Innholdsfortegnelse for 272 i The Week Junior

A CARD ARRIVING 77 YEARS LATE In 1943, Bill Caldwell sent a postcard home to Liverpool, England, about his first week’s training in the Royal Navy. His relatives, who still live in the family home, recently received the postcard 77 years after Caldwell sent it. Caldwell died 25 years ago, and his children said it was “surreal” to read the note. MAX THE “MIRACLE” DOG A springer spaniel called Max has received a special award for his contribution during the Covid-19 pandemic. Max and his owner’s walks in the Lake District, England, have been broadcast online, cheering up hundreds of thousands of people around the world. FINDING VIKING TREASURE A metal detectorist has found Viking jewellery on the Isle of Man. Kath Giles found the hoard that dates back to…

In March 2020, during the first coronavirus lockdown, the Welsh town of Llandudno was taken over by goats, as people stayed indoors. Now they’re back. The goats were spotted wandering the streets of the town on 21 February. The herd lives on a nearby headland called the Great Orme, and the goats sometimes take shelter in Llandudno during bad weather. A local resident told the BBC, “It is nice seeing the animals out enjoying what we can’t enjoy.”…

Wild dreams during lockdown” are what inspired Sita Brahmachari to write her new novel, she tells The Week Junior. The River Whale is one of this year’s £1 World Book Day novels, which you can buy with a £1 book token (you’ll find one on page 23). World Book Day is a global celebration of reading, this year held on 4 March. As part of the festivities you can use a token to buy a book from a selection of titles on offer. The River Whale is a story about a girl who embarks on a mission to free a trapped whale from the River Thames in London. The idea first entered Brahmachari’s scrapbooks and dreams when a few years ago, a whale did get trapped in the Thames. “It…

Happy birthday, Pikachu! This month, Pokémon turns 25 years old. Celebrate by looking back at some of the most famous games, cartoons and cards that made the game such a huge success. The start of Pokémon In February 1996, Nintendo released two Pocket Monsters games in Japan for its first handheld device, the Game Boy. Created by developers Satoshi Tajiri and Ken Sugimori, the games were a big hit. In 1998, Nintendo released editions called Pokémon Red and Pokémon Blue, introducing gamers to a world filled with colourful creatures called Pokémon (short for pocket monsters). Like animals in our world, some Pokémon lived in the wild and some were people’s pets. Some Pokémon had special powers, like breathing fire or shooting water, and many were trained to battle one another.…

The first person to discover DNA was the Swiss researcher Friedrich Miescher, who stumbled across it while analysing white blood cells in 1869. Although this find was fascinating, it wasn’t until 1953 that the structure of the chemical was revealed. James Watson and Francis Crick are generally acknowledged as the scientists who discovered DNA’s twisted, spiralling shape. This breakthrough showed how information about a living thing’s appearance and behaviour could be coded into the order of the chemicals within the DNA strands.…

Scientists at the University of California, San Diego, in the US, have created a robot that is powered by pressurised air without needing any electronics to move. Each of its four legs are controlled by a set of valves that let pressurised air in and out. When this is done in the right sequence, it makes the legs bend and the robot start moving. Its body and movements are inspired by the sideneck turtle. Dylan Drotman, lead author of the study, says the technology could be used to make fantastic toys. Enjoy these stories? Find more in this month’s The Week Junior Science+ Naturemagazinesciencenature.theweekjunior.co.uk…

Scotland women’s football Scotland beat Cyprus 10-0 in a Euro 2022 qualifying game. Erin Cuthbert, Martha Thomas and Jane Ross got two goals each. GB men’s basketball Great Britain scored in the very last second to beat Germany by 83 points to 81. The win meant they qualified for next year’s EuroBasket 2022 competition. Jordan Brown The 33-year-old snooker player from Northern Ireland won the Welsh Open after beating Ronnie O’Sullivan 9-8. It is his first major trophy. Elliot Giles The runner set a new British 800-metres indoor record time of one minute, 43.63 seconds at the World Indoor Tour event in Poland.…

Discover what music means to some The Week Junior readers. • “Music makes me feel powerful. Like when I’m skateboarding I can do more difficult tricks.” Cirrus, 12 • “Listening to harp music helps my concentration when I’m doing homework. There’s something soothing about it, and it helps me focus and relax.” Amelie, 11 • “If I’m worried about something, I find music helps me feel calmer.” Ava, 13 • “Pop music makes me happy and want to dance.” Seb, 8…

How to Train Your Dragon Based on a book written by Cressida Cowell, How to Train Your Dragon tells the story of Hiccup, a boy who trains to fight dragons but ends up befriending one instead. How to Train Your Dragon is available to watch now on Netflix. Spirited Away When 10-year-old Chihiro’s family moves house, she gets lost and enters a world of witches, spirits and a magical white dragon called Haku. Spirited Away is made by Studio Ghibli, a Japanese animation studio. The film is available to watch now on Netflix. Dragon Rider This film is the story of a young dragon named Firedrake who, along with an orphaned boy and a mountain spirit, searches for a place where dragons can live in peace. Dragon Rider is available…

The Witches From 5 March on Sky Cinema This retelling of Roald Dahl’s novel The Witches is about an orphaned boy and his grandmother, and their adventures with evil witches. Anne Hathaway (Les Miserables) plays the glamorous Grand High Witch. It’s a dark fantasy comedy film with some scary scenes and, of course, mice. Athletics: World Indoor Highlights 1.25pm on 27 February, BBC1 Catch the best action from the final instalment of the World Athletics Indoor Tour, taking place in Madrid, Spain. Several British stars are competing ahead of next week’s European Indoor Championships. These include sprinter Dina Asher-Smith and middle-distance runners Jemma Reekie and Elliot Giles. Ricky Wilson’s Art Jam 11am on 1 March, CBBC Ricky Wilson, a former art teacher and the singer with the band Kaiser Chiefs,…

Where should we play? Pick a spot to play that has enough room for the game but will also be comfortable. For most board or card games, you will need a table with plenty of space. A kitchen or dining-room table works well, or you could put cushions and pillows around a coffee table and have everyone sit around it on the floor. What should we eat? No game night is complete without treats to nibble on. Popcorn, pretzels or bite-sized desserts that don’t require spoons are easy to enjoy while playing a game. Bonus points if you can match the food’s theme to your game. For example, you could pass out chocolate gold coins if you’re playing Monopoly.…

Deputy editor’s note I’m Rahul, the newest member of The Week Junior squad. I’ve joined the wonderful team who make this amazing magazine as deputy editor. It’s been a little bit strange coming on board during the pandemic, because I’ve yet to meet anyone face-to-face. I haven’t been to the office, which means I’ve yet to have a cup of tea and a natter with my colleagues because we’ve all been working from home. Spending lots of time at home and not seeing people, whether friends, classmates or loved ones, is something we’ve all experienced during the last year of living with restrictions. However, I’ve found putting the magazine together and coming across incredible stories and breakthroughs are a highlight of my week – such as the new method of…

1 On which Italian island is Mount Etna? a) Sicily b) Sardinia c) Capri a □ b □ c □ 2 True or false? Goats have taken over the Welsh town of Aberystwyth. 3 At which city’s zoo was a baby gorilla born? 4 Which UK town became a city in 1889, even though it had no cathedral? a) Edinburgh b) Birmingham c) Newport a □ b □ c □ 5 True or false? A dream inspired Sita Brahmachari to write her new novel. 6 What noise do fishing cats make? 7 Which was the first Pokémon ever created? a) Pikachu b) Rhydon c) Charizard a □ b □ c □ 8 True or false? A year on Mars lasts 91 Earth days. 9 What was a horse from Galway…

• In 2019, more than 83% of people in the UK were living in cities or towns. • The Covid-19 pandemic has led to people working and schooling at home. Many people in cities have realised they want more space, both indoors and outdoors, making the countryside more appealing. • “Covid-19 has fundamentally changed the way we see cities,” said research published last month. It also predicted a decline in London’s population in 2021. • Knight Frank, a company that sells houses, says the year 2020 was dominated by people moving from cities to the countryside.…

On 3 March it will be World Wildlife Day, an awareness day that celebrates the world’s wonderful wild animals and plants. This year’s theme is Forests and Livelihoods: Sustaining People and Planet. It aims to highlight the important link between forests and the people who depend on them. Millions of people live in or near forests and rely on them for food, shelter and medicine. There are many ways to get involved and mark the day. Students and achers are encouraged to learn about forest wildlife and communities during lessons. You could do some research on your own topic, such as rainforests and the people and animals that live there, then paint, draw or write about it. DID YOU KNOW? Between 200 and 350 million people live in or next…

Pancake tortoises Longleat Safari Park in Wiltshire, England, is celebrating the birth of five tiny pancake tortoises. The endangered species get their name because of their flat shells. The newborns are called Banana, Peanut, Piccolo, Prairie and Syrup, and each one is about the size of a 50p coin. Oak trees A new report has warned that nearly a third of the world’s 430 oak tree species are threatened with extinction. The oaks most in danger are in China and Vietnam in Asia, and Mexico and the US in North America. The loss of habitats to farming poses the biggest threat.…

Scientists have found a way to grow cyanobacteria, also known as blue-green algae, on Mars. It’s a discovery that could lead to human habitation of the Red Planet. Cyanobacteria are tiny living things found in water. They release oxygen during photosynthesis (the process by which organisms use sunlight to make their own food). The algae can also transform other gases, such as carbon dioxide and nitrogen, into nutrients (substances that help living things grow). Scientists think that a huge rise in the numbers of cyanobacteria 2.4 billion years ago is what made Earth’s atmosphere breathable. Mars’ atmosphere is mostly made up of carbon dioxide and nitrogen, so researchers are hoping the blue-green algae could be used to allow plants to grow there too, for food and medicines. However, it is…

MOBILE PHOTOGRAPHY AWARDS 2021…

This summer’s Olympic Games (delayed from 2020) will take place in Tokyo, Japan, and Naomi Osaka hopes to win a gold medal playing in the country where she was born. “I’ve never played at an Olympics, so just to have it this time in Tokyo is going to be very special,” she said. The Olympics will have women’s and men’s singles and doubles tennis tournaments, as well as mixed doubles, where a man and woman play together. The Olympics will open on 23 July.…

Joanna Forest is a singer, author and illustrator. Try her music and imagination workshop to take your mind on a relaxing journey: • Play Joanna Forest’s song Hushabye Mountain (tinyurl. com/TWJhush) or any other calm, soothing music. • Find a quiet space. Sit or lie comfortably, close your eyes and take some deep breaths. • Listen to the music and let it paint pictures in your mind. Let the music wash over you and see where your imagination takes you. • When the music finishes, open your eyes and write down what you remember.…

Zillah Bethell The Shark Caller writer Zillah Bethell talks about her childhood. What inspires you? I am inspired by paintings and by poetry. I also get inspired by the magnitude of nature – mountains, seascapes, deserts. Are you a shark fan? I am and my favourite is the lantern shark because they glow and cast no shadow. I like all sea creatures and remember seeing guppy fish and sea urchins as I swam over coral reefs. What was it like growing up in Papua New Guinea? I loved growing up there because there was no school and no rules. I had to collect wood and catch fish but the rest of the time I swam in the sea or played on the beach. There were no books but we told…

1 March 2006 The Senedd Cymru opens On 1 March 2006, the Senedd Cymru (which is Welsh for Welsh Parliament) building opened in Cardiff. The Senedd is the main public building of the Welsh Parliament and is where politicians debate laws that affect the country. The building was designed by the architect Richard Rogers and is built of traditional Welsh materials such as slate from north Wales and steel from Port Talbot, as well as lots of sustainable materials. 1 March is St David’s Day. St David is the patron saint of Wales.…

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 living in the countryside is better, 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…

Sean Meechan Senior bird keeper at Edinburgh Zoo The rarest animals I’ve met are birds called Socorro doves. Sadly, these are extinct in the wild and can only be found in zoos. There are only around 200 birds in captivity and probably fewer than 100 of these are pure-bred. Conservation groups are trying to restore the habitats on Socorro Island, where they used to live, so that one day it will be possible for the descendants of zoo-bred birds – like the ones at Edinburgh Zoo – to repopulate it. Do you have a burning question for one of our zookeepers? We would love to hear it and include it in the magazine. Send it in an email to us at hello@theweekjunior.co.uk…

On 20 February, Naomi Osaka won the Australian Open tennis final for the second time. Osaka, who was born in Japan and moved to the US when she was three, beat US player Jennifer Brady by six games to four in the first set and six games to three in the second. The Australian Open, played at Melbourne Park in the city of Melbourne, is one of the four big yearly tennis tournaments that are known as Grand Slams. The US Open, French Open and Wimbledon are the other Grand Slams. Osaka has now won all four of the Grand Slam finals she has played; the 23-year-old won the 201 Australian Open and the US Open in 2020 and 2018. She is the first female since 1991 to win her…

As soon as screenwriter Adele Lim heard the pitch for Disney’s new epic adventure film Raya and the Last Dragon, she wanted to be involved. She says the producer summed up the film for her in a few words:“Asian, kick-ass warrior, dragon”.. Lim was immediately won over and became one of the film’s writers. Raya and the Last Dragon follows warrior Princess Raya as she tracks down Sisu, a magical (and funny) dragon, who is the only one who can rescue the kingdom. Lim says it is the characters and setting that make the film special. The h three main characters are all female, which Lim says was exciting because it’s not something viewers often get to see. The lead role of Raya is voiced by Kelly Marie Tran, who…

Apple TV, Chili, DVD, Prime Video, Sky Cinema News has broken in the last few weeks that a new Hollywood film version of L. Frank Baum’s famous novel The Wonderful Wizard of Oz is in the works. There are a few years to go before we get to see it but it will have to be very impressive to top the all-time classic 1939 version. Starring Judy Garland, a scarecrow, a tin man, some ruby slippers and a yellow brick road, The Wizard Of Oz remains a musical masterpiece. It’s also said to be the most-watched film in history – and if you haven’t yet seen it, you’re really missing out. Last year, the British Film Institute (BFI) listed it as one of the 50 films everyone should see before…

World Book Day is here – and to celebrate it you can swap your £1 World Book Day token on this page for one of this year’s exclusive new books. Tokens can be used in supermarkets and other booksellers. To find your nearest, visit worldbookday.com, and ask an adult about the best way of getting hold of your new book. Skysteppers by Katherine Rundell. Illustrated by Marie-Alice Harel (Bloomsbury Children’s Books) High above the streets of Paris, a secret gang of children live on the rooftops. Matteo and Mercedes are caught in a long-standing feud that threatens their way of life, and must set out on a bold quest across the city. If you like adventure stories, then you’ll love this wonderful tale of bravery and friendship. Little Badman and…

Winter evenings are the perfect time to try out different activities at home, and a family game night is a great one to add to your list. Before you roll the dice, though, you’ll need to think about the type of game you want to play. Many families like to play classic board games, such as Monopoly and Cluedo. Apples to Apples and Pictionary are other popular options, especially if everyone could use a good laugh. Look at all the games you have and then take a vote on which one you want to play. If you have a few decks of cards you could also try out some classic card games like crazy eights, hearts, pig or spoons. Another possibility is to go with a game that you create…

Man returns explosive mine A man has had to return a sea mine to the Royal Navy after using it as a footstool. Sea mines are explosive devices that are placed in the water to damage ships. Joe Gray, from Penzance in Cornwall, England, discovered the sea mine at the start of February. The coastguard told him that it didn’t have any explosives in it and had been used for training exercises. Gray runs a salvage yard, called Shiver Me Timbers, and wanted to keep the mine for his collection. However, the Royal Navy has now asked for it back. “Who knows, maybe another mine will wash up one day,” Gray said. Dog gets shown the red card A dog was sent off after repeatedly running onto the pitch during…

Follow The Week Junior on PopJam@TheWeekJunior. You can download the PopJam app from the App Store or Google Play. Last week we asked you if it’s time to stop using cash. You said… “Not yet but I definitely see a future where we stop using cash.” “I think so because using a card or contactless payment is easier and quicker.” “No it isn’t, as children need to be aware of how much they are spending. Online banking isn’t as easy to understand as your piggy bank getting lighter.” Tell us what you think of this week’s issue and we’ll print some of the best comments here.…