Innholdsfortegnelse for No. 109 i The Week Junior

ABERDEEN PET HOSPITAL An anonymous donor dropped an envelope containing £1,000 in cash through the letterbox of a PDSA pet hospital in Aberdeen during the Christmas holidays. The kindhearted person’s name was not on the envelope, which simply read “PDSA XXX”. ED SHEERAN The pop star set new records at the end of December when his album Divide returned to the no.1 spot. It’s the seventh time it’s gone to no.1 – the most spells topping the chart for an album by a male solo artist – and had spent a total of 19 weeks in the top spot. TREKKING TO THE SOUTH POLE Scott Sears has become the youngest person to complete a solo mission to the South Pole. The 27-year-old is an officer in the British army. The…

Heather Knight Heather Knight, the captain of the England women’s cricket team, has been given an OBE for her services to the sport. She hopes to inspire other girls. Darcey Bussell Darcey Bussell, a former ballerina and a judge on Strictly Come Dancing, has been given a damehood. She has been recognised for her services to dance, and said she was “truly humbled”. Helen Sharman The UK’s first ever astronaut has been made a Companion of the Order of St Michael and St George (CMG) for her services to science. Lucia Mee This year’s youngest recipient is 18-year-old Lucia Mee. She has been given a British Empire Medal for campaigning about organ donation. Mee hopes to encourage more people to donate their healthy organs to those who need them.…

At the age of nine, Hannah Alper, from Toronto, Canada, started a blog. A keen animal lover, Alper was worried about the environment and wanted to find a way to communicate that concern to other people. Through writing a blog, she hoped to inspire others, to teach them that just by making tiny changes to their lives, they could have an enormous impact on the world around them. In the five years since she launched her blog, Call Me Hannah, Alper has done exactly that. Now 14 years old, she’s already accomplished more than most adults. She’s spent the past five years drawing the public’s attention to some of the most important issues facing us today. For example, in her role as an ambassador with an anti-bullying movement called ByStander…

Tackle the planet’s plastic problem The United Nations (UN) has warned that the creatures living in and around our oceans are facing “irreparable damage” from the millions of tonnes of plastic that finds its way into the waters where they live. As plastics do not biodegrade (break down), they can stay in our environment for hundreds of years. It’s easy for marine animals and birds to mistake plastic rubbish for food and many find themselves tangled up in it. To help reduce this plastic problem, there are a few small things you can do. Firstly, don’t throw away plastic items if they can be reused. Secondly, if plastic items can’t be used again, make sure they are recycled so that they can be transformed into something else. Finally, make sure…

It’s not just your pets that will need your help this winter. Wild animals could also do with a hand. ● Do you have a pond in your garden? Check each day that it hasn’t frozen over, because that may harm fish or the frogs hibernating at the bottom. If your pond has frozen, don’t pour boiling water over it. With an adult’s help, rest a saucepan of hot water on the surface to melt a hole in the ice. ● Make sure feeders are stocked up with tasty treats that birds and squirrels can eat if they’re struggling to find food. ● Let your garden grow on the wild side because this will create the perfect habitat for hibernating mammals to stay protected from the harsh weather conditions.…

The year 1816 was a particularly strange year. It was known as “the year without a summer”. Mount Tambora in Indonesia had erupted in April 1815 and particles from the eruption spread around the globe, blocking out the sunlight. There was strange weather all over the world. It snowed in New York, in the US, in June, and in Ireland it rained constantly for eight weeks. It was against this eerie backdrop that one of the most famous stories about a monster was dreamt up, Frankenstein, which celebrates its 200th anniversary this year. Mary Shelley, the teenage writer The monster was actually the invention of an 18-year-old girl called Mary Wollstonecraft Godwin, who would become known as Mary Shelley. She made up a story about him while she was on…

MEDAL MANIA The medals that will be won at the Commonwealth Games were designed by Delvene Cockatoo-Collins and made at the Royal Australian Mint, where Australia’s coins are created. Winter Olympics Bobsleigh, curling, ice hockey, skating, skiing and snowboarding are some of the sports at the 2018 Winter Olympics in South Korea next month. Team GB’s Elise Christie and Lizzy Yarnold are targeting gold medals. World Cup In June and July, 32 countries will battle for football’s World Cup trophy. It will be held in Russia and superstars like Brazil’s Neymar, Argentina’s Lionel Messi and Portugal’s Cristiano Ronaldo all hope to be crowned champions. England will be hoping to reach the final for the first time since 1966. FOOTY FACT 64 games will be played at the 2018 World Cup.…

Sky Chasers by Emma Carroll (Chicken House) France, 1783. Magpie is a pickpocket living on the streets, but when she helps to rescue Pierre, a boy she sees dangling from the sky, everything changes. Soon Magpie has been taken in by Pierre’s family, the Montgolfiers, and is caught up in their quest to become the first to discover the secret of flight. Now Magpie dreams of flying over the rooftops of Paris – but making a working hot-air balloon won’t be easy, especially with spies attempting to steal the Montgolfiers’ ideas. Can Magpie outwit their enemies and become the first to fly in a hot-air balloon for the King and Queen of France? Featuring plenty of thrills, and a smart heroine with a secret, this action-packed adventure story was inspired…

The real Winnie Christopher Robin named his teddy after a real bear he saw at London Zoo. It had been donated to the zoo by a Canadian vet, who’d bought the bear as a cub while he was a soldier in the First World War. He’d named it Winnie, after Winnipeg, a city in Canada. He left the bear with the zoo when he went off to war in France. Pooh’s big-screen break Pooh first appeared in 1924, as Edward Bear, and his stories were a roaring success. In 1961 Christopher Robin’s mother, Daphne, sold the rights to the Pooh characters to Walt Disney, the founder of the famous Disney studio. Disney had been inspired to animate the bear by his daughters, who were both huge Winnie-the-Pooh fans. Winnie Ille…

Mech-X4 5.30pm on 11 January, Disney XD Ryan Walker isn’t your average teen – he can control technology with his mind. With the help of Mech-X4, a giant robot constructed to defend the town, Walker and his team must work to defeat a super-powered enemy – all while Walker is trying to settle into a new school. I Am Frankie Weekdays at 6pm from 8 January, Nickelodeon Frankie is a cutting-edge experimental robot, but she must keep her true identity a secret. After escaping from the labs where she was created, Frankie needs to learn how to be a normal teenager. Can she avoid being found out? Big Cats 8pm on 11 January, BBC One Cats are among our planet’s top predators. In this three-part series, you’ll learn about the…

Is korfball for me? It’s for boys and girls of all ages who want to play together, indoors and outdoors, in a unique team sport that’s competitive but still really friendly. How do I get started? It’s a plus if you have strong passing and catching skills (perhaps from playing basketball, netball or rugby), but you don’t need any experience to play korfball. All juniors start as beginners. Where can I play korfball? Go to korfball.org.uk for a map of all the clubs in the UK and links to the English, Scottish and Welsh korfball associations. Learn more… ● See interviews with Great Britain players, and the team in action on the court, at tinyurl.com/TWJ-gbkorfball ● The International Korfball Federation has a whole YouTube channel packed with videos: youtube.com/user/ikfchannel…

THE WINNER The overall winner of the Pen a Poem 2017 competition is Max Hoffman, aged eight, for his brilliant poem, Jetset Granny. Well done, Max. RUNNERS-UP The two runners-up are Daisy Flann, aged nine, for Octopus Escape and Eve Harknett, aged 11, for Freedom. Congratulations to you both! We would like to say a big thank you to everyone who entered, and well done to you all for coming up with such amazing and original poems. WINNING POEM Jetset Granny By Max Hoffman Betty lived in a nursing home She felt cooped up, all alone For years she planned her great escape Finally the plot took shape. Betty looked on the internet Finding a broken rocket set No problem for Betty (an engineer) She knew the garden wall could…

Writing Armistice, Youth Category 2018 marks 100 years since the First World War came to an end with the Armistice – an agreement that two sides in war will stop fighting. The British army has opened their poetry competition, Writing Armistice, asking entrants to write a poem that is inspired by, addresses or explores the theme of armistice. It could also touch on military medicine or how it has contributed to the healthcare of humans and animals. The competition is sponsored by the Museum of Military Medicine in Aldershot.Head to tinyurl.com/TWJ-writingarmistice to find out how to enter before the 15 January deadline. GET INVOLVED Email your news, viewsandpictures to hello@theweekjunior.co.uk Every reader who has a report, review, Teacher of the Week nomination, joke or a picture printed in the magazine…

Follow The Week Junior on Popjam @TheWeekJunior You can download the free Popjam app from the App Store or GooglePlay. On 17 December, Sir Mo Farah was crowned Sports Personality of the Year. You said… “I’m so happy for him!” @se8d0e “GO MO” @Crazygirl5878 “He is inspiring” @warmstrawberry “I would be honoured to get that award” @fluufycat19 The world’s steepest funicular rail line has opened in Switzerland. You said… “That sounds so cool!” @unbeatablesg “Three words: OMG” @Chocolate12357 “It’s pretty much a rollercoaster” @marvellouspuppy6619 “My cousins live in Switzerland and they have been on it and enjoyed every bit!” @EpicCoolCat2007 Tell us what you think of this week’s issue. We’ll give you a shout-out if your post is printed here.…

Passenger drones take to the skies Imagine hailing a taxi down from the sky rather than from across the road. That might be the future of transport in 2028. Last year, the taxi service Uber signed a contract with Nasa to develop passenger drones. A driverless passenger drone would run on batteries and navigate around the skies using cameras, GPS and sensors, much like driverless cars already do. The company says that passenger drones could cut an 80-minute car journey in rush-hour traffic down to four minutes. Uber wants to begin testing these flying taxis in 2020, with plans to have the service in use by 2028. Real-life superheroes could be born Superheroes have come to life in books, comics, films and TV shows for decades, but how difficult would…

Alistair and Jonny Brownlee The brothers will compete in the World Triathlon Series throughout the year and will be going for gold at the Commonwealth Games. Sir Mo Farah The long-distance runner retired from track racing in 2017 to focus on road events. He will run in the London marathon in April. Victoria Pendleton In May, the former British Olympic cycling champion plans to climb Mount Everest, the highest mountain in the world. Chris Froome In July, the British cyclist will try to win a record-equalling fifth Tour de France title. Only four riders have achieved that. Adam Peaty In 2018, Britain’s record-breaking breaststroke swimmer has the chance to become the Commonwealth and World champion once again.…

What is your favourite food? Marmite, peanut butter and cucumber on toast. Absolutely delicious! Would you go to space? There are plenty of places here on Earth I’d visit first, like Scandinavia, Canada and India. What is the scariest thing you’ve ever done? I’ve ridden at high speed on the top of a minibus through the Amazon, with live chickens for company. I’m not a big fan of chickens. If you could try a job for a day, what would it be? I’d love to have a go at flying a big aeroplane – a passenger jet maybe – so I could finally understand how it all works, and not be scared. Where is your favourite place in the world? Somerset, my home county. Whenever I drive back into Somerset…

Fan receives letter from the Doctor On Christmas Day, many Doctor Who fans across the country watched as the famous time traveller, played by Scottish actor Peter Capaldi, regenerated (when a Time Lord renews themselves in order to survive). However, one nine-year-old boy named David was not so happy to see his favourite Doctor leave the show. To cheer David up, Capaldi sent the boy a handwritten letter, along with a signed photo and a Dalek sketched on the front of the envelope. In it, Capaldi explains how regenerating feels like a really bad case of the flu but that it always turns out well for the Doctor each time. He wrote “It’s likee the Doctor says, ‘Everything ends and it’s always sad. But everything begins again, and that’s always…

1 Harry Potter Wizards Unite Pokémon Go added more than 130 new Pokémon just before Christmas, to keep players catching them. Even so, the game’s developer is already hard at work on its next mobile game, Harry Potter: Wizards Unite. It will see players wandering around the real world again, but this time you’ll be casting spells and catching monsters on your screen in the wizarding world. Details – and even a release date – are still under wraps, but now might be the time to brush up on your summoning charms to prepare. A second Harry Potter game, Hogwarts Mystery, is also heading for smartphones in 2018 – date still to be confirmed. 2 Google Lens At the moment, Google Lens can only be used on Pixel phones but…

Happy new year! In 2018 Scotland is celebrating the Year of Young People – a year-long event that the organisers hope will inspire everyone by highlighting young Scots’ ideas, achievements, attitudes and ambitions. The Scottish government has worked with a team of people aged eight to 22 to create an exciting and inspiring programme of activities around six core themes, all of which focus on involving young people in shaping their futures and enabling them to lead happy and healthy lives. You can find out more about the Year of Young People on their website yoyp2018.scot and, if you live in Scotland, we’d love to hear what you will be doing to celebrate. Elsewhere in the UK, there are plenty of opportunities for young people to get involved and help…

“I had seen a girl in The Week Junior who had sent her hair to the Little Princess Trust. I wanted to be the first boy to do it, I had been growing my hair for 18 months, I decided I wanted to get it cut and send it to the Little Princess Trust. Here is a picture of me after!” Joseph, Year 4 “This is a photo of me with my collection of Week Juniors – patiently waiting for this week’s copy to arrive.” Madeline, Primary 7 “Ever since I first subscribed, my dad and I have loved the news you provide.” Martin, Year 5…

The New Year has arrived and people are looking forward to what 2018 may bring, but first, the decorations have to come down. Christmas trees are piled up, ready to be recycled, and baubles go back in their boxes for another year, but what do we do with the jumpers? Every year, people like to get into the seasonal spirit by wearing festive jumpers. They first became really popular in the 1980s, when television presenters wore them on breakfast shows. Since then, they’ve become a must-have winter item. Once Christmas is over, most people bury their festive jumpers in a drawer, but some people think it’s wasteful to buy a jumper that’s only worn for a few days in December. Are Christmas jumpers best left at Christmas or should they…

In winter you probably wrap up in gloves, a hat and scarf every time you venture outside. For pets that go outdoors, keeping warm isn’t as simple as layering up. Here are a few things that you can do to help your pet when it’s cold. You may think that your dog’s fur is great for keeping them insulated (warm), but when it gets wet, their fluffy jacket loses much of its ability to shield the animal from the cold. That’s why many dog owners buy a coat designed specially to keep their four-legged friend warm on their daily walk. When a dog comes back indoors after being outside, it’s important to ensure that wet fur is dried thoroughly. It’s also important to check and clean your pet’s paws after…

Charles Fusari, keeper at ZSL London Zoo Flying fish can make powerful leaps out of the water into air. They have developed modified wing-like fins, which enable gliding flight for up to 45 seconds above the water’s surface. The main reason for flying fish to fly is a natural defence mechanism – they’re escaping predators. Do you love animals? ZSL London Zoo’s Junior Zoo Academy is a great way to learn about creatures from all over the world. Find out more at zsl.org/experiences…

Drumming up support These well-lit drummers stole the show at Edinburgh’s Hogmanay festivities on New Year’s Eve. Is it a bird? A giant flock of starlings formed the shape of a huge bird in the skies over Spain. Hot heads A New Year’s Eve tradition that started in the Middle Ages sees locals in Allendale, Northumberland, carry barrels filled with burning tar through the town’s streets. Cool couple These amazing frozen sculptures were on display at the Ice World exhibition in Germany. What a tongue A girl prepares to perform in the annual Balrang Festival, in Bhopal, India. Big bangs The Elizabeth Tower, which houses the Big Ben bell, was surrounded by fireworks on New Year’s Eve. Magnificent rhino A rare rhino poses in its enclosure at a zoo in…

The Official Detective’s Handbook by Colin King (Usborne) This fun and informative guide includes lots of hints and tips for budding sleuths, as well as information about everything from cracking codes and using fingerprint identification to examining witnesses and analysing clues. It’s perfect for keeping in your pocket during investigations. Ruby Redfort: Look into My Eyes by Lauren Child (HarperCollins Children’s Books) Meet Ruby Redfort: 13-year-old detective and expert code cracker. In the first book in the series, we follow Ruby into the HQ of secret agency Spectrum, where she is soon plunged into an action-packed adventure. Containing fiendishly difficult code puzzles for you to solve, these books are a must for all aspiring secret agents. DNA Detectives: To Catch a Thief by Dr Mandy Hartley (St James’s House) Annabelle…

Pooh Bear is an instantly familiar and beloved sight, and for the first time in almost 40 years, he’s being celebrated in his very own exhibition. A.A. Milne’s tales from the Hundred Acre Wood are classics. They follow the exploits of a boy, Christopher Robin, and his friends, Eeyore, Piglet, Tigger and, of course, Winnie-the-Pooh. Pooh Bear’s adventures were brought to life by the magical combination of A.A. Milne’s simple yet humorous storylines, and the equally simple illustration work of E.H. Shepard. The two men worked together for five years, collaborating on four of the most popular children’s books ever written. Milne had found inspiration for Pooh in a teddy bear he gave his son, Christopher Robin. As Christopher and his mother played with the bear, Milne concocted stories, adventures…

TheL Bug DVD, iTunes, Amazon, Disney Life Lots of films celebrate their 50th birthday in 2018 – and this is one of them. Few could have imagined back in 1968 that the story of a humble car with a mind of its own would turn into a series of films. The Love Bug, though, did just that. It’s the first of five films based around the car Herbie, and it’s a milestone in the history of the Walt Disney company too, as it was the final live-action movie that Disney himself was involved with before his death. It went on to be the third most popular film of the year in the US. WOW! The opening of The Love Bug uses footage from another film completely:…

“On 17 November, my school and I took part in a cross-country competition. I had to do one loop around a part of Richmond Park which was 2.2 kilometres, although the years above me had to do two laps (4.4 kilometres.) The start of the race was very nerve-wracking as there were hundreds of people waiting to go, when the go siren went off all the girls in my race raced off. Because everyone bolted off, I needed to go quickly. As I got nearer the front I started to set my pace. By the end of the race I received seventh place! I was very proud and I can’t wait to find out where our school (Orleans Park) came. Congratulations to everyone who came!” What’s going on at your…

Teacher: Mr Edwards School: St Paul’s CE Primary School, London Sam says: “I like my teacher because he solves problems and he plays football sometimes with us at break. Rachel says: He is very kind, patient and calm. He is very funny, and he takes care of your problems in a flash.” Samuel and Rachel, Year 5 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…

Would you blow your nose on a tissue made from panda poo? An adult panda produces an average of more than 10 kilograms of bamboo-rich poo every day. Panda sanctuaries usually throw the bears’ waste away or use it as fertiliser (something added to land to encourage plant growth). However, a Chinese paper company has found a unique way to repurpose panda faeces – by transforming it into tissues, toilet paper and napkins. The company plans to gather the waste each week, then put it through a 60-step recycling process that will clean and prepare the poo, ready for it to be turned into paper. WOW! On average, pandas spend 14 hours a day eating and 99% heir diet is bamboo. % of t…

Many people like to exercise first thing in the morning, whether it’s a swim at their local pool or a brisk run around the neighbourhood. One exercise class in New York’s Irving Plaza recently gathered before the sun rose to practise goat yoga. Goat yoga involves all the usual stretches and positions, with the added feel-good factor of bonding with animals. Instructor Kelly Morrissey said “It’s really funny to watch them and just the way people react to them. It brings so much joy to people.”…