Innholdsfortegnelse for 340 i The Week Junior

Tens of thousands of people took part in marches across the US on 11 June to call for the law on guns to change. The protests followed two recent tragedies in Texas and New York, which have pushed lawmakers to discuss changes to US gun laws. What is the current law on guns in the US? In US law, being able to carry a gun is seen as a person’s basic right. The right “to keep and bear arms” has been part of the US Constitution since 1789. A constitution is a set of laws and rules that set out how a country is governed. The US has more firearms (guns) per person than any country in the world. There are some rules about the types of guns people are…

After two years as the Waterstones Children’s Laureate, Cressida Cowell, author-illustrator of many books, including the How to Train Your Dragon and Wizards of Once book series, is moving on from the position. The title of Laureate is awarded every two years to an author or illustrator of children’s books to celebrate their achievements. When Cowell became Laureate, she said that every child should have access to books, be able to read for pleasure and see themselves reflected in the stories they are reading. Just as she is finishing as Laureate, Cowell has published a report on her Life-changing Libraries project, for which she worked with BookTrust over the past year to build libraries for six primary schools. Cowell told The Week Junior that it was her “passion project”. Research…

Researchers from the Universities of Exeter, Oxford and Cardiff say humans and chickens have lived alongside each other for far less time than historians had thought. What’s more, people didn’t see the birds as a source of food; early chickens were respected and perhaps worshipped. For a long time, it was assumed that humans began farming chickens for food about 10,000 years ago. This was based on bones found with signs of past human activity in Asia and Europe. However, it’s recently become clear that some of these “chicken” bones actually belonged to pheasants, and others were mixed up with older human remains at a much later date. To settle the question of when the relationship really began, a new study used carbon dating. A type of carbon in once-living…

Adult peregrine falcons are famed for speed and agility, but a chick codenamed Noble X3C recently survived a graceless 68-metre tumble from Salisbury Cathedral in Wiltshire, England. After being placed back in his nest, he made a more successful second flight three days later. Fivetosixyears Rockycliffsandhillylandscapes on continents around the world. Peregrines have also adapted to live on buildings in towns and cities. 3950cmlong, with a 95–115cm wingspan. Mostlyotherbirdscaughtin mid-flight. Peregrinefalconsarethefastest animals on Earth, able to dive at 200 miles per hour to catch prey.…

AbracadOpera Available on Sky Kids On Demand This one-off comedy-musical-drama is designed to introduce viewers to opera. It follows a group of characters from the London Coliseum – home of English National Opera – who team up to bring a performance to a school which has been forced to cancel a visit to the opera. Man vs Bee Available on Netflix from 24 June Rowan Atkinson, who has played Mr Bean and Johnny English, stars in a new series as a hopeless house-sitter up against a formidable opponent – a bee – in this “almost silent” Netflix comedy. Looking after a luxury mansion, he struggles to defeat a troublesome insect over the course of 10 episodes of 10 minutes each. Back in Time for Birmingham 20 June at 8pm, BBC2…

(Macmillan Children’s Books) The Second World War is over and at Westwood, an old country house, 11-year-old Rosa is waiting. As one of the Kindertransport children, she was sent to England for safety from her home in Austria seven years ago. Now, she hopes that her family will be able to claim her. Instead, someone else arrives – the mysterious Yara Fielding. Soon, Rosa is setting out with Yara on a journey across the sea to South America. Written by Emma Carroll, this sequel to Eva Ibbotson’s classic Journey to the River Sea features favourite characters such as Maia, Finn and Clovis, as well as some new ones. Heartwarming, atmospheric and full of magic, it also explores the importance of conservation. Whether or not you’ve read the original book, this…

Picking up the latest book from your favourite author is always a thrill, whether you like stories full of adventure and action, mystery or laughs. When you go shopping for new books you’re sure to see some that grab your interest even if you’ve never heard of the author. Deciding which one to buy is all part of the adventure of reading. The Week Junior’s Summer of Reading challenge starts next week, so why not use that as an excuse to visit a bookshop? As well as the well-known bookshop chains like Waterstones and Foyles, there are more than 1,000 independent bookshops in the UK. Independent bookshops are not part of big companies, so they all look and feel different. Their shelves are packed to the ceiling with books from…

On 2 June, more than 500 “merfolk” (people dressed as mermaids, mermen and merchildren) gathered in Plymouth, England, to break a world record. The challenge, which aimed to be the world’s largest gathering of merfolk, was part of Plymouth’s celebrations for the Jubilee weekend. Guinness World Records said that each person’s lower half needed to “resemble a fish” for them to count. To break the record, 300 people had to be dressed as merfolk for six minutes. Organisers are waiting for official confirmation that the record was broken.…

The situation is very different in the UK, which has some of the strictest gun laws in the world. Unlike in the US, guns aren’t seen as a basic right. Instead, anyone wanting to own a gun must have a “good reason” – such as hunting or for sports. There are thorough checks before a person can own a gun. Certain weapons, such as those that can fire very quickly, are banned completely. Gun owners in the UK must have a special certificate, called a licence, that is issued by the police. Many people believe that the UK’s strict gun laws have made mass shootings extremely rare in this country.…

OUTRUNNING HORSES A man called Ricky Lightfoot has won a “man vs horse” race in Wales. The race is 22.5 miles long but humans and horses take different routes. Lightfoot is only the third human to win the race since it started in 1980. He said that winning was “pretty good”. DISCOVERING DINO BELLY BUTTONS Researchers have discovered the first dinosaur belly button. It belonged to a type of dino called Psittacosaurus, which means “parrotlizard”. A 130-million-year-old fossil was used to build a detailed image of the dinosaur, showing a patch on its stomach that scientists say was the creature’s tummy button. TREKKING BY WHEELCHAIR A teenager with autism has become the first person to complete a trek of Hadrian’s Wall in a wheelchair. The wall is a Roman ruin…

The wreck of the HMS Gloucester, a Royal Navy warship that sank in 1682, has been identified off the coast of Norfolk, England. The ship was found in 2007, but in order to protect the site and confirm its identity the discovery was kept secret until now. Artefacts such as clothes, shoes and the ship’s bell have been recovered from the wreck. In spring 2023, an exhibition at Norwich Castle and Museum Gallery will display objects from the ship.…

Washington DC, US NASA to investigate UFOs The US space agency NASA has announced a project to investigate UFOs (unidentified flying objects). NASA’s Thomas Zurbuchen said, “We have the tools and team who can help us improve our understanding of the unknown.” The agency says the study will last nine months and its findings will be shared with the public. La Paz, Bolivia Former president sentenced to jail Jeanine Añez, a former president of Bolivia, has been sentenced to 10 years in jail for being involved in a coup (an attempt to replace a government by force). Añez has been found guilty of plotting to take power by getting Bolivia’s army and police to force out former president Evo Morales in 2019. Añez plans to appeal the decision. Santiago, Chile…

Kev Potts from Dorset, England, has become famous for his skill in balancing stones on top of each other without using anything to stick them together. Potts started balancing stones seven years ago after seeing a similar thing done on TV. He recently won two medals at the European Stone Stacking Championships, which were held on Eye Cave Beach in Dunbar, Scotland. Known as the “bearded balancer”, Potts has also hosted stacking workshops for the National Trust, which were popular with young people. Not only is it fun but “it can teach ideas about physics, gravity and friction,” he says.…

Early summer is a great time to see goldfinches, as parents work to find food for their new offspring. These widespread, highly sociable birds like bushy areas such as parks, heaths, open woods and some gardens, and are most common in lowland areas and southern England. They arrive and depart in noisy clouds, with a light, complex chatter sometimes described as “liquid twittering”. Adults have a red face with black and white markings, and a black and gold flash on their wings. Their beaks let them feed on plant seeds that other birds find hard to reach, such as thistles and teasels. Later in summer, look out for chicks that have left the nest – they share their parents’ wing markings, but their heads are light brown.…

Lots of animals snore. When animals fall asleep, their muscles relax, including the ones in their throats. These muscles then sometimes vibrate when they breathe in and out, creating the sound we call snoring. My favourites are the red river hogs, who love to all sleep together in a bundle. If you’re quiet sometimes you can hear their gentle little snores! 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…

Basketball fans Neve and Tejan Rugette recently enjoyed a life-changing sporting experience. The siblings, from Richmond in London, took part in a four-day training camp in Rome, Italy, with 60 young players from all over Europe and the Middle East. The basketball camp was part of the Junior NBA, which is a scheme organised by the famous National Basketball Association (NBA) in the US. Neve, aged 13, and her brother Tejan, 14, were coached by NBA staff and former NBA and WNBA (Women’s National Basketball Association) players. “It’s really good to talk to NBA players and coaches about their experiences and how they got to where they are. I’ll take with me all the things they’ve taught us,” Neve told The Week Junior. Tejan said, “It’s so exciting playing with the…

Grief coach Dipti Solanki says it’s ok to ask your friend questions about their pet if they want to talk about it. “It shows you care. If they get upset don’t worry, this is normal and just let them know this. Knowing someone is there and understands will make all the difference to them. You may want to ask them if they want to do anything to help them remember their pet like make a memory box, a special song, or write a letter.”…

On 26 June, Harry Potter fans will be celebrating 25 years since Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone was published. To commemorate this magical moment, Waterstones on Piccadilly, London, is hosting a special event that day with Thomas Taylor and Jonny Duddle. Taylor illustrated the cover for the first edition of the book and Duddle created art for the 2014 editions of the series. A 25th anniversary hardback edition with the original cover design was published on 9 June and will only be available to buy for one year. Fans have the chance to win a copy of this edition signed by author J.K. Rowling, by sharing their first experience of reading Harry Potter. Find out more about the special anniversary edition and competition at tinyurl.com/TWJ-potter25…

Gaming hero Mario’s official job is a plumber, although he seems to spend more time platform-jumping, driving karts and playing golf than he ever does fixing pipes. Now he’s a football player too. He’s been one before. Mario Strikers: Battle League Football is the third game in a series that began way back in 2005 on Nintendo’s GameCube console. Its latest version is for the Switch. It’s a five-a-side football game where the players are chosen from a line-up of Nintendo favourites: Mario, Peach, Luigi, Toad, Bowser, Yoshi, Donkey Kong and more. Each has their own stats for speed, passing and strength, as well as “Hyper Strike” special moves that can be used to score spectacular goals. You can also unlock accessories such as helmets and kit to boost abilities,…

What’s been your most exciting adventure to date? Riding on the top of a minibus (with sacks of live chickens) through the Amazon. Favourite animal? Just one? Then it has to be dogs. What do you love most about the original Journey to the River Sea book? All the quirky little details. As well as being a beautiful story, it’s really very funny. Do you have any advice for all the aspiring young storytellers out there? Read, read, read. All writers are ravenous readers. Also, delving into your own family history can throw up some great story ideas. What’s the weirdest food you’ve ever tried? I’ve been veggie since I was 11 so I’ve no stories of eating strange insects or animal body parts, I’m afraid. My favourite snack is…

How can I make the most of a trip to a bookshop? Before you visit the shop, write down the authors and titles of a few good books you’ve enjoyed. Show this note to the bookshop staff and they’ll be able to recommend a good read to suit your taste. And if you’re feeling adventurous, just let them know if you’d like them to suggest something a bit different. How can I find my nearest book shop? Ask an adult to help you find your nearest bookshop on the National Book Tokens website at tinyurl.com/twj-bookshops…

An unusual sport that involves chasing cheese down a hill has returned to Gloucestershire, England, after it was cancelled during the Covid-19 pandemic. Competitors chase a Double Gloucester cheese as it rolls down the very steep Cooper’s Hill, and the first person to catch it is the winner. The cheese can roll at 70 miles per hour. The winner was Chris Anderson, and this marked his 23rd cheese race victory, but he has said that he will now retire from the sport. His prize was the cheese, to take home with him.…

International Rescue Committee The International Rescue Committee (IRC) is the global non-profit organisation that helps people affected by humanitarian crises. The IRC helps children learn, provides healthcare and responds to crises in places like Afghanistan, Ethiopia, Syria, Ukraine and Yemen. Founded in 1933, the IRC now works in more than 40 countries, and helps refugees settle into new communities across dozens of cities in Europe and North and South America. To mark Refugee Week on 20–26 June, (see panel right) head over to rescue.org and find out more.…

Learn about what refugees experience It’s Refugee Week 20–26 June, a time to think about refugees – people who have left their home country because of war or threat of violence. To encourage learning about refugees and their experiences, the organisers of the week have made an activity pack for young people. With it you can do eight “simple acts” to learn more about refugees, such as watching a film or chatting to someone who has left their country about their life. You can find out more and download an activity pack at tinyurl.com/TWJ-RefugeeWeek GET INVOLVED Email your news, views and pictures to hello@theweekjunior.co.uk…

Teacher’s name: Ms Love School: Ark Franklin Primary Academy, London “Ms Love is the nicest teacher you could ever meet. She’s always supportive, kind and positive – even when things go wrong. She knows when to make a joke… and when to stop a joke. Everyone loves and respects her. She makes lessons fun and she has transformed our behaviour for the better. She’s changed our lives, making us more confident and happy. We owe her so much.” Leonidas, Soyinka, Kiki, Gilbey, Santiago, Travis, Peter, Sophia and Elyas If we pick your teacher as Teacher of the Week, we’ll send your school three free issues of The Week Junior. Send your nominations, along with a picture of your teacher and your school’s full name and address, to hello@theweekjunior.co.uk Please include…

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 you should read for fun every day… “If you are forced to do something you are unlikely to enjoy it. And reading should be enjoyable.” “You shouldn’t have to read everyday unless it’s by choice.” “If you don’t want to you shouldn’t be forced but it is an important skill.” “It depends because reading is a life tool and it’s always good to practise.” Tell us what you think of this week’s issue and we’ll print some of the best comments here.…

1 Which of these people were NOT at the climate protests in Stockholm, Sweden? ■ a) Greta Thunberg ■ b) Vanessa Nakate ■ c) Sir David Attenborough 2 True or false? The shipwreck of HMS Gloucester, which sank in 1682, was discovered on 10 June this year. ■ True ■ False 3 Which country has been named the best place in Europe to swim? 4 What percentage of the world’s refugees live in poorer countries? ■ a) 85% ■ b) 96% ■ c) 23% 5 True or false? Italian astronaut Samantha Cristoforetti holds the record for the shortest spaceflight of a European astronaut. ■ True ■ False 6 What tempted chickens to come down from the trees where they originally lived? 7 Which animals were given “puzzle boxes” by researchers…

Refugee Week is an event that has taken place every year across the UK since 1998. Its aim is to celebrate the contributions that refugees have made to life in the UK. A refugee is someone who has left their home country because of war or the threat of violence. This year’s Refugee Week will run from 20 to 26 June. It is a chance for people to understand the issues facing refugees. From 17 to 26 June, a Refugee Festival will be held in Scotland. Its theme is “storytelling” because the organisers say people’s stories represent “the journeys their lives have taken and the places they want to go”. The festival includes a free open-air exhibition called Letters of Hope, which is a walking trail using letters and postcards…

Refugee Week takes place in the UK from 20 to 26 June. This year it will be highlighting the fact that the number of refugees (people who have been forced to leave their home country because of the threat of violence) is rising around the world. Many wars and conflicts – for example in Afghanistan, Ethiopia, Syria, Ukraine and Yemen – have forced millions of people to leave their homes, and many of them are unable to return. They need somewhere to call home and to rebuild their lives safely. At the moment, around 85% of the world’s 26 million refugees are living in poorer countries. Yet it is richer, developed countries that have the most money and resources to help. What do you think? Should richer countries do more…

Otters owe their intelligence to a mix of learning from each other and figuring things out for themselves, according to a new study. Researchers from the University of Exeter set tasks for two families of Asian short-clawed otters living at Newquay Zoo and Tamar Otter and Wildlife Sanctuary in Cornwall, England. The otters were given “puzzle boxes” containing familiar food, such as meatballs and unfamiliar natural prey like crabs, which are protected by their hard shells. The team found the otters paid more attention to each other when they were investigating unfamiliar food, and concluded that this helps them learn if new items they encounter are safe and good to eat. However, when it came to accessing food – whether by pulling the tab on a puzzle box or prising…

On 5 June, the Chinese National Space Administration (CNSA) launched its Shenzhou-14 mission, carrying three astronauts into orbit to finish work on a new space station called Tiangong (Chinese for “Heavenly Palace”). The station’s central module was launched in 2021 and has already been visited by two crews. Now a third team, including commander Chen Dong, Cai Xuzhe and Liu Yang (who became China’s first female astronaut on a mission in 2012) will oversee the arrival of two new laboratory modules over the next few months. China is only the third country to build its own space station, and the completed Tiangong will only be about one fifth of the size of the International Space Station (ISS). However, it marks a big step in China’s plans to lead future space…

Southern Vipers On 11 June, Southern Vipers beat Central Sparks to win cricket’s Charlotte Edwards Cup for the first time. Elisa Longo Borghini The Italian won the Women’s Tour cycling race. The event is the UK’s biggest women’s bike race. It was held over six days around England and Wales. Dan Evans He picked up the Nottingham Open tennis title with a win against Jordan Thompson in the final. Lauren Price The Welsh boxer won her first professional contest by beating Iceland’s Valgerdur Gudstensdottir. Last year Price won a gold medal at the Olympics.…

If you’ve seen Toy Story, you might remember that it begins with a boy named Andy receiving a new toy for his birthday: a Space Ranger named Buzz Lightyear, inspired by Andy’s favourite film. Of course, that film never really existed, as it was just part of the Toy Story universe – until now. Lightyear, the latest release from Pixar, is presented as a “film within a film”, a sci-fi blockbuster that the characters in Toy Story would watch. This might sound confusing but it just means that it can be viewed as both an origin story for the character of Buzz and an adventure that stands on its own. The film tells the story of a crew who find themselves stranded on a hostile planet. Buzz (voiced by Chris…

Diamond Brothers: Where Seagulls Dare by Anthony Horowitz. Illustrated by Tony Ross (Walker Books) Private investigators Tim and Nick Diamond haven’t had a case for months and are down to their last cornflake. Before they know it, though, the brothers are caught up in a hilarious mixture of thrills, spills and crazy adventures. How to Survive Time Travel by Larry Hayes. Illustrated by Katie Abey (Simon & Schuster Children’s) In the sequel to How to Survive Without Grown-Ups, 10-year-old Eliza again joins forces with her genius brother Johnnie to save their parents. This time the siblings travel back to ancient Egypt to grapple with snakes, gods and a sphinx… plus a plot to end the world. Read Between the Lies by Malcolm Duffy (Head of Zeus) When Ryan’s parents split…

Holly King-Mand is the nation’s favourite English teacher; thousands of young people joined her free online lessons during lockdown. You can find even more advice at hollysclassroom.com “Writing a blog is a great way to experiment with your writing style and get your ideas out there for the world to read,” she says. “Many successful authors started their careers as bloggers and there’s no reason why you can’t follow in their footsteps in the future.” 1 What is a “blog”? A blog is a collection of written pieces of a blogger’s opinion and knowledge on different topics that is shared online for people to read. Its layout is quite like diary entries, in that the most recent post is at the top, with a date and topped with a catchy…

A restaurant in Arizona, US, is encouraging guests to lick the walls while eating their food. The restaurant says that its guests can lick the walls because they are made from Himalayan rock salt. People who work for the restaurant explained that the head chef brought in the rock salt to make the place more interesting. The salty walls, which are frequently wiped by staff to keep them clean, have been very popular with the restaurant’s customers.…

Do you ever hold your breath to try and cure hiccups? It’s such a relief when you can finally let the breath go, isn’t it? I’m feeling slightly the same way about our live reader event on 16 July (see p12) because we can at last reveal the line-up of brilliant authors who’ll be taking part. Thinking of brilliant people, it was easy to choose what should go on our cover this week. Over the last few years, Vanessa Nakate, Malala Yousafzai and Greta Thunberg have shown how to stand up and speak out for what you believe. You can read about how they stood together at one of the Friday climate strikes in Stockholm on p3 to show that girls’ right to education is an important part of solving…

Name: Barney “I read about the search for Stephen Lawrence Ambassador Schools in The Week Junior and wanted to get involved. I met my headteacher to discuss how we could raise awareness and create a fairer society in school and beyond. My headteacher thought it would be good if I took the lead in assembly, so I agreed to go on stage and speak to the whole of upper school (300 pupils). I was nervous but luckily my friend Henry agreed to help me. We used resources from the Stephen Lawrence Day Foundation website to prepare our presentation. When we told them about Stephen who in 1993, was killed, probably because of the colour of his skin, they were shocked. We told them about the Stephen Lawrence Day Foundation and…

“Here are the cornflake florentines I made from issue 334. I had a great time making them and they were delicious.”Lara “I made 81 flowers out of modelling clay to sell at my school fundraiser to raise money for the Year 6 barbecue.”Gloria “I was inspired by the Mary Berry scones recipe in last week’s The Week Junior. They made a tasty treat!”Ethan…