Innholdsfortegnelse for 282 i The Week Junior

On 6 May, people in England, Scotland and Wales were due to vote in one of the biggest sets of elections in British history outside of a general election. What are the elections in England? In England, voters are electing nearly 5,000 councillors and other officials to 143 local councils. Councils are in charge of local services, such as bin collections and libraries. Thirteen mayors are also being elected across the country. This includes the capital city, London, where current mayor Sadiq Khan is expected to be re-elected. In England and Wales, voters are electing 39 Police and Crime Commissioners – who are in charge of policing in their local area. What’s happening in Hartlepool? In Hartlepool, voters are choosing a new Member of Parliament (MP) in a by-election. Usually,…

The Young Walter Scott Prize for budding historical fiction writers has announced this year’s 10 winners. Atlas Weyland Eden, who is 15 and from Devon, took first prize in the 11–15 age category for his story We Wolves. Theodore Fulford was the runner-up in this category. Other awards went to Ide Crawford, Isa Kleibergen, Ted Whitaker and Rayhana Bint-Mumin. Weyland Eden told The Week Junior that he did a lot of reading about wolves and the Ice Age to research his book. However, he said that “the most valuable research I did was going into the woods at dusk with my dog Jack”. This helped him to really “embody the story”. Weyland Eden wrote the book over one week and after dark “to mimic the nocturnal behaviour of wolves”. Sir…

• A recent study found that children of primary-school age in the UK are not allowed to play outside on their own until they are two years older than their parents’ generation were. • Parents were allowed to play outside unsupervised at around the age of nine, whereas today’s children are 11. • Some people say free play is important for young people’s development. However, others say that children should have supervised, structured play so that they can learn from adults. • Free play is when an adult is not in charge of the activity.…

Not all role models have to be celebrities, says Debra Nelson. The 19-year-old is part of Football Beyond Borders (FBB), a group that helps young people who are finding school difficult. The group uses football to teach skills that help people finish their education. Nelson says she wasn’t that interested in school but she loved football. Now she is mentoring others, such as 15-year-old Shalukah Nareshkumar. “We use the power of football to inspire girls, to get girls talking, to get girls active, to get girls enjoying themselves, making positive relationships,” she explained to The Guardian newspaper.…

The Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) is urging people to get outside and enjoy the benefits of gardening – or “Vitamin G” as it is calling it. Taking up a trowel or a watering can two or three times a week can lead to improved health for body and mind, the RHS’s recent research has found. While gardening, people can use up as much energy as they would from intense exercise, like running or cycling. Gardening is also said to make people less stressed, meaning they worry less about things that are going on in their lives. “When gardening, our brains are pleasantly distracted by nature around us,” says Dr Lauriane Chalmin-Pui, who led the research. “This shifts our focus away from ourselves and our stresses.” The RHS’s website has lots…

Many turtles see the colour red very well, which makes it a good signal to other turtles. Most turtles tend have red on just their heads and legs. Unfortunately the bright red also makes them more visible to their predators, but if it’s just on their heads and legs, the turtles can quickly pull them inside their shell to hide the markings. 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…

Tree seeds are far from being the weirdest items to be launched into space. Over the years, many different objects have gone to orbit and beyond – either for science or just for fun. Stuart Roosa’s Apollo 14 crewmate, Alan Shepard, carried two golf balls with him to the lunar surface for a game of golf on the Moon. In 2001, Pizza Hut delivered a salami pizza to the International Space Station for a Russian astronaut, and a portion of chips cooked in Hull, England, was lifted into space by a weather balloon in 2017. In 2007, astronauts celebrated 30 years of Star Wars by carrying Luke Skywalker’s prop lightsaber on a Space Shuttle mission.…

Paddington 2’s perfect review rating has beaten one of the most famous films ever made, Citizen Kane. Directed by Orson Welles in 1941, Citizen Kane is considered to be a masterpiece and tells the tale of a newspaper company owner called Charles Foster Kane. Paddington 2, directed by Paul King and released in 2017, is about a marmalade-loving bear from Peru who is adopted by the Brown family. A website called Rotten Tomatoes, which pulls together film reviews from lots of different places, uses reviews to give each film a score. Paddington 2 is one of a very small number of films that has a 100% approval rating from critics. Citizen Kane no longer has 100% because Rotten Tomatoes’ researchers recently unearthed one negative review. The review was written the…

More than 356 million people around the world now listen to music and podcasts on Spotify, according to the streaming service’s data. However, the company and its rivals such as Apple Music and Amazon Music are facing global protests about the way in which they make money. A group of British politicians have been holding an inquiry (an investigation) into how music streaming works, including how the money that companies such as Spotify make from subscriptions and advertising makes its way to musicians. The politicians are now writing a report with suggestions for how the system could be improved. The politicians have heard evidence about how much money musicians make from streaming. Record companies said that for every million streams, they are paid around £5,000, and that on average, the…

Three tiny ancient beings – Moss, Burnet and Cumulus – wake from their winter sleep in the hollow trunk of an old ash tree. They are Hidden Folk, guardians and caretakers of the Wild World. When their cosy tree home is destroyed and something strange begins happening to Cumulus, the trio must embark on an adventure that will take them into the depths of the countryside, and the heart of the bustling city. Guided by birds, stars and wild creatures, can they find more of their kind? This enchanting story is a true celebration of the natural world. Full of rich descriptions of nature and wild places, it will inspire you to get out and explore your garden, local park or nearby countryside. The book includes a map and beautiful…

How can I get involved? Visit a local beach and give it a go with your family. The 2 Minute Foundation charity has more than 800 beach-clean stations around the UK. Go to beachclean.net for information and tips. The charity Surfers Against Sewage is looking for 100,000 volunteers to help clean a million miles of beach. Find out more at beachcleans.org.uk What if I can’t get to a beach near my home? Not everyone can easily visit a beach, so you could do a litter pick in your local area instead. With adult supervision and using gloves and a litter picker, you could safely pick up rubbish and help tidy the streets and buildings near to you.…

In the 17th century, a Chinese writer called Jin Shengtan was stranded with a friend in a temple for 10 days because of an almighty rain storm. The pair passed the time by coming up with a list of 33 moments in which they found happiness. Each moment is very specific, and ends with “Ah, is this not happiness?” For example, “To cut with a sharp knife a bright green watermelon on a big scarlet plate on a summer afternoon. Ah, is this not happiness?” Or, after a month of rain, “I see the beautiful sun shining and glistening and the forest looks like it has had a bath. Ah, is this not happiness?” From 10–16 May, the UK will mark Mental Health Awareness Week with the theme of nature…

In celebration of Earth Day 2021, the makers of CBBC’s Blue Peter are asking young people to write a poem or short story of 250 words to inspire people to protect “Our Planet Now”. The winner’s poem or story will be made into an animated film by Aardman Studios, who created Wallace and Gromit. The winning animation will be shown at COP26 and the winner will get to go to the climate conference. Plus, it will appear on Blue Peter in November. Children’s Laureate Cressida Cowell and filmmaker Jack Harries will help judge the competition. Find out how to enter before the 25 May deadline at tinyurl.com/TWJ-OurPlanetNow…

“We filled 67 boxes with toiletries, treats and toys for women and children staying in refuge accommodation during lockdown. We donated them to Women’s Aid and A Child of Mine.” Honor and Guy “We did a litter pick to raise money for Bin Twinning – a charity that helps people who do not have waste disposal services. We raised £530 and we had lots of fun!” Connie and Emma “I love my butterflies and it was fun watching them change from caterpillars. I felt a bit sad when I let them go but it was very exciting to see them fly free. I hope they stay in my garden.” Jake…

1 How many people visited Rome’s Colosseum in 2019? □ a) 7.6 million □ b) 6.7 million □ c) 50,000 2 True or false? A walrus called Waldo has been seen near Tenby, in Wales. □ True □ False 3 Who has been sentenced to another year in prison in Iran? 4 How long do five to 11-year-olds spend playing per day, on average? □ a) 1 hour □ b) 2 hours □ c) 3 hours 5 True or false? At 24 years old, Jonathan Gibson has become the youngest winner of the TV programme University Challenge. □ True □ False 6 What type of animal is a rhesus macaque? 7 Which of these is not a sculpture by Rodin? □ a) The Thinker □ b) The Mona Lisa □…

On 28 April, Arlene Foster said that she was resigning (stepping down) as the First Minister of Northern Ireland and leader of the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP). She made the decision after members of the DUP signed a letter saying they weren’t happy with the job she was doing and asking for a new leader. Foster became leader of the DUP in December 2015 and First Minister in January 2016 – the first woman and youngest ever person to hold both positions. Foster said it had been the privilege of her life to serve the people of Northern Ireland.…

A STRIKING DEBUT Owen Forbes, who is 12, made a winning contribution in his first cricket game in an adult league. The bowler for Allendale Cricket Club, in England, got four batsmen out with four deliveries. “I was really happy when I got the first wicket,” he told the BBC. A RECORD-BREAKING CUCKOO PJ the cuckoo has become the first satellite-tagged cuckoo to clock up more than 50,000 miles. He was tagged in 2016 as part of a project to protect the birds’ declining population. At the end of April, PJ arrived back in Suffolk, England, in time for summer breeding, after his fifth winter trip to Africa. ART LOVERS A new video artwork by one of the UK’s greatest living artists is being shown in five cities this May.…

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 children should be allowed to play as they like, 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…

Volunteers have finished planting a large seagrass meadow underwater off the south coast of Devon. They laid 16,000 seagrass seed bags and 2,200 bags containing seedlings (small plants) on the sea bed of Plymouth Sound, the UK’s first national marine park. Over the next four years, these will grow into a meadow roughly the size of 11 football pitches. As well as providing shelter for young and endangered sea life, seagrass puts down roots that stop sand from moving about and keeps the sea bed stable. It cleans the water and captures carbon dioxide gas, which can otherwise turn the sea water acidic and harm underwater plants and animals. Experts think that the UK’s seas have lost 44% of their seagrasses since 1936 because of damage from human activities such…

Father of the Bride Apple TV, Chili, DVD, Prime Video, Rakuten TV, Sky Store, Virgin Media Cinemas have been around for more than 100 years now, and that inevitably means lots of stories are told more than once. The original Father of the Bride, for instance, came out in 1950. It’s a comedy about a father stressing over the cost of his only daughter’s wedding. The version you should seek out is the update, made in 1991, starring Steve Martin and Diane Keaton in the lead roles. It’s quite a sweet family film, with some terrifically funny parts. If you need a third version to choose from, though, the story is being remade again in a new version that’s filming this summer, with Instant Family co-star Isabela Merced in…

LONDON WILDLIFE TRUST wildlondon.org.uk This charity works across the UK capital to protect wildlife but its website is interesting wherever you live in the country. It has tips on how to spot plants and birds and guides to species and habitats. DANTDM SHORTS tinyurl.com/ TWJ-dantdm British YouTube star DanTDM has a new channel, DanTDM Shorts, which is where he’s going to be posting shorter videos. He kicked it off with a minute-long Minecraft video, inspired by the way he used to play it when he was younger.…

What is your favourite flower in the world? Cow parsley. It smells of spring, and I love the way it grows lush and wild in the heart of the city as well as in the countryside. If you could live off one food for the rest of your life what would it be? Definitely curry and rice! My mum was born and brought up in Pakistan and we ate a lot of delicious, spicy food when we were growing up. Are you similar to any of the characters in this book? There’s a little bit of me in all of them, from Moss, who loves thinking up stories, to Burnet, who’s happiest outdoors, and even Spangle the urban starling. What inspired you to write this book? I reread an old…

Olaf Falafel is an author, illustrator, dad of two daughters and a comedian. His current favourite joke is “Where did Humpty Dumpty put his hat?” (Drumroll, please.) “Humpty dumped his hat on the wall.” During the first lockdown he created an online Art Club (tinyurl.com/TWJ-olafart). Each episode is filled with jokes, useful tips, animations and facts about his favourite artists. Over to you, Olaf... Way back in Episode 3 of my Art Club, I featured Bridget Riley, probably the most famous op artist ever. Op art is short for optical art and includes any kind of art that uses optical illusions. Bridget Riley is best known for her large paintings that consist of wavy lines in black and white or contrasting colours. Bridget Riley, who is now 90, started creating…

On 29 April, China successfully launched the first part of its new space station. It is the first of at least 10 launches that China has planned to take modules into space, where they will be put together into a Chinese space station called Tiangong (which means “Heaven’s Palace”). The first module was launched from the Wenchang Space Launch Centre on a Long March-5B rocket. No people were on board. The module is 16.6 metres long and 4.2 metres wide. It is the main living area of the space station and three astronauts are due to be sent to live on board in June. The module detached from the rocket successfully. However, at the time The Week Junior went to press it was unclear whereabouts on Earth the rocket would…

From 10 to 16 May, Mental Health Awareness Week is being marked in the UK. This year’s theme is nature, and the aim is to get people to connect with the natural world. What is mental health? Mental health is how we think, feel and behave. Anxiety and depression are examples of mental health problems. Anxiety is a feeling of unease, such as worry or fear, and depression is when someone feels sad and loses interest for weeks or months in things that they used to enjoy. What is Mental Health Awareness Week? Mental Health Awareness Week is organised by the Mental Health Foundation, which is a charity that works to improve everyone’s mental wellbeing. The week is designed to encourage people to talk about their mental health and find…

Free time is important. It is a chance to forget about everything, enjoy whatever game or activity a person feels like doing, and – most importantly – have fun. All of these are good for young people’s physical and mental health. Mental health is how we think, feel and behave. If free time is spent outdoors, even better. Being outside in a green space has been shown to improve people’s moods. However, a recent survey found that young people today are nearly two years older than their parents were when they start playing unsupervised outdoors. Some say this delay could have an effect on young people’s wellbeing. Others argue that if an adult is in charge of free time it is safer and young people can get more from it.…

“Fame is a difficult thing”, Ivor Baddiel tells The Week Junior. For the past 25 years, Baddiel has written scripts for television shows including The X Factor, the BAFTA awards and Dancing on Ice. He has seen a lot of people on TV trying to be famous, and some making it. The introductions, announcements and jokes you see on shows such as The X Factor are all prepared in advance by writers such as Baddiel. “Nothing is left to chance,” he says. “The brilliance of a good presenter is that they make it look like there is no script.” Yet with live TV, anything can happen and Baddiel often has to change and rewrite scripts for TV shows while they are recording because of problems backstage. When it comes to…

Rhesus macaque monkeys have surprised scientists by forming unlikely friendships after their island was damaged by a hurricane. A new study shows how monkeys in two groups developed closer friendships with each other at a time when researchers thought they would be squabbling over the limited food that was available in the aftermath of the storm. The rhesus macaques live on Cayo Santiago, a small island off the coast of Puerto Rico in the Caribbean. In 2017, Hurricane Maria swept through the area and caused massive damage. Around 63% of the island’s plants and trees were destroyed, leaving less food and drinking water for the monkeys. Professor Lauren Brent, from the University of Exeter, worked with scientists from the University of Pennsylvania on the study. She said the researchers expected…

Prague Zoo in the Czech Republic has opened a new home for a rare breed of short and stocky wild horse in a meadow near the city. Przewalski’s horses (pronounced “pshe-val-skis”) are native to central Asia. They were almost extinct in the wild before Prague Zoo started a programme to try and rebuild their numbers. Since 2011, the zoo has reintroduced 34 horses to wild herds. • LIFESPAN IN THE WILD: 20 years. • HABITAT: Central Asia, mostly the plains of western Mongolia and northern China. • DIET: Shrubs and grasses. • FUN FACT: The species is named after 19th century Russian explorer Nikolaj Przewalski.…

A hunt has been launched to find up to 15 British trees that were flown around the Moon as seeds 50 years ago. About 500 seeds were taken into space by astronauts on the 1971 Apollo 14 Moon mission, and later planted across the US and other countries. It is thought that some could now be fully grown trees in the UK, but there is a frustrating lack of records relating to the project. The Moon Tree project was the idea of Apollo 14 astronaut Stuart Roosa, who had once worked as a smokejumper – a firefighter who parachuted out of planes to tackle wildfires in forests across the US. When the chief of the US Forest Service learned this, he contacted Roosa with the idea of carrying hundreds of…

Jess French In her talk, the author of Earth’s Incredible Oceans, Jess French, will take her audience on an undersea adventure, exploring the wonderful plants and animals that live there and explaining how you can help save them. You can watch the talk at 9am on 24 May. Zanib Mian Discover how Zanib Mian, a former science teacher and now writer of the popular Planet Omar series, comes up with ideas for characters and the hilarious plots for her stories. Mian will be online at 9am on 26 May. Robert Winston The author of Ask a Scientist, Robert Winston will reveal some of his favourite stories and creations. He’ll explain the importance of science in everyday life and answer some puzzling science questions. Winston’s event is at 9am on 27…

Jupiter’s Legacy Available on Netflix now Based on the popular graphic novels, this series tells the story of the first generation of superheroes, who have spent their lives saving the world from baddies. Now the superheroes must pass on their knowledge to their children. Age of the Big Cats 8pm on 8 May, Sky Nature This three-part series looks at the lives of big cats in the wild today to learn more about their ancestors. The programme uses night-vision cameras and other special technology to reveal unexpected stories from the world of big cats around the world, and to show how the creatures became such feared predators. Secrets of Sulphur Springs Available on Disney+ now This series follows 12-year-old Griffin Campbell and his family, who move to the town of…

The Last Bear by Hannah Gold. Illustrated by Levi Pinfold (HarperCollins Children’s Books) When her father’s research takes her to a remote island in the Arctic Circle, April meets a polar bear. He’s starving, lonely and far from home, and he needs April’s help. With lots of beautiful illustrations, this story is both exciting and thought-provoking. After the War by Tom Palmer. Illustrated by Violet Tobacco (Barrington Stoke) The Second World War is finally over, and Yossi, Leo and Mordecai are among 300 children sent to the English Lake District. After surviving life in Nazi concentration camps, can they find new hope on the shores of beautiful Lake Windermere? This powerful tale is based on a true story. A Street Dog Named Pup by Gill Lewis (David Fickling) Pup and…

As the weather warms up and summer approaches, many families around the UK will visit a beach. It’s a chance to enjoy the scenery, have long walks and splash around in the water. To keep beaches safe and tidy and to protect coastal environments, you could also help by taking part in a beach clean. A beach clean involves safely picking up waste that collects along the coast. Some rubbish gets washed ashore by the sea but sadly a lot of it is left by people who use the beach. To do a beach clean all you need is a strong bag or large bin liner; a pair of gloves to protect your hands; and ideally a simple litter-grabbing device. As a family you can cover a section of the…

King Josh crowned after battle A contest to become the one true “Josh” has taken place in Nebraska, US. It was proposed by a 22-year-old man called Josh Swain, who asked other people called Josh to take part in the challenge. It began with “rock, paper, scissors” and progressed into a battle fought with pool noodle swim floats. Hundreds of people of all ages took part but the winner was five-year-old Joshua Vinson Jr., who was awarded a gold crown (made from cardboard). Ball travels from Ireland to Wales A family in Wales who found a football that had travelled across the sea from Ireland have returned it to its owner. Luke Rickard and his 10-year-old daughter Summer, from Tywyn, in Wales, found the ball on the beach and saw…

Name: Judith “I saw your article about junior parkrun returning and felt extremely happy. I would 101% recommend both the junior 2k runs and the all ages 5k ones to just about anyone. Everyone can join the runs: blind people, disabled people and even (on some 5k runs only) dogs can join the fun. If you are too young or too old to do the current age limit, you can still join in – you can marshal, tail walk (walk at the back to see who’s last and encourage them), help a blind person or partially sighted person to complete the run, or scan barcodes. And when the run’s over the fun doesn’t end – the runners all go to a local café and chat with a hot drink and…

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Teacher’s name: Mr Butt School: West Chiltington Community School, Pulborough, West Sussex “Mr Butt is a lovely teacher. He lets us experience things in science rather than watching him do it. We have a song on Spotify, because he is an amazing guitarist and singer. He is really funny and kind (and he gives us chocolate!)” Pippa If we pick your teacher as Teacher of the Week, we’llsendyourschoolthreefreeissuesof 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…

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 16-year-olds should be allowed to vote... “Everyone has opinions and they deserve to be heard.” “Yes because teenagers’ views matter.” “No, because not all of them are sensible.” “I think they should because the more people the better! Everyone’s opinion counts.” Tell us what you think of this week’s issue and we’ll print some of the best comments here.…