have declined dramatically. These insects are crucial in the pollination of crops and wildflowers, which is why the Bumblebee Conservation Trust is working hard to ensure their survival. The charity works across the country to conserve and encourage bumblebee populations. Head to bumblebeeconservation.org to find out more about how you can help.…

“I love reading The Week Junior, all of them are spread out on the floor as I’ve just come back from camping and I need to catch up on reading them.” Finn, Year 4 “After reading about the Kilauea volcano in Hawaii I’m hoping that Mount Vesuvius in Italy doesn’t erupt.” Amelia, Year 3 “Me and my brother, Bertie, reading The Week Junior with our new pet kitten Arthur.” Harry, Year 6 We’d love to see your snaps. Send them to us at hello@theweekjunior.co.uk  Don’t forget to tell us why you took them.…

Multi-talented meteorologist Presenting the weather live on television can be quite challenging. One weather forecaster (also known as a meteorologist) in Florida, US, decided to take it to the next level when she presented her live forecast while completing a Rubik’s cube. Lauren Olesky was given the notoriously tricky task by one of her colleagues. Unfazed, she was able to finish the colourful puzzle seemingly with ease – while also letting everyone know what the weather forecast was. Washing-line war The town of Colyton in Devon is airing its laundry all over the place in support of a resident. Claire Mountjoy received an email on behalf of local businesses that asked her not to hang her laundry outside her house because it might put off visitors to the town. However,…

1How many people gathered in Birmingham’s Small Heath Park this year to take part in Eid celebrations? a) Fewer than 100,000 b) More than 140,000 c) More than 200,000 2Who designed the famous building at the Glasgow School of Art that recently caught fire? 3True or false? The Pope went to space with astronauts from the International Space Station. 4Which of these is not a cartoon character used to promote food? a) Tony the Tiger b) The Milkybar Kid c) Simon Celery 5Where was artist Frida Kahlo born? 6True or false? Land’s End is in Devon. 7When is Armed Forces Day this year? 8What’s the name of the Mars rover that recently lost contact with Nasa? a) Opportunity b) Pathfinder c) Curiosity 9 How many gold medals did Scotland’s men…

22 June 1986 Maradona’s “hand of God” Diego Maradona scored one of the World Cup’s most famous goals when he punched the ball into the net with his hand. He scored the goal in the World Cup quarter-final match between Argentina and England. The referee didn’t see Maradona use his hand – which isn’t allowed – and awarded the goal. The incident became known as “the hand of God”. Four minutes later, Maradona scored again – using his foot – which was later described as “pure football genius”. Argentina won the game 2-1.…

On 15 June, a fire broke out at the Glasgow School of Art (GSA), in Scotland. The world-famous building, known as the Mackintosh Building, or the Mack, may now have to be torn down, but luckily no-one was injured. The building was already undergoing a major refurbishment after another fire badly damaged the building in 2014. More than 120 firefighters rushed to tackle the blaze, which could be seen throughout the city centre, and it took more than two days to put it out. People in Scotland and around the world have been left devastated by the loss of the treasured building. In the early hours of the following day, Nicola Sturgeon, Scotland’s First Minister, tweeted that her “thoughts tonight are for the safety of people – but my heart…

Zoe Bryant ZSL London Zoo, senior keeper In 1766, a Swedish zoologist called Carl Linnaeus gave the species its Latin name, militaris, which means military. He gave them the name because the birds’ plumage reminded him of the green uniforms with red collars worn by Prussian soldiers at the time. The military macaw is found in the forests of Mexico and in South America. 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…

The Navy looks after the seas surrounding the UK, as well as trade routes in and out of the country. Lieutenant Commander Rachael Rake first got a taste of military life when she did school work experience at a local RAF base. At the age of 17, she joined the Royal Navy – coming from “a family of fishermen meant I always had a calling to the sea,” she says. Since then, she has travelled the world. “I will never forget breaking sea ice in HMS Bulwark while watching the northern lights,” she says. Rake is now a marine engineer officer, leading a team of 40 sailors on HMS Northumberland, responsible for the equipment needed to make the ship move, create electricity and provide fresh water.…

What do you need to extract nuclear fuel from seawater? A team of researchers in the US have developed a surprising answer to that question – and they did it with long, shaggy tubes made from the same type of flexible acrylic fibres that are sometimes used to make jumpers. The team treated the fibres with a chemical that collects uranium oxide dissolved in the seawater. This substance is also called yellowcake because of its colour. Uranium is a heavy metal that is radioactive, and uranium oxide is a substance formed from uranium and oxygen. Nuclear power stations use uranium oxide fuel rods made of purified yellowcake. Uranium oxide is useful because it produces a lot of heat with an atom-splitting process called nuclear fission. Nuclear fission reactions make electricity…

Atlas of Football by Clive Gifford. Illustrated by Tracy Worrall (Egmont UK) This brilliant book from award-winning non-fiction author Clive Gifford will take you on a journey around the globe. Celebrate the beautiful game, discover new and surprising facts and stats, plus find out about some of the funny and extraordinary moments that make football such a popular sport. Our World Cup: A Fans’ Guide to 2018 by Copa90. Illustrated by Kevin McGivern (Penguin Books) Football followers of all ages will be glued to this comprehensive guide to the World Cup. Written by Copa90’s team of fanatics, it contains all the information you’ll need about the competition – from a rundown on all 32 competing nations, to a guide to the host nation’s stadiums and cities, and much more. Football…

What is your best childhood memory? Being adopted by a cat. I wasn’t allowed a pet, so when a cat walked in our back door and kept visiting our house, my parents eventually relented and she ended up living with us. Where do you get your ideas from? Ideas seem to come from experiences and memories but are developed through imagination. Research is also important and I enjoy talking to experts, spending time at wildlife parks, visiting landscapes and reading news articles to expand on an early idea. I enjoy talking to people and stories are often sparked by a conversation, particularly with elderly neighbours who have a wealth of experience. If you could be any animal, what would you be? A bird, preferably a swallow. I’d like to know…

Britain’s Best Junior Doctors 7.30pm on 25 June, BBC Two Watch as some of the UK’s top young doctors battle it out in the first medical-themed quiz show. Teams from various teaching hospitals will be thrown into a number of scenarios, from diagnosing a patient to prioritising cases in a mock A&E department. Deadly Dinosaurs – King of the Killers 5.25pm on 27 June, CBBC Adventurer and TV host Steve Backshall is on a mission to discover the most dangerous dinosaur that ever walked the Earth. Which beast will come out on top? Voltron: Legendary Defender: Season 6 Available now on Netflix Voltron, the giant, galaxy-saving robot, must work with Galra, a group of fearsome warriors. With shocking revelations and power struggles taking place, an epic showdown seems to be…

HabitMinder iOS (Free) Can a smartphone help you to develop healthy habits? That’s the aim of this app, which wants to remind you to drink water, be active, get plenty of sleep and think deeply when you’re feeling a bit stressed. You start by choosing from a list of more than 50 the habits on which you want to focus. For example, the Hydrate mini app helps you log how much water you drink, and the Relax mini app plays soothing sounds while you take a breather. Walk, Run, Stretch and Stand are some of the mini apps that help you get off your sofa. As you use it, you can check your stats to see if you’re on target. It’s free to track three habits, but unlocking more costs…

Name: Esther Year: 7 “You probably all know how important it is for us to reduce the amount of plastic we use and throw away, how it is polluting our environment and filling our oceans. I decided to try and do something about it. I created an online petition and joined my school’s eco group. I shared my online petition with the headteacher and my group delivered an assembly to the school. We had a meeting with the school catering company – getting them on board has been really important. Here are some of the new initiatives that we’ve introduced: ● Using reusable coffee cups ● Using glasses instead of single-use plastic bottles ● Using metal instead of plastic cutlery ● Getting a compost bin The school has now pledged…

Teacher’s name: Miss McSweeney School: Epsom Primary School, Surrey “Miss McSweeney is an amazing teacher because in lessons she lets us talk about things that have happened to us that are related to what we are learning, and when things go wrong she finds something positive about it. I love being in her class!” Tess, Year 3 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…