Innholdsfortegnelse for No. 87 i The Week Junior

The rules of cricket Although cricket is a complex game, the aim is simple: to score more runs than the opposing team. Teams take it in turns to bat or bowl. Two batsmen go up to bat at once, and each stands in front of a wicket, which is three wooden posts with two small pieces of wood balanced on top. If the bowler hits the wicket, the batsman is out and has to go and sit down. Runs are earned by running between the two wickets, or hitting the ball off the pitch. The batsman can also be sent out if one of their hits is caught without bouncing. Women’s sports take the spotlight This has been a great summer for British women’s sports. The England and Scotland football…

BEING REUNITED WITH YOUR CAT A cat has been reunited with his owners after three months apart. The family was on a trip in Australia when their caravan broke down, and the mischievous moggy escaped. Luckily, Whiskers was found and taken to a vet, where he was identified and returned to his owners. FOSSIL-FINDING NEWS Jude Sparks, now 10, got a shock last year when he tripped over a giant skull in New Mexico in the US. The skull belonged to a 1.2 million-year-old stegomastodon, which is a distant relative of the modern elephant. Sparks and his family took pictures of the skull before reburying it. FISH-AND-CHIP LOVERS For the first time in 20 years, North Sea cod is back on the menu. In the 1970s, there were around 270,000…

Hannah Cockroft is one of the UK’s top athletes. At the age of 24, she holds five world records, she’s won five Paralympic gold medals, and in 2013 the Queen awarded her an MBE for Services to Athletics. Not bad for someone who got off to something of a rough start in life. Shortly after being born, Cockroft suffered two cardiac arrests (her heart stopped beating), which left her disabled. Doctors warned her parents she would never walk, and may not even live beyond her teenage years, but she proved them wrong. She has mobility issues, but as a determined little girl she learnt to get around without a wheelchair. Determination is a useful attribute for an athlete, whose training schedules and diets require incredible self-discipline – and Cockroft has…

If you had to name the planet’s most indestructible animal, you probably wouldn’t come up with this bizarre microscopic creature that looks a bit like a crumpled-up paper bag. Scientists believe that tardigrades, also known as water bears or moss piglets, would be the last living things on Earth, able to survive until the Sun dies – even in the unlikely event of a large asteroid striking our planet. These hardy eight-legged creatures are no more than a millimetre long and can survive without food and water for up to 30 years. Tardigrades are able to withstand temperatures of up to 150° C (water boils at 100° C) yet can also stay alive in the below-freezing temperatures of outer space. Dr David Sloan is one of the researchers from Oxford…

Our planet is home to some amazing natural wonders, including colourful coral reefs teeming with marine life, and vast, sprawling tropical rainforests. However, these natural wonders are in danger of disappearing. Humans have had more impact on Earth than any other species. Around 80% of all the land on the planet has been affected by humans in some way, whether through farming or by building cities. This has had serious consequences for the plants and animals that live there. Luckily, many people are trying to find new ways to protect our planet. There are lots of conservation projects happening around the world. Read about some of the successes so far, and find out where work is still needed. What is conservation? Conservation is the protection of wildlife, plants, natural resources…

On 23 July, British cyclist Chris Froome won the Tour de France race for the fourth time. The 32-year-old completed the 2,200-mile event 54 seconds faster than Rigoberto Uran in second place. The competitors raced on roads around France as well Belgium, Germany and Luxembourg. The time it takes a rider to complete each stage is added together and Froome had the quickest time after all 21 stages. Froome also won the Tour in 2013, 2015 and 2016. He’s now just one more win away from the record of five, shared by four other cyclists. Froome is now seen as one of the greatest Tour de France competitors ever. Of the 198 riders who started the Tour on 1 July, 167 managed to finish every stage. Froome was born in…

Anew exhibition offers a glimpse into the life and work of one of the UK’s favourite writers. Michael Morpurgo is well known to generations of readers. The author of War Horse, Kensuke’s Kingdom and The Butterfly Lion, alongside dozens of other children’s classics, has fired the imagination of children around the world for more than 40 years. Now, the V&A Museum of Childhood in London is celebrating his life and talent in a new exhibition. The show, Michael Morpurgo: A Lifetime in Stories, doesn’t just offer a glimpse into his past – it also opens up the mysteries of how he works, and where his stories come from. For anyone who’s ever dreamt of becoming a writer, the exhibition is a must-see, because it reveals the techniques and tricks of…

Minecraft Story Mode: Season Two Android / iOS (£4.59 – £4.99 per episode) The first season of Minecraft Story Mode came out in 2015 as a spin-off from the popular blocky crafting game. It was an adventure in five episodes, where you could influence the action by choosing what characters said, as well as action scenes. Now the game has returned with a second adventure series, released as a brand new app. Original star Jesse and friends return, although now they’re famous heroes rather than nervous newbies. The new season plays in the same way as the old one, including giving you a choice of whether Jesse is a boy or a girl. The tale is just as gripping as before, and every choice you make can affect how the…

What do I need? Got a washing line for a net, a ball and someone to play with? That’s all you need to start practising volleyball at home. If a normal ball is too hard for you as a beginner, try with a balloon or beach ball. You’ll have extra time to hit it and it won’t be as hard on your arms. Where can I play? Head over to volleyballengland.org, scottishvolleyball.org, nivolleyball.com or volleyballwales.org for a quick way to find volleyball events, clubs and courses close to where you live. How do I get started? Volleyballengland.org’s online shop sells the Go Spike Game in a Bag. It comes with a ribbon to use as a net, and a blow-up beach ball, so the minute it arrives, you’ve got everything…

Fundraising for the RNLI “All of the Year 6 pupils from Tewkesbury C of E Primary School took part in a sponsored event on our bikes – riding 25 laps of the school field. Altogether the total distance that our year group completed is the same as riding from Tewkesbury to the Isle of Wight and back. This is where we travelled for our end-of-year trip, to hand over the cheque to the lifeboat service station, Bembridge RNLI. We managed to raise over £1,600! ” What’s going on at your school? Have you taken part in a sporting event, put on a show or done something fun to raise money? Whatever you’re up to, we want to hear about it at hello@theweekjunior.co.uk CHARITY OF THE WEEK NATIONAL…

Follow The Week Junior on PopJam @TheWeekJunior You can download the free PopJam app from the App Store or GooglePlay. In last week’s Big debate, we asked if written recipe books are outdated. You said... “No because sometimes my wifi goes off” @candyflossy102 “I really love reading a book. It’s so rustic and retro” @er97 “Using technology is irritating as you end up with ingredients on your screen” @penguins37 “No, I love being old school” @lizziethebutterfly Lynx are able to spot a mouse up to 75 metres away. You said... “That’s very interesting. I really like lynx” @stormkitten “Even better than my eyesight” @Emiloola “Woah! If only I could do that” @aquapenguin123 Tell us what you think of this week’s issue. We’ll give you a shout out if your post…

Meet the flushing brides Nowadays, lots of brides-to-be to fork out more than £1,000 for their dream wedding dress, which is often covered in crystals, beads or lace. At one unusual contest in New York, in the US, gowns of a different kind were on show – they were made entirely out of toilet paper. More than 1,500 designers entered their loo-roll creations into the 13th annual Toilet Paper Wedding Dress Contest. The rules state that the garments can only be made using toilet paper, although glue, tape and thread are allowed. The winning dress was designed with 1,500 hand-cut toilet-paper butterflies and its creator got a £7,600 cash prize. Man versus shark To celebrate Shark Week on the Discovery Channel, the most successful Olympic athlete of all time, US…

African wild ass On 14 July, a critically endangered African wild ass was born at Marwell Zoo in Hampshire. Believed to be one of the rarest species in the world, the population of African wild ass is estimated to be fewer than 570. The newborn foal’s nine-year-old mother was also born in Marwell Zoo. Global warming It has been revealed that last month the world experienced the third-hottest June since records began in 1880. It is predicted that 2017 will be the second hottest year, after 2016. The warming of the planet is most likely the result of human activities, such as the burning of coal and oil.…

If the thought of being chased by a Tyrannosaurus rex terrifies you, then fear not. If one did come back to life, you could probably outpace it, according to new research. Basing their theory on the height and weight of the dinosaur, scientists say that it couldn’t move faster than 12mph. For comparison, Usain Bolt, the fastest sprinter in the world, has a top speed of 27mph, and even an average fast runner can reach about 15mph – still quick enough to beat a T.rex. T.rex roamed the planet around 68 million years ago. It was a ferocious meat eater, right at the top of the food chain, which means it had no predators. By looking at fossils, scientists believe that an adult T.rex was around 12 metres long and…

We’ve had smartphones, smart homes – even smart furniture. Now, Google has made smart glasses. Google Glass is a pair of spectacles with a built-in computer that responds to touch and voice commands. Users wear them when they want to see news, search for directions or even record every part of the day. Google first created the glasses two years ago, but the product was cancelled because the company didn’t think people would buy it. Now, Google is targeting people – such as surgeons – who need to get information quickly without using their hands. A German company that made the glasses for Google expects prices to start at £1,335.…

3 books about the great outdoors These great guides will tempt you outside... The Usborne Outdoor Book by Jerome Martin and Emily Bone. Illustrated by Briony May Smith (Usborne Publishing) This book will show you how to make a map, go on a night-time nature ramble, cook food over a campfire and much, much more. RSPB Children’s Guide to Nature Watching by Mark Boyd (Bloomsbury Publishing) This illustrated guide includes lots of information about the wild creatures you might see, tips on where and when to go nature-watching and what equipment you’ll need. The Anti-Boredom Book of Brilliant Outdoor Things To Do by Andy Seed. Illustrated by Scott Garrett (Bloomsbury Publishing) Winner of the Blue Peter Book Award, author Andy Seed, has crammed this wacky illustrated book with loads of…

1Which country did the England women’s cricket team beat in the final to be crowned World Cup champions? a) Australia b) Sri Lanka c) India 2Who was recently named as the BBC’s highest paid television star? 3True or false? Salvador Dalí is famous for his peculiar art and handlebar moustache. 4What is the name of Prince George’s sister? 5How many Paralympic gold medals does Hannah Cockcroft have? a) Five b) Seven c) Nine 6How long can beavers hold their breath underwater? 7What is the planet’s largest tropical rainforest called? a) Congo rainforest b) Borneo lowland rainforest c) Amazon rainforest 8True or false? T.rex roamed the planet around 68 million years ago. 9Which US state hosted the recent Comic-Con International event? 10How many times has British cyclist Chris Froome won the…

30 July 1966 England wins the World Cup On 30 July 1966, more than 93,000 spectators watched as England striker Geoff Hurst scored his third goal to give England a 4-2 victory against West Germany. The Queen and Prince Philip were among the crowd at London’s Wembley Stadium. A further 400 million people around the world watched the match on television. This is the first and last time the England men’s team has won the World Cup since the tournament began in 1930. Earlier this year, England’s Under-20s became World Cup winners after beating Venezuela 1-0.…

Some people are so famous it’s rare that a day goes by without them appearing in the papers. Social-media platforms like Instagram and Twitter allow them to keep their fans up to date, but the celebrities aren’t the only ones living life in the spotlight; their children often are, too. Prince George attracted plenty of press attention on a recent royal trip. When the young prince rubbed his eyes, journalists wrote about how tired he seemed, and photographers were quick to capture the moment when his sister had a tantrum. Some celebrities actively seek the limelight for their children; Beyonce recently racked up a record-breaking number of likes on Instagram for a photo of herself and her baby twins. Megastar Adele, by contrast, once took legal action against people who…

Fastest animal With a top speed of around 70mph, the cheetah is the fastest on land. It is so fast because it has a slim body, a small head, a flattened ribcage and long legs. This cuts down on air resistance, which slows an object down as it travels. Slowest animal Sloths are incredibly slow. In one day they move around 0.02 miles – half the length of a football field. Sloths only eat leaves, which are very low in calories (units of energy). They move slowly so that they can conserve energy.…

R-eel-ly tasty A peckish puffin scoffs a beakful of sand eels on the coast of Wales. Blue Danube South Korean synchronised swimmers practise for the World Aquatics Championships in Budapest, Hungary. Bolt from the blue Lightning strikes during thunderstorms that swept the UK. Comic-Con costume Sabrina Johnson, dressed as Tamatoa, the villainous crab from Moana, for this year’s Comic-Con in California, US. Tiny but mighty Ants might look puny, but they can lift insects many times their own weight. Flight drill The Jordanian Falcons air-display team, led by Ahmad Qudah, practise in Ireland ahead of a display. Take your time Snail owners prepare for the one of the slowest races in the world, in Croatia. China dolls People take part in a free childcare workshop in southern China.…

LAUGH-OUT-LOUD ADVENTURES Blockbusters by David Baddiel David Baddiel is one of the UK’s best children’s authors and, with holidays on the horizon, now’s the time to check out his hilarious novels. The Parent Agency spins the tale of nine-year-old Barry Bennett. Barry’s parents are nice, but they’re so boring he wishes he had new ones. He little expects that his wish might be granted. In the world of the Parent Agency, he has his pick of parents – but are new ones really what Barry wants? The Person Controller follows twins Fred and Ellie, gamers who live with their telly-obsessed mum and bacon-sarnie-scoffing dad. When their dad’s fat bum breaks their game controller, a Mystery Man gives them a jewel-encrusted one free of charge. It doesn’t work on their games,…

If you’re going on a summer holiday this year, you might find yourself playing a game of volleyball on the beach. Far from just being a game for the seaside, though, volleyball can be enjoyed anywhere, any time and in any place. It’s energetic, inclusive and sure you’re each enjoying as much game play as possible. “The best way to start playing volleyball is just to give it a go,” says volleyball coach and former Olympic GB volleyball athlete Maria Bertelli. “Any level can play. You can be an lots of fun. Volleyball involves playing in a team trying to hit a ball over a net dividing the two sides. You can hit the ball a maximum of three times per side before getting it over the net; you can’t…

Make Koinobori flying fish What you need ● Plastic bag ● Scissors ● Sticky tape ● Black pen – a permanent marker will work well ● Hole punch or a sharp pencil ● Ribbon/string Instructions Do you have lots of plastic bags lying around at home? Why not use them to make some beautiful Koinobori-style fish kites, which are traditional decorations in Japan. Cut a piece roughly 50 centimetres by 25 centimetres out of the bag. Fold it lengthways, with about two centimetres overlapping, and tape the whole length down to create a cylinder shape. Lay this flat and draw a big eye at one end of your “fish”, then draw some scales. Repeat on the other side. Cut some long strips from the rest of the bag and attach…

Last week, members of The Week Junior team travelled to the New Forest in Hampshire to take part in the Curious Arts Festival. The event involved all sorts of artists and performers, and The Week Junior editorial team hosted workshops on photography, cover design and writing. Lots of our fans braved the rain and enjoyed all the activities – particularly our live big debate session, which got young people thinking and talking about some interesting ideas. The team loved meeting everyone who got involved and were really impressed by the photos, reports and pictures that were created by participants. We’ll be showcasing some of them in next week’s issue. If you fancy taking part in a Week Junior workshop, our next events will be held in August at the Just…