Innholdsfortegnelse for 291 i The Week Junior

On 4 July, people around the UK came together to show their gratitude to the National Health Service (NHS) and other people who helped out during the pandemic. The day of celebration was part of the first national Thank You Day – the country’s biggest ever thank you party. To mark the event, the Queen awarded the George Cross to the NHS. What is the NHS? The NHS was officially launched by the then Minister of Health, Aneurin Bevan, on 5 July 1948, at Park Hospital (now Trafford General Hospital) in Manchester, England. Its aim was to provide healthcare for everyone, no matter how rich or poor they are. Since then, it has been the law that the NHS is free to anyone who is legally living in the UK.…

12 July 1997 Malala Yousafzai is born On 12 July, Malala Yousafzai will mark her 24th birthday. She is known for fighting for the education rights of girls around the world and for being the youngest person to receive a Nobel Peace Prize – at just 17 years old. In October 2012, she was shot by extremists for speaking out against a ban on girls going to school in her home town in Pakistan. Yousafzai was later flown to the UK for life-saving medical treatment, where she recovered.…

• On 28 June, Members of Parliament (MPs) debated two petitions about the microchipping of pets. • A microchip is about the size of a grain of rice. It is put inside an animal and gives them a unique code. The microchip can be scanned, which allows a lost pet to be matched to its owner. • Since 2016, dogs in the UK that are older than eight weeks must by law be microchipped. Any dog owner who doesn’t do this can be fined £500. • The UK Government is planning a similar law for cats. At the moment there is no law to microchip other pets.…

When the lockdown started in March 2020, 14-year-old Makenzy Beard from Swansea, in Wales, started painting in her garden shed. “I had some free time on my hands and my mum used to love to paint, so we had paints and canvases and brushes,” she told the BBC. Now, a painting of hers is on display at the Royal Academy of Arts in London. The painting is a portrait of her neighbour John Tucker, a farmer. Beard based the painting on a photo she’d taken of him, and she worked on it before and after school. Tucker was very impressed with the painting. “It’s like a photograph,” he said.…

A newly invented drinking straw can cure the hiccups. The L-shaped straw has a mouthpiece at one end and an adjustable cap on the other. Hiccups happen when signals from two nerves that control your body’s breathing and swallowing reflexes get confused. The straw needs more suction than usual to drink through, and the extra bit of effort in sucking and swallowing helps to keep these nerves occupied. In a study, researchers found that the straw successfully stopped hiccups in 92% of cases. Enjoy these stories? Find more in this month’s The Week Junior Science+Naturemagazinesciencenature.theweekjunior.co.uk…

Who is your favourite cartoon character ever? I’ve always loved Sid from The Bash Street Kids. I like to root for the underdog. Sid’s got an awesome haircut (which appears to be based on a toilet brush) and he often has the funniest lines of dialogue. Do you share anything in common with your characters in The Cartoons that Came to Life? Yes, the main character, Finn, is very much based on me when I was 10 years old. He’s a bit shy (like me) and obsessed with comics (ditto). Plus, the characters he draws in the book – Arley and Tapper – are characters that I came up with when I was 10 years old! Heroes or villains? Heroes! (Apart from in the Batman comics. The Joker, the Riddler,…

After 14 years of presenting on BBC Radio 1, Nick Grimshaw, nicknamed Grimmy, is leaving the station. He shared the news on 30 June, saying, “It was my childhood dream to work here and I have truly had the time of my life.” Grimshaw retires from the afternoon show, which he has hosted since 2018. Before that, he was the presenter of the breakfast show for six years. When he joined the BBC in 2007, Grimshaw presented a youth show with Annie Mac. On his first morning on the breakfast show, Grimshaw said that he would stay in the post “for I don’t know how long really, just until the country uprises.” The decision, he said, came after “the most surreal, weirdest 18 months of life ever”, that gave him…

With superstar players and millions of fans, golf is one of the biggest sports in the world. Even if you have never picked up a golf club, give it a go and start driving, chipping and putting the ball. With a little help, you’ll soon be having fun on the course. Golf is enjoyed by all sorts of people, from young beginners to experienced players. You must hit your ball, using one of a range of clubs, from the tee (starting place) into the hole. The number of shots you take to get the ball into each hole are added together. The aim is to have the lowest total score after playing all holes. Each hole is a different distance from the tee. A full-sized course has 18 holes but…

Sea lions take over the town A colony of sea lions has moved into the town of Tome in Chile, South America. One local fisherman, who was interviewed by a TV news crew, described them as “a plague”. As he was talking on camera, one large sea lion interrupted by pushing through a gate behind him. More than 300 of the animals are living on the town’s beach and they have been fighting with local dogs. The huge sea creatures are thought to be escaping from predators, such as killer whales. Cow costume cures cattle fears A man in Preston, England, has dressed up as a cow to help his friends face their fear of cattle. Matt Gibbs set up a walking group seven years ago to get people to…

Safety Net Safety Net supports families dealing with mental health issues, abuse and bullying, and offers advice. The charity usually works across the south-east of England, providing face-to-face help. However, during the pandemic Safety Net has developed an online magazine written by young volunteers. The latest issue focuses on the transition from primary to secondary school and is packed with advice from young people who have made the jump to a new school. Head to safety-net.org.uk to download the magazine.…

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 the school day should be longer. You said… “No, if the day is longer, people will lose concentration and focus less.” “The Government should provide tutoring to those that have fallen behind, not make the day longer.” “Yes, only if it’s because the majority of students’ grades aren’t as good as they could be.” “No, I think six hours is long enough.” Tell us what you think of this week’s issue and we’ll print some of the best comments here.…

Apollo Premadasa, a six-year-old boy, wrote a piece of classical music called Pandemia to say thank you to NHS staff. To celebrate the NHS’s 73rd birthday, four medical staff from Newham hospital and the Royal London hospital performed Premadasa’s composition. Premadasa said, “I wrote this piece to say thank you to all the doctors, nurses and scientists. It’s been a really hard time for them and they have all been heroes.” The Feeling, Sophie Ellis-Bextor, and Jamie Cullum have also released a song to say thank you. They recorded a cover version of Fleetwood Mac’s song Don’t Stop.…

SPACE-WALKING ASTRONAUTS On 27 June, two astronauts from China left their space station for a space walk. During the space walk they tested a robotic arm. This was China’s first space walk in 13 years. One of the astronauts, Liu Boming, said “Wow, it’s too beautiful out here”. A BUDDING YOUNG FARMER William Woods, who is 10 years old, has followed in the footsteps of his farmer parents after winning £860 in a prize draw. Woods, from County Cavan, in Ireland, bought a herd of six young cows to rear. He told an Irish TV station, “Cows are my favourite animal, so why not buy some?” CLIMBING A MOUNTAIN ON MARS Jack Evans, an 11-year-old space enthusiast from Devon, England, has climbed the equivalent of Olympus Mons on Mars, the…

Lily Lomas is nine years old and lives in Winchester, England. She loves art and her favourite foods are pizza and pasta. Since the end of last year, Lomas has been in different hospitals having treatment for cancer. Cancer is a broad term for a collection of diseases caused by oddly behaving cells growing out of control. Speaking to The Week Junior, Lomas said that when she was in hospital she missed home and didn’t enjoy the food. “But when I have missed home, Spread a Smile has done art sessions and things with me to help me take my mind off it.” Spread a Smile is a charity that organises events and entertainment for young people while they’re in hospital. Lomas has enjoyed lots of activities with the charity…

In what is thought to be a world first, a baby gorilla has been born in the wild to parents who were themselves both born in captivity. The new baby – a western lowland gorilla – was born in Batéké Plateau National Park, in south-east Gabon, a country in west Africa. Djongo, the new baby’s 15-year-old father, was raised in the Port Lympne Safari Park in south-east England. His own father, Djala, was rescued in 1986 as an orphaned baby. His whole family had been killed by human hunters but he was found playing with a group of children. A local French woman took Djala in. She contacted the Aspinall Foundation, a UK animal charity, for help when he got too big to handle. At Port Lympne Safari Park, Djala…

PopJam This social media site for young people aged seven to 12 is a bit like Instagram or Twitter. Users must get their parents’ or guardians’ permission to join and must follow the rules – such as being kind and keeping personal information private. Users can join communities, connect with friends and play games at popjam.com Lego Kids The Lego site is full of games, videos and instructions for how to build sets. You can find out about new sets and search by themes. The videos and games are also all based on Lego characters and worlds, and you can watch and play it all for free here lego.com/en-gb/kids CBBC With quizzes, puzzles and games for children of all ages, there’s lots to get involved with on this site. You…

Autistic students at a school in Somerset, England, have been getting assistance from an unusual helper – a robot called Pepper. Autism is a lifelong condition that affects the way people feel and hear, and how they see the world. It affects people in different ways; some autistic people say the world can feel overwhelming and they find it difficult to understand and relate to other people. Pepper has been taking part in activities with students aged 12–19 at the Mendip School in Somerset. The robot was made by the Bristol Robotics Lab at the University of the West of England with help from teachers and students. It has been designed to take part in activities such as dancing and storytelling, and to help with relaxation techniques. These are aimed…

Grow, Forage and Make by Alys Fowler. Illustrated by Heidi Griffiths (Bloomsbury) This brilliant book is packed with more than 30 fun things to do with plants. Gardener and TV presenter Alys Fowler’s suggestions include how to find edible flowers, grow an avocado tree, make wildflower seed paper and grow neon-pink beetroot in the dark. You Can Have an Outdoor Adventure by Alex Gregory (Collins) Learn how to start a campfire, track local wildlife, make a compass and lots more with this easy-to-use book, which is perfect for aspiring adventurers. Step-by-step instructions guide you through a range of outdoor activities, and there’s space to personalise the book with notes and drawings of what you’ve found and the things you’ve done. Nature and Me (School of Life Press) Taking a different…

Email your book review to hello@ theweekjunior.co.uk. If your review is printed in the magazine you’ll receive a Roving Reporter badge. Tell us what you liked about the book and why you’d recommend it to others, and don’t forget to include your name and address.* *If you are the competition winner, we will only use the details you provide to contact you and arrange delivery of your competition prize. Further details about how we manage the data you provide can be found at www.dennis.co.uk/privacy-policy…

There is a new way to explore the River Thames, by taking a boat trip with the team behind Horrible Histories. Starting as a series of books by the author Terry Deary, Horrible Histories has since been made into a hit CBBC TV series, stage plays and a film. Now, it is launching a boat tour that combines history, sailing, sightseeing and theatre to give the audience a chance to learn about the horrible history of the river. The Thames, which flows through southern England and the centre of London, is one of the world’s most famous rivers. The tour starts from Tower Bridge Quay and will take in famous capital landmarks such as London Bridge, the Tower of London and the Houses of Parliament. As you’d expect from the…

In the Heights (PG) In cinemas There are several movie musicals coming out this year but the film version of Lin-Manuel Miranda’s stage show In the Heights is going to take some beating. Lin-Manuel Miranda is an actor and singer who wrote some of the songs for Moana and starred in Mary Poppins Returns. In the Heights tells the story of a community living in the Washington Heights area of New York, US, seen through the eyes of shop owner Usnavi. Kicking off with an amazing musical number, the following 143 minutes is quite something – a lively explosion of story, dance, song and summer. It’s perhaps a bit too long but you’ll struggle to find a more energetic and rewatchable film in cinemas this summer.…

What equipment will I need to play? Lots of golf centres lend clubs and balls to young players because they can be expensive. In time, you’ll understand the size and type of equipment to buy. Getting good second-hand equipment will save you money. Dress appropriately for the weather because you will be playing outdoors. What beginner help is there? Girls Golf Rocks is a campaign by England Golf. It is for beginner girls aged up to 18 and is an easy way to learn about the sport. Nearly 200 clubs around England have joined the scheme. Go to englandgolf.org/ girls-golf-rocks to find out more.…

Name: Eadie “Hi, I’m Eadie and my sister has autism. I have noticed that there are nearly no books or reports about how it is for the sibling (like me). To solve this problem, I am going to write a book made up of stories written by children (aged between seven and 14) who have siblings with a form of autism. The stories can be almost anything to do with your daily life or something you have done. I need as many stories as possible, so if you are reading this and have an autistic sibling and want to share something that may help other children, don’t be afraid to get involved and send your stories to me at makemeheard@outlook.com ” What have you been up to lately? Which books have…

1 On which date was the NHS officially launched? □ a) 5 July 1928□ b) 5 July 1948□ c) 5 July 1968 2 True or false? Kellogg’s is changing its cereal boxes in the UK to help people who are visually impaired. □ True □ False 3 In which canal did the container ship Ever Given get stuck? 4 How many people in the UK keep rabbits as pets? □ a) One million□ b) Two million□ c) Three million 5 True or false? French artist Abraham Poincheval spent a day inside an aluminium cast of his own body, staring at a painting. □ True □ False 6 What type of animal is a mountain bongo? 7 By which date do all UK online services have to obey the Children’s Code?…

On 28 June, MPs debated two petitions in Parliament that had gathered thousands of signatures online. Both were related to the laws about microchipping pets. With a short, painless procedure, a microchip placed inside an animal can help an owner find their pet if it goes missing. More than nine million dogs in the UK have been microchipped by their owners since the law changed in 2016. After years of campaigning there are now plans to introduce a similar law for cats. Animal welfare and vet charities have encouraged everyone to microchip their pets. However, not everyone does it and in the UK you don’t have to microchip any pets other than dogs. So what do you think? Should all pets have to be microchipped? Yes – all pets should…

French artist Abraham Poincheval likes a challenge. He has lived inside a limestone boulder for a week and inside a stuffed bear for 13 days. In his most recent work, he spent a week inside an aluminium cast (a moulded copy) of his own body, which was seated on a block, staring through a large funnel at a painting. There was a hole in the block to use as a toilet and he kept food and drink in the statue’s arms. The artist says he likes to test himself mentally and physically. “The beginning was very hard,” says Poincheval, “I had designed it a little too small.”…

Working with police and other coastal agencies, animal charity the RSPCA has launched a campaign called Operation Seabird aimed at protecting birds and other wildlife found around the UK coast. Covid travel restrictions mean that more British people are expected to be holidaying in the UK this summer – and many will be heading for the seaside. However, some marine activities, such as water-skiing and sightseeing boat trips, can disturb wildlife and disrupt the vital breeding season. Operation Seabird wants to encourage everyone to behave responsibly towards wildlife when they are at the beach or on the water – and the charity has plenty of good advice that you can keep in mind and pass on to adults. If you’re watching animals from a boat, travel slowly and keep your…

Prairie dogs are actually part of the rodent family. They were first described to science in 1806 as the “barking squirrel”. That may have led to the name prairie dog because they live in prairies (a type of grassland habitat) and they make a barking sound similar to a dog. Do you have a question about an animal you would like answered? We’d love to include it in the magazine. Send your question in an email to hello@theweekjunior.co.uk…

A flying car has turned science-fiction into reality after successfully completing a test flight between two airports in Slovakia. The AirCar, built over two years at a cost of around £1.7 million, was invented by Professor Stefan Klein. Powered by an engine from car maker BMW, it uses regular petrol-pump fuel and can transform from a car into a plane in just two minutes and 15 seconds. Klein has wanted to build a flying car ever since he was little and watched a French spy film that featured a car turning into a rocket-powered plane. Once it has taken off, the AirCar can fly at speeds of around 120 miles per hour across distances of up to 600 miles. There is room for two people inside the car, which can…

Jamie Chadwick The British driver won the W Series race in Austria to lead the overall standings by three points. Emma Raducanu The 18-year-old from London reached the fourth round of Wimbledon. It was the first time she had played at the world’s most famous tennis tournament. Jordan Henderson Henderson scored his first goal for England in his 62nd international game in his team’s 4-0 win over Ukraine. Josh Adams The Cardiff and Wales rugby player scored four tries for the British & Irish Lions in the opening game of their tour of South Africa. They beat the Sigma Lions 56-14 in Johannesburg.…

The Cartoons that Came to Life by Tom Ellen. Illustrated by Phil Corbett (Chicken House) Finn is always lost in a fantasy world, spending lesson time drawing cartoons. He’s got a sketchbook full of comic strips starring his characters Arley and Tapper and he dreams of becoming a famous cartoonist just like his hero, Yorky. Then a gang of bullies rip up his sketchbook, making Finn feel that he doesn’t want to draw cartoons any longer. Everything changes when he wakes up one morning to discover that Arley and Tapper have climbed out of his sketchbook into real life. Now, Finn must join forces with comics fan Isha to find a way to return his cartoon characters to their comic- book world. This fun adventure is…

Neal Foster, the co-writer and director of Terrible Thames, told The Week Junior that his aim was “to create the most exciting 45 minutes you can have in London”. He said, “We experience the river from Roman times right up to the 20th century, meeting the incredible people who have worked, fought and died on the Thames.” When asked for a fact about London that surprised him, Foster said, “We all know the Great Fire of London started in Pudding Lane, but I’ve always thought Pudding referred to cakes and desserts. However, Pudding actually refers to poo, so Pudding Lane was where they used to collect the puddings of poo and send them to the dung boatss on the river. So I wouldn’t recommend a visit to Pudding Lane!”…

Wimbledon finals Starting from 11am on 10 and 11 July, BBC1 and BBC2 Tune in for a thrilling weekend of tennis. The 2021 Wimbledon Championships wheelchair finals start on Saturday and Sunday mornings at 11am. The women’s final follows the match on Saturday and men’s final is on Sunday. Euro 2020 final 7pm on 11 July, BBC1 and ITV The final match of the Euro 2020 football championships will be played at Wembley Stadium in London on 11 July. The last time the final was held at Wembley in 1996, Germany beat the Czech Republic to lift the trophy. At the time The Week Junior went to press, this year’s finalists had not yet been decided. Race to the Centre of the Earth Available on Disney+ from 14 July A…

Summer is here but for sports fans it feels like Christmas. We’re spoiled for choice right now: Wimbledon and the Euros are building up to their dramatic finales, cyclists are battling away at the Tour de France and the Olympics and Paralympics are just around the corner. After the pandemic played havoc with the sporting calendar last year, it’s been wonderful to see it spring back to life this summer. There’s been the fairytale return of Mark Cavendish to the Tour de France; heroic performances from rising stars such as tennis player Emma Raducanu; and the usual thrills, spills and villains. At the time of writing (Wednesday morning) we still weren’t sure if it would be England or Denmark kicking off against Italy in Sunday’s Euros final. This magazine goes…

In celebration of our newly launched reading challenge, a special livestreamed event featuring three brilliant children’s authors will be taking place on 10 July at 12pm. You’ll be able to hear The Week Junior features editor Ben Isaacs talking to Jasbinder Bilan, Elle McNicoll and Benjamin Zephaniah. He’ll be asking about their storytelling secrets and finding out what inspired them to write. This fantastic event is free to watch. Register at tinyurl.com/TWJ-SOR2021, and don’t worry if you miss it, you’ll be able to watch a recording on our YouTube channel next week.…

Teacher’s name: Mrs Dow School: Cokethorpe Junior School, Oxfordshire “After 45 years of teaching, the wonderful Mrs Dow is retiring. This is sad because she is so much fun, always finding new ways to make our lessons exciting! Even in lockdown our online lessons continued to stay amazing. We are all going to miss her and hope she enjoys spending more time with her family. Perhaps she can now enjoy more spa treatments, cooking and her Tai Chi classes. She will travel more, hopefully!” Gabriella If we pick your teacher as Teacher of the Week, we’ll send yourschoolthreefreeissuesof The Week Junior.Sendyour nominations, along with a picture of your teacher and your school’s full name and address, to hello@theweekjunior.co.uk…