Innholdsfortegnelse for 221 i The Week Junior

On 3 March, the UK Government announced its plans to tackle the spread of Covid-19. What is Covid-19? Covid-19 is a new type of coronavirus that was first detected in China at the end of 2019. A coronavirus is a type of virus that causes respiratory infections (infections in the nose, throat and lungs, including colds and flu). People who catch Covid-19 may experience high temperatures, coughing and breathing difficulties, but many infected people have experienced only mild symptoms. How many people have caught it? As The Week Junior went to press, there were 90,870 known cases of Covid-19 around the world and around 3,000 people had died. Many of those who died were already in poor health. Reports suggest that children are much less likely to become infected, and…

9 March 1959 Barbie goes on sale On 9 March 1959, the first Barbie doll went on sale. The doll sold in huge numbers (apparently two are sold every second) but she also caused fierce debate. Some people said it was good that Barbie had jobs such as an astronaut and a surgeon, because at the time not many women went into these careers. Others said her body shape was unrealistic and gave girls an unhealthy image of what women looked like. In 2016, Barbie dolls were released with different body shapes and skin tones.…

Historians have rediscovered a hidden passageway in the House of Commons. The tunnel is 360 years old and was built for the coronation of King Charles II in 1661, so that people could get to a celebration next door in Westminster Hall. It was covered up in 1851, before being rediscovered after the Second World War (1939–1945) and then blocked off again. One expert says that it shows that “the Palace of Westminster still has so many secrets to give up”.…

When people go to the theatre, there are usually rules they have to follow. In particular, audience members are expected to keep quiet and sit still during the show. Some people find these rules harder to follow than others. Comedian Jess Thom, who has Tourette’s syndrome, was once separated from the rest of the audience at a theatre and moved to a sound booth because she made noise during the show. (Tourette’s syndrome is a condition that causes people to make sounds and movements involuntarily.) After this she found out about relaxed performances, where the usual rules of the theatre don’t apply. Now, Thom is helping Battersea Arts Centre in London to make all its performances relaxed. Some people say that every theatre should do this – what do you…

David Graham is one of the most famous actors people may have never seen. Instead, they’ll have heard him – either as the voice of Parker in Thunderbirds, as the original voice of the Daleks in Doctor Who, or as Grandpa Pig in Peppa Pig. Speaking to The Week Junior, Graham says that his ability to do many different voices is a gift and that he always has his ears open to listen to how people talk. One example of this was with the character of Parker, who is Lady Penelope’s butler in Thunderbirds. Graham says that of all the characters he has played, Parker is his favourite. The voice was based on a waiter at a pub near where the series was first filmed in Berkshire, England. Thunderbirds was…

Scientists have discovered an “astonishing” number of Antarctic blue whales in the waters off the coast of South Georgia, an island in the south Atlantic Ocean. During a 23-day survey, a team of researchers from the British Antarctic Survey (BAS) counted 55 animals. Dr Trevor Branch, a scientist from the University of Washington, in the US, who specialises in studying blue whales, said the number was “truly amazing”. In the last century, Antarctic blue whales were nearly hunted to extinction for their blubber, a thick layer of fat that marine mammals have under their skin to keep their bodies warm. Hunters used the blubber for oil to use in products like soap or fuel for oil lamps. Around South Georgia, more than 33,000 whales are believed to have been killed.…

Chameleons change their colours and patterns for two main reasons. The first is as a form of camouflage, so they can blend in to their surroundings and either hide from predators or sneak up on their dinner. The other reason is to help them communicate to other chameleons how they are feeling – vivid bright colours often mean they are happy or excited, whereas intense dark patterns can show they are upset or unwell. Enjoy unlimited visits to ZSL London and Whipsnade Zoos, plus a host of other benefits with ZSL Membership. Find out more at zsl.org/membership/zsl-membership…

In 2017, scientists in Hong Kong, Malaysia and Singapore came together to try and find out exactly why durians smell so bad. They investigated the genes of one type of durian called the Musang King. Genes are short sections of DNA that carry information about a living thing and its characteristics. They found that the stench was produced by compounds containing the chemical element sulfur. It is thought that the purpose of this smell is to attract animals such as bats and elephants, which help to pollinate the durian in the wild.…

Little Bird Lands by Karen McCombie (Nosy Crow) In this gripping historical adventure, Little Bird sets out from Scotland for a new life in the US. Her new world is full of peril, though, and soon she’s on the run, embarking on a dangerous journey that will take her from the streets of New York City to the wild prairies of the west. Lalani of the Distant Sea by Erin Entrada Kelly (Piccadilly Press) When her mother falls ill with an incurable disease, 12-year-old Lalani must leave her island home and set out to find the riches of the legendary Mount Isa. Generations of people have died on the same quest – so how can one timid girl possibly succeed? This award-winning story was inspired by Filipino folklore. Agent Zaiba…

The African Queen DVD, Prime Video It might seem surprising but the Tomb Raider video games were in part inspired by this classic adventure film, starring Humphrey Bogart and Katharine Hepburn. There are some parts that seem very out of place today – there’s a lot of drinking and smoking, considering it’s a family film – but the core story of a difficult journey in a steamboat along a river is immensely good fun to watch. Bogart and Hepburn – two of Hollywood’s most famous stars of yesteryear – are brilliant together too, and the dialogue between them really sparkles. More than 60 years on, it’s rightly regarded as a classic. BRITISH CONNECTION The film takes its name from the boat the characters travel on. It was made in Lancashire,…

Who doesn’t like a tea party? Starring cakes, cakes and more cakes (and maybe some sandwiches if you’re feeling adventurous), a tea party is lots of fun, whether you’re hosting it for friends, family or neighbours. “There is something lovely about a tea party, perhaps it’s because it is a meal you don’t really need to have,” says Great British Bake Off finalist Miranda Gore Browne. “It’s a brilliant opportunity to be creative with food and how you serve it.” The first thing to think about when organising a tea party is a theme – traditionally, tea parties are an excuse to dust off your finest tea set and make cupcakes and cucumber sandwiches, but you can theme your tea party around almost anything. It could be about books, and…

What you need ● A sink ● Warm water ● Soap ● A towel What to do Washing your hands frequently and thoroughly is one of the best ways to avoid getting ill because it will remove dirt, viruses and bacteria. This stops them getting into your system – if you touch your eyes, mouth or nose for example – and also stops them from being passed on to other people. You should always wash your hands before and after eating, after going to the toilet and after blowing your nose, sneezing or coughing. Here’s how to do it properly: first wet your hands with warm water, then add soap and rub your palms together. Next wash the back of your hands, between your fingers, your thumbs, fingernails and wrists.…

On 5 March, the new cover of the Guinness World Records 2021 Edition, designed by illustrator Rod Hunt, was revealed. To celebrate the launch of the book and its brilliant cover – which took Rod 300 hours to create and features more than 200 records – a cool new competition has been launched on the Guinness World Records website. Enter and you could win a bespoke edition of the book, with yourself drawn onto the cover, jumping onto the largest whoopie cushion. You’ve got until 26 March to submit your entry. Visit guinnessworldrecords.com to find out more.…

Teacher’s name: Mrs Corcoran School: Boxgrove Primary School, Surrey “I love Mrs Corcoran’s teaching style! If we don’t understand she explains it again in different ways. This makes us feel confident to try our best and never give up. She once said, ‘When you listen to others, they will listen to you.’ This helps the class to respect each other.” George If we pick your teacher as Teacher of the Week, we’ll sendyourschoolthreefreeissuesof 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…

There is a lot of information around about the coronavirus but not all of it is accurate. Make sure you know the facts. Can pets spread the virus? No. However, it is always a good idea to wash your hands after touching an animal. Is it dangerous to get packages from China? No, the World Health Organisation has said it is perfectly safe to receive post from China. Should I wear a face mask? Face masks can help to prevent droplets containing the virus from reaching the wearer when other people cough or sneeze. However, if you aren’t going to be in close contact with people who are unwell, a mask won’t make much difference.…

A NEW CRICKET RECORD England cricket captain Heather Knight has made history by becoming the first English player to score a century in all three forms of the sport played at international level. A century is scoring 100 runs in an innings. She set the record by reaching 108 runs in the Women’s T20 World Cup against Thailand. SOLVING A RIDDLE A mysterious message found on a rock on the coast of Brittany, in France, has finally been deciphered. The village of Plougastel launched a competition after experts were unable to make sense of the riddle. Two winners worked out that the 230-year-old message was in memory of a man who died at sea. MULTI-MARATHON RUNNER Eddie Izzard, a 58-year-old comedian, has completed his 29th marathon in 29 days. A…

On 24 February, 10-year-old Malachi Justin welcomed one of the first residents to Malachi Place, a homeless centre that was built thanks to his donation of £5 of tooth-fairy money. Justin donated the money to charity five years ago, to help the homeless where he lives in Ilford, England. His donation inspired the local council and the charity the Salvation Army to put £5 million towards building a brand-new homeless centre, which has now opened. Justin said “everyone should have a home”.…

● In February, Battersea Arts Centre in London became the world’s first relaxed theatre venue. ● At most theatres people are expected to sit still and keep quiet. Some theatres won’t let people back in if they go to the toilet during the show. ● Relaxed theatre performances are performances that have been adapted for people who may struggle to follow usual theatre rules. During a relaxed performance, audience members can talk and move during the show. ● A few theatres in London offer relaxed performances of certain shows.…

Blue whales are the biggest animals in the world. They grow up to 30 metres long and can weigh 180 tonnes. However, their diet is mostly made up of tiny creatures between two and five centimetres long, called krill. To feed, the whales open their mouths, allowing water and krill to rush in. They then push the water out but trap the krill with long plates that hang inside their mouths called balleen. Blue whales can eat up to 3,600 kilograms of krill a day.…

Jaguars New rules introduced at a global conference will help to protect jaguars in six different countries in Latin America. The rare cats have lost around 40% of their habitat in the last 100 years. The agreement will help to preserve what remains and protect the routes they use to cross borders. Bohai Bay The coast of Bohai Bay, in northern China, has been identified as one of the areas most likely to be affected by rising sea levels. In some places, areas that were once farmland have already become small islands. It is thought that rising water will affect 100 million people in China by 2050.…

Andy Warhol was one of the best known and influential artists of the 20th century. He is famous for his colourful artworks that feature tins of soup, fizzy-drink bottles and celebrities. He made art fascinating for people who didn’t have an interest in the subject, and he remains popular today, long after this death. A new exhibition of Warhol’s work opens at London’s Tate Modern on 12 March. A difficult upbringing Warhol was born in 1928 in the US state of Pennsylvania. His parents were poor and originally from a region in Europe that is today called Slovakia. Warhol was shy and he often felt like he did not fit in. Sometimes he even refused to go to school. He moved to the US city of New York in 1949,…

Archaeologists (people who study objects linked to past human activity) have found evidence of a previously lost kingdom in Turkey because of a chance discovery. While working at the site of an ancient city called Türkmen-Karahöyük in southern Turkey, an international team of archaeologists were alerted by a local farmer to a mysterious stone he had found in a canal nearby. The stone had markings on it, written in an ancient language. Dr James Osborne, from the University of Chicago in the US, and Michele Massa, from the British Institute in Ankara (Turkey’s capital city), identified it as Luwian, an ancient language. The farmer helped the team pull the massive stone out of the canal using his tractor, and it was sent to a museum for decoding. When it was…

The Pear Affair by Judith Eagle. Illustrated by Kim Geyer (Faber Children’s) Nell Magnificent’s money-obsessed mum and dad don’t care about her much. They’ve even packed her off to a horrible boarding school, where she will be out of sight and out of mind. Luckily there is someone who loves Nell: her old au pair, Perrine, known as Pear, who lives in Paris, France. Pear used to write long letters every week, promising to come to Nell’s rescue, but now Pear’s letters have stopped and Nell has no idea why. Tagging along on her parents’ business trip to Paris, she sets out to find out what happened. Soon, she has befriended a hotel bellboy, Xavier, who introduces her to a mysterious new world of tunnels and catacombs beneath the city.…

Did the fact you’d worked with Chris Pratt on the Avengers films help? I really think so. This film is so much about the connection between these two brothers and unfortunately, because of Chris’s and my schedules, we couldn’t always be in the room together (when recording their lines), so it was really important that (the filmmakers) found two people who had a pre-existing relationship. Our relationship off-screen from the Marvel universe was really helpful in the making of this film. This film is set on Ian’s 16th birthday. What did you do for yours? I went water skiing with all my mates. My mum used to be a professional water skier when she was my age. She used to live in Orlando (in the US state of Florida) and…

The Greatest Dancer final 6.30pm on 7 March, BBC One Four acts remain, but only one can be crowned the winner. The finalists join forces with their dance captains for an opening number, and from there it will be up to viewers at home to decide who will win the trophy, and who will go home empty-handed. Carmen Sandiego: To Steal or Not to Steal Streaming from 10 March on Netflix Carmen Sandiego is the latest Netflix star to be given an interactive episode, in which viewers decide what happens and where the character will end up. The super-spy ‘s adventure references her origins as a video game character. Sport Relief 2020 7pm on 13 March, BBC One Some of the biggest names in TV and sport are joining forces…

Can we raise money? A tea party is a great way to support a charity you care about. Why not ask everyone coming to the party to donate a certain amount of money to the charity? How should I decorate? Bunting always adds a little tea-party atmosphere – you can make your own by cutting out triangles (featuring the theme, if you wish) and threading string through them. You could also make each guest a present to take home. What else can we eat? Scones, served with jam and clotted cream are very popular at tea parties. Why not bake your own scones or buy them and then make the jam yourself? Strawberry or raspberry are the most popular but you can choose whatever you like.…

Do you ever hear birds singing when you’re on your way to school? Or take a moment to look up at the sky, or to smell a wildflower on the school field? A recent National Trust report revealed that many people don’t spend time enjoying nature (see our story on page 5). Now that the days are getting longer and the weather is beginning to warm up (just a little bit!), there are signs of spring all around. Even if you live in a city, listen carefully and you’ll hear birds chirping in the mornings and early evenings. Look up to see buds on branches and down to spot the beginnings of new life erupting through the cracks in the pavement. It’s easy to rush about and not notice the…

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Follow The Week Junior on PopJam@TheWeekJunior. You can download the PopJam app from the App Store or Google Play. Iron in the enamel on a beaver’s teeth makes them tougher than those of other mammals – but turns them orange. Our PopJammers said... “How the heck have I never noticed this before?” “Wow! Imagine if humans had orange teeth.” “Fascinating!” “That is so interesting! I wonder why on animated TV they always draw their teeth white.” Tell us what you think of this week’s issue and we’ll print some of the best comments here.…

1 What is the United Nations? a) The collective name for England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland b) An organisation of 193 countries taking action on issues including peace c) A band representing the UK at this year’s Eurovision contest 2 True or false? More than half of eight to 15-year-olds in the UK frequently smell flowers. 3 What type of car was stopped and towed away in Moscow, Russia? 4 How many tickets to London theatres were sold in 2019? a) 10 million b) 12 million c) 15 million 5 True or false? David Graham is the voice of Peppa Pig. 6 What type of food do Antarctic blue whales usually eat? 7 Who was Andy Warhol? a) The first person to drive a bus along the A303 b)…

Around one million people have fled north-western Syria since December 2019 because of intense fighting in the area. They are heading towards the border with Turkey. They face freezing temperatures, and many have nowhere to stay and little food to eat. There has been a war in Syria for nine years. It is between Syrian president Bashar al-Assad’s military forces, which are supported by Russia, and rebel fighters, who want al-Assad to step down. More than 400,000 people have died since the war began. There are around 3.6 million Syrian refugees already living in Turkey. (A refugee is someone who has been forced to leave their home because of war or violence or because it is unsafe for them to stay there.) Turkey’s president, Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, has said he…

The Government’s decision to build a third runway at Heathrow Airport, near London, has been ruled illegal. This means the runway might not be built. This case was heard by the Court of Appeal on 27 February. The Court of Appeal is one of the most senior law courts of England and Wales. Why was the project found to be illegal? The Court of Appeal found the plans were not in line with the Government’s commitments to tackle climate change (long-term changes in world weather patterns, including rising temperatures), particularly the Paris Agreement. This is a 2015 international agreement that has been signed by 197 countries, including the UK. It aims to reduce the emissions of harmful gases, such as carbon dioxide (C02), that cause climate change. How would the…

Now that you’ve read a bit more about it, tell us what you think by voting in our poll at theweekjunior.co.uk/polls. Vote YES if you think that all theatres should be more relaxed, or NO if you don’t. We’ll publish the results next week. The aim of the Big debate page is to present two sides of an issue fairly and objectively, in order to stimulate discussion and allow our readers to make up their minds. The views on the page do not reflect those of The Week Junior, and the page is not funded by third parties. The page is created in association with the English-Speaking Union, an educational charity helping young people discover their voice and realise their full potential. For more information, please see esu.org…

It is easy to throw things away when they break, but doing so can lead to objects piling up in landfill sites – huge rubbish dumps that never disappear. Instead, try repairing or reusing damaged items. If you rip or stain a garment, think about how to turn it into something else – such as cutting trousers into shorts, dyeing a garment a new colour or sewing a patch onto something with a tear. If you damage a toy, ask a grown-up if they can help you fix it. You can easily glue things back together and then paint over the cracks. Electronic items can be harder to repair. If one of these breaks and it’s impossible to fix, find out where to recycle it properly. Go to tinyurl. com/TWJ-tech-recycle…

The spectacled bear, also known as the Andean bear, is South America’s only native bear species and has been selected as a possible new “flagship species”. These are recognisable species, like pandas or tigers, that charities pick to be symbols for their funding appeals. ● LIFESPAN IN THE WILD: Unknown, but up to 30 years in captivity. ● HABITAT: The forests of the Andes mountains, as well as in coastal deserts and rainforests. ● DIET: Mostly berries, cacti, fruit and honey. However, they also eat birds, insects and small rodents. ● FUN FACT: Each spectacled bear’s face, neck and chest markings are unique.…

Scientists in Australia have discovered that they can use the world’s smelliest fruits to make devices that could power electric cars. A durian is a fruit that looks like a spiky pineapple. It is a delicacy in some Asian countries, but its smell is so unpleasant that some of those countries have banned it from public places. Its stink has been compared to vomit, sewage, rotting eggs and even smelly old gym socks. Vincent Gomes and his colleagues at the University of Sydney, in Australia, used a durian and a jackfruit – another fruit known for its terrible stench – to make energy-storing devices called supercapacitors. Supercapacitors are an alternative to batteries. They can’t store as much energy as a normal battery does, but they are much quicker to recharge.…

Chelsea Women They won the Continental League Cup, the first major trophy of the women’s football season in England, for the first time. They beat London rivals Arsenal 2-1, thanks to Beth England scoring a dramatic injury-time goal at The City Ground in Nottingham. Chelsea are also hoping to win the FA Women’s Super League title later this season. Manchester City The current Premier League champions lifted the first major honour of the men’s season in England by beating Aston Villa in the Carabao Cup, which is also known as the League Cup. The final was played at Wembley Stadium in London. Manchester City’s 2-1 victory was the third time in a row they had won the competition.…

What was the idea behind the main character? Imagine what it would feel like if your mum named you after her favourite handbag, but she loved the handbag more than you! This is what happened to Penelope Magnificent, who prefers to be called Nell. What was your favourite book as a child? One that influenced me was Emil and the Detectives by Erich Kastner. There is a scene where all the children of the city come out onto the streets to defeat the baddie. I wanted to do something similar. Were you inspired by real life for the book? Yes! There really are nearly 200 miles of tunnels criss-crossing below Paris, accessible via basements, crypts and manholes. Imagine if this was the domain of children, with no adults around to…

The British Library’s archives contain a treasure trove of items related to famous children’s books. Now you can explore 100 of them on its new Discovering Children’s Books website. The collection isn’t just from the British Library’s archives. It has teamed up with London’s V&A Museum, the Bodleian Libraries in Oxford, England, and the Seven Stories National Centre for Children’s Books in Newcastle, England. The website lets you take a closer look at the art from popular books such as Roald Dahl’s Matilda, Judith Kerr’s The Tiger Who Came to Tea, Nadia Shireen’s Billy and the Beast and Liz Pichon’s Tom Gates series. There’s also the first version of Lewis Carroll’s Alice’s Adventures Under Ground – the story that would later become Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland – and letters written…

Andy Warhol is one of the 20th century’s most famous artists. In the 1950s and 1960s, his colourful works of art made him well known across the world. One of his best known series is of bright flowers (see picture below, right). Follow the instructions to make your own Warhol-inspired flower prints. You can read more about Warhol on pages 12 and 13. An exhibition of Warhol’s art is at Tate Modern in London from 12 March until 6 September. What you need ● Some plain card or paper (ideally A4 size or bigger, but any size can work) ● Some colourful acrylic paints ● A paintbrush ● A pepper What to do Start by taking a piece of paper or card and paint the background for your flowers. You…

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