Innholdsfortegnelse for No. 127 i The Week Junior

Donald Trump, the US president, has said the US will pull out of the Iran nuclear deal. This was an important agreement signed in 2015 that people hoped would make the world more peaceful. The deal was thought to be one of the major achievements of former US president, Barack Obama. What is the Iran nuclear deal? Since the 1990s, many countries had been seriously concerned that Iran was trying to make a nuclear weapon, even though Iran denied this. When Obama became US president in 2009, he wanted to improve relations between the US and Iran and began talks with the Iranian government. In 2015, Iran and the US, with China, Germany, France, Russia and the UK, signed the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, which is otherwise known as…

17 May 2000 Britons reach the North Pole unaided On 17 May 2000, a pair of Royal Marine commandos became the first British people to reach the North Pole without any support or extra supplies. Setting off on 9 March, Corporal Alan Chambers, aged 31, and 29-year-old marine Charlie Paton, battled severe weather for 70 days, surviving on as little as half a cup of porridge each day. The two marines suffered several setbacks – including a tent fire – on their 700-mile trek, only to walk past their intended destination by mistake.…

Best-selling children’s author, Lauren St John, is the driving force behind a new campaign encouraging people to ditch plastic and save the planet’s ocean life. The idea of Authors4Oceans came to St John in a bookshop after she was served a drink that contained a plastic straw, an item known to harm marine wildlife if they end up in the sea. The campaign has the support of 50 well-known authors and illustrators, including Jacqueline Wilson and Michael Morpurgo. St John was born in Zimbabwe, in southern Africa, and grew up in the village of Gadzema, on Rainbow’s End farm. She had some unusual pets during this time, including warthogs called Miss Piggy and Bacon, and a giraffe named Jenny. Her favourite animals include horses, dolphins and all kinds of cat,…

In October this year, more than 100 UK and US scientists will join forces to undertake one of the biggest ever projects in Antarctica. Their job is to investigate what would happen to the sea level should a major glacier, such as the Thwaites Glacier, collapse in the future. The Thwaites Glacier is a large mass of landlocked ice (ice that is surrounded by land) almost the same size as Britain. It is important because it acts like a cork, holding back enormous masses of the Western Arctic Ice Sheet and stopping them from sliding into the sea. The glacier is melting fast and the meltwater is estimated to account for around 4% of all sea-level rises around the world – an amount that has doubled since the 1990s. When…

Cutting plastic pollution More than 40 companies, including Coca-Cola, Marks & Spencer and Asda, have pledged to help cut plastic pollution. As part of the UK Plastics Pact, organisations have promised that by 2025 all the plastic they use will be recyclable, reusable or compostable. The world’s oldest spider The oldest known spider in the world has died, aged 43, in Australia. Known as Number 16, the female trapdoor spider had been monitored by researchers for years as part of a long-term population study. Number 16 died after being stung by a parasitic wasp.…

How it works Inside each cell in your body is a nucleus. The nucleus contains a set of 23 chromosomes, inherited from your parents. Each is packed with strands of DNA. A short section of the DNA is a gene. WOW! Genes aren’t just found in humans – all animals and plants have genes too. DID YOU KNOW? The 100,000 Genomes Project has sequenced 60,679 genomes so far. We all have genes. They are short sections of DNA (a chemical that carries all the information about your body and characteristics) that determine your eye and hair colour, among other things. If there’s a flaw in your DNA, it can lead to genetic disorders such as cystic fibrosis (which causes digestive and lung problems) and sickle-cell anaemia (which causes blood cells…

The Milky Way is our galaxy – the system of stars that makes up our solar system. It is shaped like a huge whirlpool and rotates every 200 million years. Several years ago, the European Space Agency (ESA) set up a mission to map every star in the Milky Way. In December 2013, two identical telescopes, collectively known as Gaia, were sent into orbit almost a million miles from Earth. After more than a year gathering data, Gaia released its first star map in 2016, showing the position and brightness of millions of nearby stars. Now, it has released its second star map. This new map, released on 25 April, is the most detailed image yet of the Milky Way. The observatory has pinpointed the position and brightness of around…

Dash for freedom A newly hatched sea turtle ends its hour-long trek to reach the sea in India. Behold the digital waterfall Flowers appear to flow over a hill at a museum installation in Tokyo, Japan. Hmm… how do I get down? A red squirrel does the splits in a Swedish garden. Fire and fury A fiery anti-government protest in Manila, Philippines. Spot the difference Two cheetahs stick together in Kenya. Flower arrangement This field of tulips is ready for harvest in Germany.…

Measly Middle Ages by Terry Deary. Illustrated by Martin Brown (Scholastic) Travel back in time to the Middle Ages with this hilarious book from the Horrible Histories series. Stretching from 1066 and the Norman Conquest to 1492, when Columbus arrived in America, this book will take you on a rollicking (and often revolting) journey through the medieval period. You’ll find out about everything from the Wars of the Roses and the ghastly Black Death, and meet everyone from mad monks to naughty knights to crazy kings and queens along the way. There are lots of facts about how people lived in the middle ages – including foul food and drink, strange superstitions and terrifying medieval medicines. To celebrate the 25th anniversary of Horrible Histories, this title has been given a…

The Dark Crystal (1982) DVD, Blu-ray, Prime Video, iTunes Jim Henson may be best known for creating the Muppets, but his imagination was also put to brilliant use in The Dark Crystal. It’s a fantasy adventure film – quite a dark and scary one, in fact – in a world where the heroic Mystics take on the evil Skeksis. Even before he had a story or the money to make the film, Henson imagined the world and the characters in it. When the film was finally released, in 1982, some viewers loved it, some were not so keen, but Henson’s beautiful designs and incredible world have steadily become more and more popular. DIDYOU KNOW A new TV show based on The Dark Crystal is being made in London.…

How do I get started? Watch some online videos and have a go at some of the tricks. If you want lessons, why not sign up for a freestyle-coaching programme or tell your teacher about workshops, which you can watch here, freestylefootballworkshops.com Do I need to be good at football? No, although you do need good ball-control skills. Freestyle football is more of an art than a sport. It’s about balance, touch, body awareness and self-confidence. Where can I see professionals in action? Check out freestyle champion Andrew Henderson at tinyurl.com/TWJ-henderson and Liv Cooke at tinyurl.com/TWJ-cooke as they show off their skills.…

Scotland’s Charity Air Ambulance The idea for Scotland’s Charity Air Ambulance (SCAA) was first discussed in 2010. Since officially launching in 2013, Scotland’s only operating charity air ambulance has responded to hundreds of critical call-outs every year. SCAA operates one helicopter and a rapid-response vehicle, allowing paramedic care to reach emergencies quickly. Patients are then transported to specialist hospitals to get the care they need. To find out more, visit scaa.org.uk…

“We took a few copies of The Week Junior on our holiday to Mauritius and found the perfect shady spot to sit and read them. They kept us quiet for a bit so our parents could sunbathe in peace!” Ted, Year 5, and Tom, Year 2 “We made a Week Junior collage using our old copies to recycle them and help the environment. Hope you like it!” Mia and Ada, Year 6 “I was inspired to go plogging by an issue of The Week Junior . It was fun, despite the rain. Look at all the rubbish we collected!” Daisy, Year 6…

Iran has a very different government to that of the UK. In 1979, the Shah of Iran (the king) was overthrown. Since then, Iran has had a religious leader, called the Supreme Leader, who rules for life and is more powerful than the president. Schools are also different. Boys and girls must go to same-sex schools and study the Qur’an (the Islamic holy book). Life is difficult for many Iranians. Food prices are high, many people don’t have a job and women are not allowed the same opportunities as men. In January, tens of thousands of people protested against the government and demanded change. More than 20 protesters died before the army ended the demonstrations.…

CHEERLEADING CHAMPIONS England’s Coed Elite squad became the world champions at the ICU international cheerleading competition on 27 April in Florida in the US. They were judged on their jumps, props and tumbles. England’s All-Girl Advanced England Juniors won silver, and Scotland’s Junior Hip Hop won bronze. Watch them here, at tinyurl.com/TWJ-cheerleaders THE FIGHT AGAINST PLASTIC The UK uses around 8.5 billion straws every year, many of which end up in the ocean. This year, Wimbledon is doing its bit to help by banning plastic straws at the two-week tennis event. The All England Lawn Tennis Club announced that there would be no plastic straws in its cafés, bars or restaurants. THIS POLICE DOG A Police Scotland dog and his handler have scooped top prize in the 58th National Police…

On 3 May, thousands of people across England voted in local elections. These elections, which take place at least every four years, allow people to vote for councillors who are responsible for local services, such as roads and bin collections. A total of 150 councils in England held elections. The Labour party gained new councillors in London, while the Conservative party won more new councillors than Labour across the rest of England. Ukip (the UK Independence Party) lost more than 120 councillors, holding on to just three, and the Liberal Democrats gained 75 councillors.…

Found on the north-east coast of Scotland, the Moray Firth is one of the best places in Europe to spot dolphins. Around 130 bottlenose dolphins live in the narrow strip of water and can often be seen leaping out of the water. Lots of other wildlife can also be spotted, including harbour seals, harbour porpoises and killer whales. On the southern shore is one of the UK’s largest sand-dune systems, the Culbin Forest, and beyond that, a four-mile shingle spit called the Culbin Bar. Find out more at tinyurl.com/TWJ-morayfirth…

The Gaia spacecraft isn’t ESA’s only current mission: on 26 April, it agreed to join forces with Nasa to bring back samples of Martian soil to Earth. However, this will be no easy mission. The agencies say it will take at least three missions from Earth to the Red Planet (Mars) and one mission to launch a rocket from the surface of Mars – something that has never been done. ESA’s director of human and robotic exploration, David Parker, said, “The challenges of going to Mars and back demand that they are addressed by an international and commercial partnership – the best of the best.” Nasa’s Thomas Zurbuchen said, “a sample would provide a critical leap forward in our understanding of Mars’s potential to harbour life.”…

Where would you go if you had a time machine? I’d like to go back and interfere with history. I’d like to go to the Battle of Bosworth and say to Richard, “Don’t charge down the hill! England needs you!” because Harold made the same mistake. “Richard, learn from your history books.” What will people in the future say about this current period of history? That the world never learned from reading our books, they keep on making the same mistakes. Look at Donald Trump and Kim Jong-un. What’s the best birthday present you ever had? When I was a kid we were so poor that I only got one birthday present, but I was allowed to choose it. It was a model kit of the Cutty Sark. It was…

Mary and the Witch’s Flower Showing at cinemas nationwide. Certificate U This wonderfully colourful Japanese film follows a young girl called Mary, who is transported to a magical land after a rare flower turns a standard broomstick into one that flies. Mary is taken to a school of magic – but all is not what it seems. Steve Backshall Vs The Monster 5.30pm on 14 May, CBBC Adventurer and TV presenter, Steve Backshall, is taking on one of his most gruelling challenges yet – tackling the north face of the Eiger mountain in Switzerland, one of the world’s most notorious climbs. Can he reach the top of the mountain they call The Ogre? Eurovision 2018 8pm on 12 May, BBC One It’s that time of year again when lots of…

Man City Kids Android / iOS (Free) Manchester City may not have won the Champions League this season, but with the Premier League title secured, the football club has launched a new app for young people who want to follow its fortunes. The app works for smartphones and tablets, and is aimed at fans up to 12 years old who want to keep up with all the latest news on the club’s men’s and women’s teams. During the season, that includes video highlights of Manchester City’s matches, as well as top five videos of the team’s best moments – from long-range goals to Kevin de Bruyne’s top tricks. The app also includes games and quizzes to test your knowledge of the players, but the most fun feature is a video…

“On 19 January, the Shelfield Academy under-15s basketball team surpassed expectations by winning the Black Country Finals. The team, made of nine players, stormed to victory by winning all three games. Mr Drummond, Shelfield’s basketball coach and PE teacher, was elated and immensely proud of the lads especially as the opposition were all in the under-16s category – an age group higher. The basketball team train as often as they can, before and after school. Most of the team have only been playing basketball for two years but training, teamwork and effort contributed to their success. Brody West, team captain, said, “To be there as underdogs and to come out as winners was an amazing feeling.” The finals were held at Wolverhampton University, in Walsall, West Midlands. ” What’s going…

Teacher’s name: Mrs Burgess School: Brinsworth Manor Infant School, Brinsworth, Rotherham “Mrs Burgess is the best teacher ever because she explains things in an easy way that everybody can understand. She is kind and funny and is good at helping other kids and helping them to get on with their work and put 100% effort in.” Evie, Year 6 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…

The number of children growing up in poverty in the UK, despite having parents who work, is thought to be 50% higher than it was in 2010, according to a report by the Trades Union Congress (TUC). The TUC is an organisation that represents more than 5.5 million workers around the UK. What was in the report? The study found that child poverty in families where one or more of the parents work will hit 3.1 million in 2018–2019 – that’s one million more than in 2010. Child poverty is when families struggle to afford to live in their homes and may need help paying for food. The charity Child Poverty Action Group recently found that one in four children are affected by poverty in the UK, which means they…

Two divers were greeted by a curious seal during a dive off the Isle of Man. Colin Peters and Jim Self filmed the underwater encounter with the friendly seal in which the animal appears to hug and shake hands with Colin before swimming away. The two men described the experience as “amazing”. Watch the meeting at tinyurl.com/friendlyseal…

George Sunter Keeper at ZSL London Zoo Tamanduas, or lesser anteaters, have four toes on the front feet, with an extra-long claw on the third toe. These long claws mean tamanduas they have to walk on the outside edges of their front feet. The long claws are used for defence and digging for food, and don’t grow longer than about 10 centimetres because climbing and digging wears them down. 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…

● This is a fun day where children can wear a pair of jeans instead of their school trousers or skirt, in exchange for a small donation. This year, Jeans for Genes Day will be held on Friday 21 September. ● Money raised goes towards helping children with life-changing genetic disorders. ● If a school raises £1,000, that’s enough for a sports wheelchair for a child who can’t walk. ● Just £200 could fund nurses or a family fun day – giving poorly children the chance to meet others like themselves for the first time. ● To sign up for your free fundraising pack, visit jeansforgenes.org…

Name: Theo Year 5 The design of a seat belt is utterly genius. When pulled slowly, it comes out of its reel; when released, it tightens around your body and a sudden movement locks it in position, holding your body in place. This is down to two mechanisms – a retractor mechanism and a locking mechanism. The retractor is a spiralled spring. When you pull a seat belt out, the spring unwinds, and so when released, it coils back up, pulling the seat belt tight. The locking mechanism has a toothed wheel. When this wheel is moved slowly it turns freely, but when the car (or belt) experience a sudden jolt, the teeth catch in the surrounding casing, meaning the wheel and the seat belt lock in place. Email questions…

The Weight of Water by Sarah Crossan (Bloomsbury Children’s Books) Kasienka is a 13-year-old Polish girl who has just arrived in England. Her new life is lonely and she feels like an outsider. How can she cope with bullies and prejudice, as well as growing up and falling in love? This beautiful story from an award-winning author will stay with you for a long time. The Goldfish Boy by Lisa Thompson (Scholastic) In this clever mystery, Matthew has obsessive compulsive disorder. His fear of germs and dirt keep him in his bedroom, where he watches the world from his window. When the next-door neighbour’s toddler, Teddy, goes missing, however, Matthew must turn detective to work out what happened – and makes friends along the way. Wonder by R.J. Palacio (Random…

Born in Paris, France, on 12 November 1840, Auguste Rodin is considered by many to be the first modern sculptor. A sculptor is a kind of artist who creates statues using different materials, such as stone or metal. Rodin wasn’t like any other sculptor of his time because he created realistic statues of the human body. They were so realistic that he was often accused of cheating; some people thought he formed his moulds around living people. To stop these criticisms, later in his career he deliberately made his sculptures larger than life. In 1881, Rodin took a trip to the British Museum in London where he was left in awe by the Parthenon sculptures – statues from an ancient building in Athens, Greece, built between 447BC and 438BC. One…

Supertype iOS (£0.99) There are thousands of word games on the app stores, but Supertype is one of the most original. It has more than 100 levels of puzzles to solve, each of which involves typing in the right letters. For example, you start with a sloping platform, a dot at the bottom and a blinking cursor above the top. Type a suitably round letter (like O or S) and it rolls down the slope to collect the dot. You’ll soon be dropping an I into a thin box, working out which letters will topple backwards, domino-style, and thinking about the shapes of the alphabet like never before.…

Writing a news report might sound easy but it takes real skill to combine the facts and create an enjoyable read that tells people everything they need to know. Earlier this year, pupils at Ormiston Academies Trust schools were invited to enter The Week Junior’s Roving Reporter competition. Using the magazine as inspiration, entrants wrote their own news reports. Although the standard of entries was very high, the winning story, “Shelfield Slam Dunks to Success” really stood out. Libby West’s report – which you can read for yourself just to the right of this note – describes a school basketball match. The report is beautifully written – it is clear, concise and informative, and the quote from the team captain really brings it to life. Here…

Bake it Better Great Ormond Street From 21–27 May, London’s Great Ormond Street Hospital (GOSH) is encouraging people across the country to get baking and raise money that will help support seriously ill children. The money raised by hosting your own bake sale for your friends, classmates or family will help fund critical research into conditions that bring children to the hospital every day. You can sign up for a free Bake It Better fundraising kit on GOSH’s website, which is filled with plenty of top tips, recipes and materials, such as cake toppers, bunting and collection boxes. To find out how you can get involved, head to tinyurl.com/TWJ-bakeitbetter JOKEOF THEWEEK “Why did the pear go out with the plum? Because it couldn’t get a date.” Bruno, Year 4 GET…

Follow The Week Junior on Popjam@TheWeekJunior. You can download the free Popjam app from the App Store or Google Play. Last week, we featured a Do something piece on keeping chickens. You said... “Our garden is so small we could barely keep a pet egg, never mind a chicken! They are super cute though” @TheMadCatter “Chickens are so funny! I have never thought of keeping one as a pet though!” @Jessluvsart “Ooh! I would like chickens!” @0oQ “Chickens are great pets – they give you eggs!” @moonheart1 For the first time in 70 years, a North Korean leader has set foot in South Korea. You said... “I never thought it would happen!” @girl_with_shades “Let’s hope it will lead to world peace” @dramafunart “Wow! That’s unbelievable” @DancingQueen12344 Tell us what you…

1Which Hawaiian volcano recently erupted, forcing thousands of people to move to safety? a) Mauna Loa b) Loihi c) Kilauea 2When was Prince Louis born? 3True or false? The Australian state of New South Wales is planning to help save elephants. 4What type of clock shows the time moving around a face, with an hour, minute and second hands? 5What was Lauren St John’s pet giraffe called? a) Jane b) Josie c) Jenny 6True or false? The Thwaites Glacier is in Antarctica. 7What carries information about your body and characteristics? a) ADN b) DNA c) DAN 8True or false? Gaia is mapping the Andromeda galaxy. 9How long did it take a newly hatched sea turtle to reach the sea in India? 10How many countries have the Harlem Globetrotters played in?…