Innholdsfortegnelse for 170 i The Week Junior

IT’S AN AMAZING WEEK FOR…

A PIE CHAMPION A butcher called Jon Thorner has won the top prize in the British Pie Awards for his vegan creation, made with sweet potato and butternut squash. Vegan means it doesn’t include any animal products, such as eggs, milk or butter. A new vegan category was introduced to the event for the first time this year. SEEING A BLACK LEOPARD A rare black leopard has been spotted crossing a road in broad daylight in India. The spectacle took place at the Tadoba-Andhari Tiger Reserve just weeks after British wildlife photographer, Will Burrard-Lucas, snapped another rare black leopard in Kenya. SMASHING A ROWING RECORD On 11 March, Lee Spencer, a former Royal Marine from Devon, became the fastest unsupported solo rower to cross the Atlantic, managing it in 60…

Pupils on pollution patrol

Pupils at a primary school in Greater Manchester are taking action to tackle air pollution around their school. The junior police community safety officers patrol the streets near their school, handing out fake parking tickets to any cars that are idling (the car’s engine is left running). The idea came from Steve Marsland, the head teacher of Russell Scott primary in Tameside. Public Health England – a Government agency – proposed a ban last week on cars idling outside schools, to help cut air pollution.…

Around the world

St Adolphe, Canada World’s largest snow maze The world’s largest snow maze has been built in St Adolphe, Manitoba, Canada. Designed by farmer Clint Masse, the maze took 12 people six weeks to build, and cost around £32,000. The final creation measures 2,789 square metres and takes about half an hour to walk through. The maze has proved a popular attraction for tourists and has helped Masse and his family earn extra money after they suffered a bad harvest last year. Phoenix, Arizona, US Woman injured by selfie with jaguar A woman has been attacked by a black jaguar at a US zoo after she climbed over a barrier to take a photo with it. During the incident on 9 March, the animal grabbed her hand with its claws. Another…

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What do you think?

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 MPs deserve to be paid more money, 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,…

The cat man of Aleppo

Mohammad Aljaleel is known as the cat man of Aleppo, which is a city in Syria. Aljaleel got the name because he looks after the cats that have been left behind by people fleeing the war there. The fighting in Syria started eight years ago, in March 2011. Aljaleel began looking after the cats in 2013, and in 2015 he built a cat sanctuary. In 2016, the war forced him to leave, but now he is back in Aleppo. He has built a new cat sanctuary and a playground for children. He believes that when children look after animals, it teaches them the importance of kindness and helps them cope with the trauma of war. “Children and animals are the big losers in the Syrian war,” Aljaleel told the BBC.…

PLACE OF THE WEEK

One of London’s eight Royal Parks, Bushy is loved for its fountains, pools, cascades and gardens, and the herds of deer that graze in its meadows. Once used as an air base during the Second World War, the park is now home to many species of wild bird, including kestrels, kingfishers, woodpeckers, and even ground-nesting birds such as the skylark. Visitors can also enjoy a children’s playground, the Waterhouse Woodland Garden and the Pheasantry Cafe. Find out more at royalparks.org.uk/parks/bushy-park…

Animal of the week

There are thought to be fewer than 40 red wolves surviving in the wild in the US, due in large part to a loss of territory. Last year, US president Donald Trump announced a plan to allow people to shoot red wolves if they stray onto private land. Conservationists are now fighting to protect the creatures. ● LIFESPAN IN THE WILD: Around five to six years. ● HABITAT: Equally at home in forests, swamps and grassland in the south-eastern US. ● DIET: Mostly deer and small mammals, such as rabbits, with some berries and insects. ● FUN FACT: Red wolves run on their tiptoes to help them move quickly and catch their prey. DID YOU KNOW? Red wolves have lost 99.7% of their territory in the US – more than…

Treasure trove of Mayan artefacts discovered

A network of caves containing ancient objects that have remained untouched for more than 1,000 years, have been rediscovered beneath the ruins of the Mayan city of Chichén Itzá in Mexico. The news of the caves, called Balamkú (which means Cave of the Jaguar God), was announced by Mexico’s National Institute of Anthropology and History on 4 March. The incredible haul has been described as the most important find in the region since the 1950s. The Maya civilisation dominated Mexico and Central America between 1800BC and AD900. Chichén Itzá was one of many big Mayan cities, and is famous for its massive step pyramid, known as El Castillo or Pyramid of Kukulcán. The caves are located around 1.2 miles from the temple and sit about 24 metres underground. In 1966,…

Backflipping catbot unveiled

Engineers at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) in the US have developed a “mini cheetah” robot. The catbot is amazingly nimble and can do a 360° backflip from a standing position. It is much smaller than MIT’s Cheetah 3 robot, which weighs 41 kilograms – about the same as a large dog. The mini cheetah weighs just nine kilograms – about the size of a large turkey. Its small frame and bendy legs allow it to sidestep, flip over and walk upside down. It can also trot over rough terrain at 2.45 metres per second – almost twice as fast as a person’s average walking speed. The mini cheetah is designed to be virtually indestructible. Even if it falls and breaks, its parts are low-cost and can easily be…

THE WEEK’S WINNERS...

Ronnie O’Sullivan The snooker player became the first to record 1,000 breaks of 100 points or more in his career. Alex Yee The British athlete’s World Triathlon Series debut ended with a second-place finish behind world champion Mario Mola. A triathlon involves cycling, running and swimming. Leicester Riders & London City Royals On 10 March, the Riders won the women’s British Basketball League trophy, and the Royals picked up the men’s trophy. Liu Hong She set a women’s world record of three hours, 59 minutes and 15 seconds in a 50-kilometre walking race in Huangshan, China.…

The Last Zoo

by Sam Gayton (Andersen Press) Pia lives in the world’s last zoo, in the middle of the Pacific Ocean. Ever since scientists detonated a so-called reality bomb, all kinds of wonderful creatures have sprung into existence – including genies, singing hippos, hummingdragons and unicorns – even devils and angels. Now Pia spends her days at the zoo trimming genie beards, trying not to be tricked into selling her soul, and most importantly of all, waiting for the angels to make a miracle big enough to save the world. Suddenly, the angels go missing and things go wrong. Can Pia solve the riddle they left behind? Can she trust the zoo’s devil – or is he simply trying to trick her? And what will happen when she undertakes a dangerous journey…

Three Lego milestones

The first Lego brick Lego was first made in Billund, Denmark, by Ole Kirk Christiansen. He began making toys in 1932 and formed the Lego company in 1934. In 1949, Lego produced the first of the plastic bricks, for which the company would become famous. The first Legoland The bricks became popular in the 1950s and 1960s. In 1968, the first Legoland theme park opened in the brand’s home town of Billund, Denmark. Around 3,000 visitors went on the first day, and about 625,000 people in the first year. The first Lego film In 2014 The Lego Movie became the first Lego film to be released in cinemas. It featured a variety of characters including Batman and Green Lantern. Lego Movie 2: The Second Part was released last month.…

THIS WEEK’S WATCH LIST

Shazam! trailer tinyurl.com/TWJ-shazam Just when you thought you’d met them all, another superhero turns up. In this new trailer for Shazam! 14-year-old Billy Batson can turn into an adult hero called Shazam, by shouting “Shazam!” His powers include electricity control, incredible strength and very fast movements. Six Nations Rugby From 12.30pm on 16 March, ITV and BBC One The battle for the Six Nations title will go down to the final day. First is Italy v France (12.30pm on ITV) before Wales v Ireland (2.45pm on BBC) and England v Scotland (5pm on ITV). 101 Dalmatian Street 5pm on 18 March, Disney Channel Inspired by the classic Disney film about 101 spotty dogs, this new animated series follows Dylan and Dolly, their parents Doug and Delilah, and 97 of their…

The journey to a virtual Mars

As a planet, Mars is so toxic (poisonous) that even if humans could get there, they wouldn’t be able to stroll around exploring it. That’s why the job is left to vehicles like the Mars Exploration Rovers. A game called Mars Horizon, which is coming out later this year, will give players a taste of how missions to Mars might work with humans. Now the game’s developer, a British company called Auroch Digital, has started working with the European Space Agency (ESA) to make sure the game is truly realistic. “Having access to real launch-control specialists who can explain the real-life pressures and challenges they face will help us make this game as authentic as we can,” said its design director Tomas Rawlings. It’s good timing too: ESA is launching…

HOW, WHAT, WHERE?

How much does footgolf cost? Prices vary depending on the course and whether you choose nine or 18 holes. Children can usually play for less than £10 and often there are family or group prices. What else should I know? Just like regular golf courses, footgolf courses can have sand or gravel pits (called bunkers), trees and water areas in them. You’ll need to kick the ball past these to reach the hole. Can I make a course? If there’s a park or large open space near you, you could make your own small footgolf course. Place big buckets, plastic tubs or cardboard boxes on their sides and kick the ball towards them. This is a good way to practise, too.…

My poetry

Name: Nishita “I go to Merchant Taylors Girls School, located in Crosby, Liverpool. I’m interested in English literature and therefore wrote a couple of poems. These poems are published through the school magazine and now here they are in The Week Junior... ” 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 JOKEOF THE WEEK “What did the traffic light say to the driver? Don’t look, I’m about to change!” Thea…

POPJAM

Follow The Week Junior on PopJam@TheWeekJunior. You can download the free PopJam app from the App Store or Google Play. David Hockney, one of the UK’s greatest modern artists, has a new exhibition at the Van Gogh Museum in the Netherlands. You said... “I love his swimming pool picture!” “That must be amazing! I have a book of his works and I’d love to see more!” “Cool! I would love to visit the Van Gogh Museum” Last week, we asked you if breakdancing should be an Olympic sport. You said... “Yes, I have done it for 7 years” “Not in the Olympics, but there should be an international competition like the Olympics, but for breakdancing” Tell us what you think of this week’s issue and we’ll print some of the…

70 years of the Commonwealth

On 11 March, the Queen and other members of the royal family marked Commonwealth Day at Westminster Abbey in London. The Commonwealth was set up 70 years ago to bring together countries with special cultural and historical links. Most of the countries in the organisation were once colonies, which means they used to be ruled by the British Empire. Although these colonies became independent throughout the 20th century, their leaders wanted to keep some of their links to the UK. Many had similar legal and political systems and enjoyed the same sports. In 1949, they formed a group called the Commonwealth of Nations, whereby the UK and these nations could celebrate their shared values and ideas. Today, the group has 53 members, including countries in Africa, the Americas, Asia and…

Schools warn of funding crisis

Thousands of head teachers in England have warned that there is a “crisis” in schools caused by a lack of money given to them by the Government. Schools are being forced to sell their land, stop teaching certain subjects and reduce the number of people they employ. More than 7,000 heads wrote a joint letter to 3.5 million families to raise awareness of the problems they are facing. What’s the problem? Head teachers say there are many issues in their schools, all caused by a lack of funding from the Government. Analysis released earlier this year by the Education Policy Institute (a research organisation) showed that out of all the secondary schools in England run by local councils, almost a third didn’t have enough money to pay for everything they…

Top dogs awarded at Crufts

Finn, a police dog who nearly died while saving his handler from an attack, has won a special award at the dog show Crufts. The German shepherd won the Kennel Club’s Friends for Life award for his bravery in helping police officer Dave Wardell. Wardell said, “Just by being here we have won already.” The best in show award was won by Dylan, a papillon.…

Do MPs deserve to be paid more money?

Members of Parliament (MPs) are elected by voters in the UK to represent their views in Parliament. MPs also create new laws and make sure the Government is doing its job properly. They currently each get paid £77,379 a year, but this is set to rise to £79,468 a year. MPs are paid through something known as tax – a sum of money that most people in the UK must pay to the Government. Some people don’t want their tax to be spent on giving MPs a pay rise and would rather the money was used for something else, such as paying more to teachers and nurses, who get paid far less than MPs. Others think that MPs work extremely hard and deserve the pay increase. So, should MPs get…

Leading the charge

Greta Thunberg was, until recently, a typical teenage school student in Sweden. Now, the 16-year-old is leading a global campaign, urging world leaders to take action on climate change. Climate change is the long-term change in weather patterns, mostly caused by harmful gases released by burning fossil fuels such as coal, gas and oil. Four years ago, Thunberg was diagnosed with Asperger syndrome, a form of autism. Autism is a condition that affects how a person communicates with the world around them. In an interview with The Guardian newspaper, she said, “I have always been that girl in the back who doesn’t say anything. I thought I couldn’t make a difference because I was too small.” Yet, on 15 March, one of the world’s biggest ever environmental protests is happening…

Plastic particles pollute Britain’s lakes and rivers

Scientists say that microplastics are “absolutely everywhere” in Britain’s wild waters. These small pieces of plastic are less than five millimetres across, and are washed into lakes and rivers after being shed from items such as car tyres, exterior paints and clothes made from plastic fibres, such as polyester. A new study tested 10 stretches of water across the country, including the River Thames in London, Ullswater in the Lake District, the River Tame in Greater Manchester, Loch Lomond in Scotland, and the River Cegin in North Wales. Microplastics were found in all these places. Dr Christian Dunn of Bangor University, who led the research, said, “It was more than a little startling to discover microplastics were present in even the most remote sites we tested, and quite depressing.” Dunn…

Singing mice are clever and polite

Researchers have discovered how a noisy species of singing mouse controls the sounds it makes. This could provide new hints about how human speech evolved. Alston’s singing mice, which live in the mountains of Central America, don’t just shout – they chirp songs to each other in conversations. Dr Michael Long of New York University decided to investigate how their brains worked as they sang. His team found that the songs are controlled using two areas of the brain – one to make up the tune and another to coordinate with other mice. The two parts of the brain working together allow the mice to work out quickly which noises to make and when to make them. So although the animals’ squeaky duets are performed at high speed, Dr Long…

Why are peacocks so colourful?

Adrian Walls Head of birds, ZSL London Zoo Male peacocks have impressive, colourful tail feathers that they can fan out into a dazzling display of greens and blues. This is to impress and attract a mate to breed with, as females (peahens) are attracted to the most colourful males. The size of the fan, and the illusion of large eyes on the feathers, can scare off predators like snakes or wildcats. 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…

Israeli spacecraft beams back selfie

On 5 March, an Israeli spacecraft sent back its first space selfie on its way to the Moon. The image shows the spacecraft, which is called Beresheet (Hebrew for in the beginning) with the Earth in the background. It was around 23,360 miles from our home planet. The Beresheet spacecraft blasted off from Cape Canaveral in Florida, US, on 22 February, on board a Falcon 9 rocket. It is Israel’s first mission to the lunar surface and the country aims to learn more about the Moon’s magnetic field and how the Moon formed. On board the craft there is also a time capsule containing children’s drawings of space, Israeli songs, the flag of Israel and memories of a Jewish person who survived a Second World War prison camp. It is…

CHANGING THE RULES OF SCIENCE

In the latest issue of Science+Nature, find out about a new breed of remote-controlled robots that are changing the way we see the world. Learn about Curiosity rover, a robot sent to search for life on Mars, discover the drones that are preserving our ancient monuments, and meet the brilliantly named SnotBot that swoops down to collect whale-sneeze. The magazine is also jam-packed with fun things to do. VISIT sciencenature.theweekjunior.co.uk THE WEEK JUNIORSUBSCRIBERS GET AN EXCLUSIVE DISCOUNT. CALL 0330 333 9494 TO CLAIM! NEW ISSUE OUT NOW JUST £3.49…

Steph Houghton

When did you start playing football? “When I was about five, mostly in the garden with my dad and brother. I joined my school team and was selected for Sunderland’s Centre of Excellence aged 10. Same Goals is great because it’s about getting out there and giving football a go.” What’s the best goal you’ve scored? “It would have to be my goal for Great Britain against Brazil at Wembley during the 2012 Olympics. Over 70,000 were in the stadium! It got everyone talking about women’s football.” England have just won the SheBelieves Cup and it’s the World Cup in France in June... “It’s exciting to see how the game has grown! The crowd inspires us to do our best and this summer we can’t wait to get to Francee…

Sam Gayton

What would your dream home be like? It would contain: a hot tub, writing shed, home cinema and a personal robot butler called Stanley. Stanley would know how to make expert Victoria sponge. And I’m talking Great British Bake Off level, here. Would you rather live in a zoo, castle or spaceship? Probably a castle, as I am writing a play with zombies in it at the moment and a castle seems like the best defence against getting my brains eaten. I think a spaceship would start off cool, but then get really lonely and boring. And a zoo... well, there’d be waaaay too much poop to clear up for my liking – and I live with a two-year-old and a newborn. What are the first animals you visit in…

Filmmaker Spielberg wants Netflix banned from Oscars

One of Hollywood’s most popular directors has sparked a debate over whether Netflix films should be nominated for Oscars. Steven Spielberg, the director of The BFG, Jurassic Park and ET, said films should have to get a proper release in cinemas in order to be considered for an Oscar, or an Academy Award as they are officially known. Netflix received its first Best Picture Oscar nomination this year, for a film that was only in cinemas for a very short time. Most of its films are only available to view on the Netflix app or online. Netflix responded by saying it gave filmmakers more ways to share art and let “everyone, everywhere enjoy releases at the same time”. Spielberg is expected to raise the issue at the next meeting of…

This week’s new apps

Typochondria Android / iOS (Free) Can you spot a terrible misplelling? If you got it in that first sentence, Typochondria may be the app for you. It’s a mobile game that challenges you to become “the world’s best (and possibly most annoying) typo finder”. You play a book editor, whose job is reading through blocks of writing and spotting the spelling errors. When you see one, you tap on the wrongly spelled word to correct it, before moving on to the next piece of text. The game is designed to be played quickly, tap-tap-tapping to see how many errors you can spot in a row, with a five-second time limit each time. Typochondria is free to try, but unlocking all its features costs £1.99 as an in-app purchase. That opens…

Nintendo Switch gets its own cardboard VR kit

The latest gadget that allows you to explore virtual-reality (VR) worlds might already be in your house. Got a Switch console? Well, Nintendo is launching a special VR kit to go with it. The VR kit is part of the company’s Labo series of add-ons for the Switch, which get gamers to build accessories called Toy-Cons out of cardboard, then use them to play games. For the Nintendo Labo: VR Kit, the add-on is a pair of goggles, which, like other VR headsets, can be held up to your face to explore virtual worlds and games – including using other Toy-Cons (like a blaster-gun or bird) to play with. This isn’t the first time virtual-reality technology has been given a home-made twist. Google Cardboard headsets are already available, using smartphones…

How to…

Make chocolate apple lollipops What you need 1apple 100g each of chopped nuts, like hazelnuts and pistachios 100g desiccated coconut 100g crushed cookies 100g grated ginger 100g orange zest 100g dark chocolate Knife Chopping board 8 cocktail sticks or lollipop sticks Plate or bowls Tray Greaseproof paper Saucepan Glass bowl Wooden spoon Instructions Slice the apple into eight even pieces. Insert a cocktail or lollipop stick into each one. Put the toppings on a plate and mix together, or arrange in separate bowls. Cover the tray with greaseproof paper. Fill the saucepan with water and heat it over a medium heat. When the water is boiling, put the glass bowl over the pan. The bottom of it shouldn’t touch the water. Add the chocolate in small pieces to the…

Teacher OF THE WEEK

Teacher’s name: Miss Elvidge School: St Christopher’s School, London “I have nominated Miss Elvidge as teacher of the week because she always makes her lessons fun and interesting. She is incredibly artistic and creative and her teaching inspires us all. Miss Elvidge also makes us feel better when we feel sad.” Maya 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 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 will be sent a Roving Reporter badge.…

That’s unbelievable!

Pet owners can now become copycats If you have ever wanted to look like your cat, your dream can come true at last. A company in Japan is making realistic replica masks of pets that their owners can wear. The strange cat masks are specially made for each owner by using a mould of the cat’s head. Fake fur is then added, followed by colours to match the eyes, ears, mouth and nose of the cat. Has anyone seen my handbag? A tiny, 5.2-centimetre handbag that fits in the palm of your hand and is too small to hold even a bank card, has been revealed at Paris Fashion Week. Designed by French fashion label Jacquemus, the miniature bag caused a mixed reaction on social media. Some people called it…

Dragon splashes down

The SpaceX Dragon capsule has returned to Earth after a successful mission to the International Space Station (ISS), about 250 miles above our planet. The journey means astronauts could fly to the ISS using the capsule as soon as this summer. The capsule launched from Florida, in the US, on 2 March. It arrived at the ISS the following day, before splashing down into the Atlantic Ocean on 8 March. Although there weren’t any crew members on board, a dummy nicknamed Ripley did travel on the mission, with special sensors to detect how the flight would affect humans. This information will need to be studied before astronauts can use the Dragon. Since 2011, the US has relied on other countries to send its astronauts into orbit. SpaceX is the company…

THE WEEK IN HISTORY

18 March 1922 Gandhi is sent to prison in India On 18 March 1922, the Indian lawyer and political activist Mahatma Gandhi was sentenced to six years in prison in India. At the time, the UK ruled India. Gandhi was arrested on 10 March for urging Indian people to protest against the British government. Gandhi served two years in prison before he was released. He spent the rest of his life campaigning for equality and Indian independence. India became independent from the UK in 1947, a year before Gandhi died.…

Books and baking trays appear in the UK’s shopping basket

Children’s fiction books, smart speakers, baking trays and flavoured teas are among the items growing in popularity in the UK, according to the Office for National Statistics (ONS). The items have been added to a list of goods that the ONS uses to track the cost of living in the UK. The cost of living is the amount of money people need in order to have a decent standard of living. These items replace others that have become less popular, including envelopes, crockery sets and dried dog food. The ONS tracks what British shoppers are buying to help monitor the rise and fall in prices of items across food, furniture, technology and other categories. Each year, it updates the list of goods – known as the virtual shopping basket –…

What you need to know

● Members of Parliament (MPs) are about to get a pay rise of 2.7%, which will boost their salary to £79,468 a year. An organisation called the Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority, which is not run by MPs, made the decision to increase their wage. ● Some MPs are not happy about the pay rise. They say they don’t need more money. Trade unions (organisations of workers that protect their rights) pointed out that staff in Parliament who are paid to help MPs will only get a 1.5% increase in their salary. ● The typical wage for a full-time worker in the UK is around £29,500 a year.…

Messages of friendship

Author and journalist Xinran Xue is working with the Essex Book Festival to form The Mothership Project. The project focuses on building friendships between children in the UK and China so they can learn more about each other’s cultures. At the festival, children will be able to write messages, draw pictures or make origami boats. The organisers want to build 1,000 boats with messages on them, which will then be set afloat. The idea comes from Xue, who founded a charity called The Mothers’ Bridge of Love, which encourages understanding between China and western countries such as the UK. Xue says the messages are “very moving and some are very funny”. The event takes place in Colchester on 23 March.…

What are microplastics?

Microplastics are produced as waste by lots of everyday products. The two biggest causes in the UK are car tyres and clothing made from synthetic (man-made) fibres. Car tyres are made from a mix of materials, including plastics. When the tyres make contact with the road, tiny bits of the material break off. Rain then washes them into lakes and rivers. Meanwhile, every time synthetic clothing is washed, tiny fibres drain out with the dirty water into the sewage system and then into our lakes and rivers.…

Good week / Bad week

Mera the dog A stray dog has followed a group of humans to the very top of a Himalayan mountain. Mera made it to the top of Baruntse in Nepal, and is thought to be the first dog ever to conquer the 7,128-metre peak. She has now been adopted by one of the climbing team. Canadian forests Americans are destroying forests in Canada by using too much luxury toilet roll. That’s according to a new report calling on loo-roll companies to use more eco-friendly ingredients in their products. The US, with just 4% of the world’s population, uses 20% of all the tissue produced.…

Shakespeare’s most magical creations

He’s known for his romances and his tragedies, his plays and his poems. William Shakespeare is perhaps the most successful writer of all time and is still studied today, more than 400 years after he died. Among his famous works are Romeo and Juliet, Macbeth and Hamlet, telling stories of love, betrayal, war and death. From 18 to 24 March, the UK is celebrating Shakespeare Week – a nationwide event that aims to give people an insight into who and what he wrote about. To join in with these festivities, take a look at the most magical parts of the many worlds created by the man often called the Bard. The witches of Macbeth On a dark moor in Scotland lurk three witches. In the gruesome play Macbeth, they tell…

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First all-female space walk

The US space agency NASA has announced that on 29 March, astronauts Anne McClain and Christina Koch will carry out the first all-female spacewalk. Back on Earth, Canadian Space Agency controller Kristen Facciol will assist the astronauts. The historic spacewalk will take place during Women’s History Month, which began on 1 March and ends on 31 March. After the announcement, Facciol tweeted, “I just found out that I’ll be on [the] console providing support for the first all-female spacewalk... and I can not contain my excitement!”…

City share their goals

As Manchester City try to win the Women’s Super League this season, they also have a fun challenge for young players. The club’s Same Goals campaign encourages female fans to send a video of themselves scoring, or saving, a goal. Every girl who does it will be sent a free football. Girls are asked to share their short video on Instagram or Twitter, tagging @ManCity and using the hashtag #SameGoals. Fans under 13 will need the help of a parent or guardian, and use that person’s social media account. Same Goals aims to encourage girls to start – or carry on – playing the sport. The videos can use any type of ball (a tennis ball, say, or a beach ball), and be filmed anywhere. This could be your local…

5 books to help change the world

The Revolution Handbook by Alice Skinner (Wren & Rook) Grab a pen and start your very own revolution with this interactive book, created by artist and activist Alice Skinner. Fill the pages with your ideas, thoughts and arguments; make lists of your heroes; plan your own protests; and reflect on how you can make your dreams a reality. The Good Guys: 50 Heroes Who Changed the World with Kindness by Rob Kemp. Illustrated by Paul Blow (Wren & Rook) Be inspired by lots of heroes with this celebration of compassion, friendship and kindness. Featuring famous names such as Nelson Mandela and Muhammad Ali, it also shines a light on lesser-known heroes who have helped others in extraordinary ways. This Book Is Not Rubbish by Isabel Thomas and Alex Paterson (Wren…

Lego takeover in Leicester

One of the biggest displays of Lego anywhere in the UK will blast off at the National Space Centre (NSC) in Leicester this weekend. The event is the idea of the Brickish Association – a UK-based community of Lego fans who build amazing structures together. They have joined forces with the NSC to put on the event for Lego lovers and those interested in space. Fans of the famous bricks will be treated to a whole building filled with creations made from Lego, including real and fictional spacecraft, as well planes, trains and automobiles. There will also be the chance to get involved and show off your own creativity. Visitors will have the opportunity to help complete a giant mosaic made of Lego, as well as sit down at building…

FILM CLUB

Sense and Sensibility(1995) DVD, Blu-ray, Prime Video, iTunes You might know Emma Thompson from the Nanny McPhee films, for which she also wrote the scripts. It wasn’t the only script she wrote; in fact, she won an Oscar for her very first. It was an adaptation of Jane Austen’s novel Sense and Sensibility, and Thompson starred in the film alongside Kate Winslet. They play sisters in 1800s England, who find themselves suddenly without money. In Thompson and director Ang Lee’s hands, the film really honours Austen’s writing. TOUGH TASK Director Ang Lee had only made films in his native Taiwan when he agreed to make Sense and Sensibility .…

GAME OF THE WEEK

Skylanders Ring of Heroes Android / iOS (Free) This isn’t the first Skylanders game for smartphones and tablets, but it’s the most detailed yet – and unlike the Skylanders console games, you don’t have to buy any physical toys to play. Instead, you have to build your team of characters within the game, sending them out to battle all manner of monsters to make them stronger. To do it well, you need a balance of various skills from the different Skylanders in your team. The game does have optional inapp purchases, but you can play without paying. If you’re a fan of older Skylanders games, this new one is worth a try.…

Like football and golf? Combine them in… Footgolf

Do you know there’s a fun activity that mixes football and golf? Footgolf is exactly what the name suggests: players kick a football around a special golf course. The aim is to kick your ball into large holes, which are marked by a flag, with as few kicks as possible. Courses have either nine or 18 holes. Players record a total of their score as they go from hole to hole. You don’t need to have played a lot of football to join in. A big kick is usually needed at the start of each hole. Then players need accurate and delicate kicks to roll the football into the hole. There are about 180 footgolf courses in the UK. If you fancy trying it with your friends or family, many…

Editor’s note

It’s been another tense week for Prime Minister Theresa May as Members of Parliament once again voted on – and rejected – her plan for how the UK should work and trade with the European Union once the UK leaves. You can read the latest on page 2. There’s still a lot of uncertainty over what will happen next, and all sorts of things might have changed by the time you read this. But that’s not all that’s going on. Turn to our All about on page 12, where you can lose yourself in a world of fairies, ghosts and witches from the imagination of one of the greatest writers of all time – William Shakespeare. It’s our contribution to Shakespeare Week, which is happening across the UK 18–24 March.…

YOUR PHOTOS

“Finally able to read my copy of The Week Junior after a long car journey to the Alps. I particularly enjoyed the article ‘Brit’s Mega Marathon Record’ all about Susannah Gill in Antarctica! Wow.” Liam “I baked banana and walnut bread. The resemblance of my cake in the photo to the original photo in the issue will put a smile on the reader’s face.” Anamika “My hamster loves The Week Junior almost as much as me!” Daisy…

Real OR Rubbish?

Ghost spotted near Leeds A ghoulish figure with a long, black body surrounded by a rainbow of light has been spotted floating in the sky. The ghost was observed on Burley Moor, near Leeds, hovering above the ground for a few seconds before fading away. It is said that the ghost appears every other Friday and calls out the name of the person who sees it. Local historian and ghost expert Brock Spector said, “We think the ghost is real. How else can you explain it?” So, is this true or are we getting a bit hazy with the facts?* World’s most expensive car The world’s most expensive new car has been unveiled – and was sold to an unnamed buyer for at least £9.5 million. La Voiture Noire (which…

How much of this week’s news can you remember?

1Which mythical animal shares its name with the capsule that returned to Earth from the International Space Station? a) Dragon b) Unicorn c) Hippogriff 2True or false? More than 28,000 trees are to be planted near Bolton. 3What sort of animal attacked a woman trying to take a selfie in the US? 4How much will MPs get paid each year after their latest pay rise is introduced? a) £69,468 b) £79,468 c) £89,468 5Which country is Greta Thunberg from? 6True or false? The elephant is the world’s loudest animal. 7What is the name of the wizard in The Tempest? a) Macbeth b) Hamlet c) Prospero 8Which ancient civilisation built the Pyramid of Kukulcán? 9What is the Hindu festival of colour called? 10True or false? Manchester City men and women’s teams…