Innholdsfortegnelse for No. 157 i The Week Junior

One million children in the UK under the age of 10 will have a difficult Christmas this year as their families struggle to pay for presents, heating and food, according to a new report. Action for Children, a charity that helps disadvantaged children across the UK, says its research shows roughly half of all parents have been forced to cut back on how much they spend at Christmas because of money worries. What does the report say? Julie Bentley, Action for Children’s chief executive, said that for some families, the cost of Christmas was just too much. She explained, “Our children should be waking up in a warm bed on Christmas morning, but the shocking truth is that in 2018, many will be cold and hungry in the fifth richest…

● Woodchurch High School in Birkenhead has written to parents to say that pupils are not allowed to wear certain expensive coats to school. The school says it’s not fair to pupils who can’t afford them. ● Head teacher Rebekah Phillips said, “We are very concerned as a school about poverty-proofing our school environment. These coats cause a lot of inequality between our pupils.” ● The coats that are banned can cost from £200 up to £700, which many parents can’t afford.…

Cricklepit Mill is the last working watermill in Exeter, Devon. Built more than 800 years ago, the mill at Cricklepit was originally used to produce woollen cloth but now visitors can watch it grind grain for flour. It is the base for Devon Wildlife Trust – a charity that protects and supports Devon’s natural environment. The mill is in a wildlife garden, where otters and a variety of birds such as kingfishers, grey wagtails and sparrowhawks live. Find out more at tinyurl.com/TWJ-cricklepit…

Lighting the Hanukiah On each of the eight nights a candle is added to the Hanukiah and it is lit using the ninth candle, which is known as the shamash (the helper). Blessings are said during the lighting and then the candlestick is placed in the window. Giving gifts Families often exchange small presents on each night of Hanukkah. Sometimes young people will receive Hanukkah gelt (money or chocolate coins). Playing games A game that is often played at Hanukkah involves a spinning top, shaped like a cube and called a dreidel. The dreidel has a Hebrew letter on each side. Players can win treats depending on how it lands.…

CRISPR Cas9 is the technology that allows scientists to change a person’s genes with great precision. Genes are the instructions for building and running the body and are made up of strands of DNA. The technique – known as CRISPR for short – can identify a short strand of DNA that’s responsible for a type of disease, say, or a weakness. Experts can cut out that strand and replace or tweak it in order to fight illness, for example, or to improve agriculture, or even to create designer pets. Gene editing could change mosquitoes so they don’t spread malaria, and one day it might even cure inherited diseases in humans. However, much more research into the technique is needed before it can be used widely.…

A walking and hopping robot could travel to the Moon or Mars in future expeditions. SpaceBok, which walks on four spring-loaded legs, is being tested by the European Space Agency in the Netherlands. It will be able to walk and jump across landscapes with craters, which regular robots find difficult to navigate. Elias Hampp, who worked on the project, said, “In contrast to other legged robots, SpaceBok is primarily built for hopping. While this is not particularly useful on Earth, it could reach a height of four metres on the Moon [because of the reduced gravity]. This would allow for a fast and efficient way of moving forward.” You can see it in action here: tinyurl.com/TWJspacehopper…

Eye Spy: Wild Ways Animals See the World by Guillaume Duprat (What on Earth Publishing) Discover how animals perceive the world around them with this intriguing book. The clever design allows you to lift the flaps and find out how animals such as cats, dogs, horses, owls and even chameleons would see the same scene – plus there’s lots of information about how animals’ sight works. Heroes by David Long and Kerry Hyndman (Faber Children’s Books) Author David Long and illustrator Kerry Hyndman follow their award-winning Survivors with a book about real-life animal heroes. Find out about Rip the dog, searching for survivors in London during the Second World War, and Simon the ship’s cat, who saved his crew during a Chinese voyage. Bones: An Inside Look at the Animal…

Scroogedd (1988) DVD, Blu-ray, Prime Video, iTunes Scrooged is a comedy take on Charles Dickens’s A Christmas Carol. It is a clever version of the story, featuring Ghostbusters star Bill Murray as a mean businessman who runs a TV channel. However, it has a few slightly grown-up jokes, so it’s not suitable for absolutely everyone. Murray hadn’t acted in a film for four years before Scrooged, because he was unsure about returning to work after becoming so famous for Ghostbusters. This meant work on the film started two years later than planned. DID YOU KNOW? Charles Dickens wrote A Christmas Carol in 1843. It took him just six weeks to finish it.…

Super Smash Bros – Ultimate Switch Super Smash Bros is Nintendo’s famous cartoon-fighting game series that pits characters from its games (and some other famous faces, too) against one another, using their powers to bump one another off the stage’s platforms. As its name suggests, this new version for the Switch console packs in more characters and levels than ever. With Mario, Pikachu, Sonic the Hedgehog and Pac-Man, you’re spoiled for choice. Each character has their own moves, and with up to eight players at once (if you have enough controllers), it’s brilliant to play with friends and family.…

Every month we’ll feature a video created by primary school pupils for Pupil Parliament as part of LitFilmFest. Pupil Parliament helps you and your school friends become news reporters and politicians. This month’s video was created by pupils from Mr Mclugash’s class at Rothley Primary School to raise awareness about plastic pollution. It was selected because of the depth of their research, the excellence of their report and speech writing, and their obvious passion for the project. The class had plenty to say about the challenge. “I enjoyed learning about how we can change a real-life problem,” said Marlie, while George told us that he loved how it felt like a real film set. Isabelle added, “Seeing how a green screen worked gave me a better idea about how weather…

Is public speaking for me? You might feel too young or too shy to try public speaking, but don’t be put off. Now is the perfect time to start – and when you’re older, you’ll be so glad you did it. How do I get started? Share stories with your family and friends, or encourage debates at the dinner table. Volunteer for speaking parts at school, present your homework to the class or make a presentation in assembly. Where can I see young public speakers in action? The world-famous TED Talks series has lots of brilliant talks by young people. You can watch them online at tinyurl.com/TWJ-tedtalks. Why not start with Adora Svitak’s talk, “What adults can learn from kids”: tinyurl.com/TWJ-svitak SIMPLE TIPS Stand up straight, smile, make eye contact…

Sponsored by Teacher’s name: Miss Bannister School: Llandaff City Church in Wales Primary School “Miss Bannister is the best teacher. She always makes it a fun but knowledgeable lesson. She is kind and always teaches us how to be the bigger person. She encourages all of us and makes me confident.” Dylan If we pick your teacher as Teacher of the Week, we’ll send your school three free issues of The Week Junior and your teacher will receive a STABILO Marking Pack of seven pens worth £17. Send your nominations, along with a picture of your teacher and your school’s full name and address, to hello@theweekjunior.co.uk…

In May 1968, students in Paris started protesting against the French government. They wanted more say in the decisions the government was making. They also called for an end to the police using violence against people. Ten million workers across the country joined their cause and went on strike (stopped working) in protest. During the protests, there was violence as police and protesters fought each other. At the end of June, President Charles de Gaulle called an election. Although de Gaulle won, the government addressed the protesters’ complaints by opening 67 new universities and giving people more of a say in how the country was governed.…

ELM ROAD PRIMARY SCHOOL The Duchess of Cornwall has presented a school with books and resources to help celebrate reading for pleasure. Elm Road Primary School was the first of 24 schools in Cambridgeshire to receive the literacy toolkit, put together by the National Literacy Trust. A RESCUED RHINO A two-year-old rhinoceros called Qabid was rescued by firefighters after he got his leg and head stuck in a tyre. The firefighters were called to Edinburgh Zoo on 2 December and spent two hours releasing the trapped rhino, which is now safe and unharmed. RETURNING A RING Police in New York City, in the US, have found a ring belonging to a newly engaged British couple. CCTV captured the moment the pair tried to retrieve the ring after it fell down…

Now that you’ve read a bit more about it, tell us what you think by voting in our poll at theweekjunior.co.uk/polls . Vote YES if you think that schools should ban expensive coats or NO if you don’t. We’ll publish the results next week. The aim of the Big debate page is to present two sides of an issue fairly and objectively, in order to stimulate discussion and allow our readers to make up their minds. The views on the page do not reflect those of The Week Junior, and the page is not funded by third parties. The page is created in association with the English-Speaking Union, an educational charity helping young people discover their voice and realise their full potential. For more information, please see…

Charles Fusari Team leader, the aquarium, ZSL London Zoo The giant freshwater stingray is the world’s biggest ray. Found in rivers and estuaries in south-east Asia, it can grow almost two metres across and weighs 600 kilograms – six times more than a female panda. The ray is not usually aggressive, but its sting can pierce bone. Sadly, this beast is threatened by overfishing and habitat loss. 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…

Judaism is the religion of the Jewish people. As of 2015, an estimated 16.5 million people in the world identified as Jewish or partially Jewish (such as those with one Jewish parent). The religion originated in the Middle East more than 3,500 years ago. Jewish people believe that there is only one God and that people should be judged on their actions more than their beliefs. A Jewish person’s place of worship is called a synagogue and many gather there on the Shabbat (the Sabbath, which starts on Friday just before sunset and ends on Saturday at nightfall) for a service led by a rabbi – a Jewish religious leader. The Shabbat is a day of rest and prayer, and for spending time with family.…

Morrigan Crow’s adventures continue in the sequel to the award-winning Nevermoor. Morrigan is delighted to be a member of the Wundrous Society, but unfortunately, her life isn’t about to get any easier. That’s because Morrigan is a rare and much-feared Wundersmith with incredible and dangerous powers – and the other WunSoc members view her with suspicion. Instead of learning how to use her abilities, she’s only taught to suppress them. Meanwhile, WunSoc members are disappearing in strange circumstances – someone is trying to blackmail Morrigan’s class. Then there’s the evil Wundersmith, Ezra Squall, who tempts Morrigan by promising to reveal all the secrets of her powers. Fans of Harry Potter won’t be able to resist this fast-paced, funny and inventive series, which will sweep you away into the enchanting magical…

Celebrity Lego Masters at Christmas 8pm on 11 December, Channel 4 Six talented junior builders from series 1 and 2 of Lego Masters will be paired up with six celebrity helpers. The teams will try to out-build each other to win the Lego Masters Christmas Trophy. Women’s World Cup Draw 5pm on 8 December, BBC Two Find out who England and Scotland’s football teams will be drawn against at the 2019 World Cup in France. England came third in the last World Cup and were undefeated in qualifying. This is Scotland’s first time at the tournament. The Royal Variety Performance 2018 7.30pm on 11 December, ITV This year’s Royal Variety Performance features acts from a range of performers including Britain’s Got Talent winner, Lost Voice Guy, comedian Rhod Gilbert, and…

You might think that public speaking is something only politicians or university professors do, but public speaking is happening all the time: when your teachers give an assembly; if your parents make a toast to friends or family at dinner; even when you stand up in class and present your homework. The ability to communicate to an audience and explain your thoughts and views is a crucial life skill. It’s also really exhilarating. It will boost your confidence and give you a huge sense of “I did this!”. “Public speaking has the power to transform communications skills,” says ’Ronke Kokoruwe from iVerbalize, a company that organises festivals and workshops. “It broadens your vocabulary, helps organise your ideas and gets you thinking on your feet. This has a knock-on effect on…

Fancy winning a poetry workshop and having the Premier League trophy visit your school? You could be in with a chance if you’re in Key Stage 1 or 2, and live in England or Wales. To enter the Premier League Writing Stars competition, all you have to do is write a poem on the theme of diversity. Among the judges are poet Joseph Coelho, football legend Rio Ferdinand, pop star Olly Murs and writer Lauren Child. You can find more information at PLPrimaryStars.com…

Follow The Week Junior on Popjam@TheWeekJunior. You can download the free Popjam app from the App Store or Google Play. Schools across the UK are starting to offer mindfulness classes to help improve children’s mental health. You said… “I love the idea. My school year once did that too” “I love yoga!” “Such a good idea!” On 26 November, space agency NASA successfully landed a spacecraft on Mars, marking the start of a new mission. “I was so excited about it” “Wow. What an awesome achievement” “I love science and space, and this is an amazing success” Tell us what you think of this week’s issue. We’ll give you a shout-out if your post is printed here. The Week Junior is delivered in a recyclable LDPE plastic bag to protect…

1Which US president was George H.W. Bush? a) 40th b) 41st c) 42nd 2What will a small British company be supplying to the Indian Army? 3True or false? A pig in China became stuck on a glass bridge. 4How many jobs does the fashion industry provide in the UK? a) Nearly 90,000 b) Nearly 900,000 c) Nearly 9,000,000 5Where does Miss Environment live? 6Where is the Great Barrier Reef? a) Australia b) Austria c) Andorra 7True or false? A Hanukiah has nine candles. 8What is the name for the twisted-ladder shape of DNA strands? 9Tate Britain has installed light-up versions of which creature for Christmas? a) Crocodile b) Spider c) Slug 10True or false? People ran up Elizabeth Tower in London as part of the Vertical World Circuit championship. 11What…

Nine-year-old Lucy Norris has won this year’s The Big Issue Christmas cover competition, and will have her entry printed on the front cover of the magazine’s festive issue. This year’ss contest was on the theme of welcome, and more than 1,000 entries from schools, art groups and individuals were sent in. Norris said, “I feel gobsmacked, amazed and very happy.” Author Cressida Cowell, one of the judges, said the entry was a “lovely neat graphic illustration of an idea”.…

“It’s really strange and sort of unbelievable,” Philip Reeve tells The Week Junior when asked about the film adaptation of his book Mortal Engines (in cinemas 8 December). “There I was, 20 years ago, and I didn’t think anyone would publish it and was wondering if it was worth carrying on with, and now here we are, talking about the movie coming out.” The book Mortal Engines was published in 2001. It won the Smarties Book Prize and the Blue Peter Book of the Year, and was shortlisted for the Whitbread Prize. It is the first in a four-book series called the Mortal Engines Quartet, and it’s based on the idea of big cities moving around to hunt smaller cities. Reeve has been working with illustrator Jeremy Levett to create…

Grey seals England’s largest grey seal colony on Norfolk’s Blakeney Point just got bigger. Almost 2,000 pups have been born so far this year. The pupping season is from November to early January so there are probably more to come. Last year 2,700 pups were born there over the entire season. Shortfin mako The fastest shark in the world, the shortfin mako, is heading rapidly towards extinction, according to conservation charity Shark Trust. A cousin of the great white shark, it can reach speeds of 43mph. It is threatened because of fishing for its meat and fins.…

Do you have any annoying habits? Gasp! No! I’m practically perfect in every way. If I had to pick something, I’d say it’s probably the fact that I’m consistently 15 minutes late for everything. If you could live anywhere, where would you pick and who would you live there with? Nevermoor. It’s literally full of all my favourite things – giant grumpy cats and magical hotels, for example. It’s a mash-up of all the best bits of cities I’ve visited and loved. Who was your f vourite r teacher? My high school English teacher, Miss Rye, who is still one of my dear friends. When I was writing Nevermoor, I always hoped she would get to read it some day – and when she did, she said the loveliest things…

Sixteen classic Roald Dahl tales, including Matilda, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory and The BFG, are to be made into animated films by Netflix. The streaming company announced that it would start making the first film next year. Netflix said it will be faithful to Dahl’s stories but also planned to build a “universe that expands far beyond the pages of the books themselves”. Netflix’s Melissa Cobb added that they would reimagine some of the characters in “fresh ways with the highest quality animation”. Felicity Dahl, who was married to the author, said that she wanted “as many children as possible around the world to experience the unique magic and positive message of Roald Dahl’s stories”. She added that it was “an incredibly exciting new chapter for the Roald Dahl…

Wonderscope iOS (Free) Many gamers’ first experience of augmented-reality (AR) technology was playing Pokémon Go, catching the creatures as they popped up in the real world, as seen through smartphone cameras. Wonderscope uses the same technology for storytelling and it is hosted by a friendly orange monster named Blob. One of the first stories in the app tells you about famous historical stunts, including an 88-year-old woman who stood on the wings of a flying plane, and the first person to tightrope across the Niagara Falls. The stories’ characters will appear in the room around you, and you can even talk to them using your smartphone microphone. The app is a clever way to explore historical events, and these early additions are a taste of what’s to come as more…

My first public-speaking experience was in front of a large audience from my school. I had notes because it was a complicated speech about the human body but we were going to be awarded extra points for not using notes. I was really nervous, but on the day I felt a burst of courage inside me. I slapped my notes down on my grandad’s lap and I walked up there and did the whole thing without my notes, and didn’t even make that many mistakes!…

As the countdown to Christmas begins, many of you will be busy practising for your school’s nativity play or carol concert, writing cards, wrapping gifts and looking forward to spending some time with your family over the festive break. Not everyone will share your excitement, though. There are children and adults all over the UK who are having a hard time. Some are struggling simply to keep a roof over their heads; others face a cold Christmas sleeping on the streets. It may be impossible for you to imagine a Christmas with no presents, but that is the reality for some young people. That’s why charities like Action for Children, whose new campaign we have written about on page 4, are so important. The work done by it and other…