Innholdsfortegnelse for 173 i The Week Junior

10 April 1998 Good Friday Agreement signed On 10 April 1998, a peace agreement was reached between the UK and Irish governments and most of the political parties in Northern Ireland. Known as the Belfast Agreement or the Good Friday Agreement, after the day on which it was signed, it brought to an end much of the conflict that had been happening since around 1968. The conflict was because some people wanted Ireland to be one country – not split into Ireland and Northern Ireland (which is part of the UK). Others wanted Northern Ireland to remain part of the UK.…

● Sir Anthony Seldon, the vice-chancellor of the University of Buckingham, has said every school should have a dog or other pet to help reduce stress. He believes it would be an effective way to help pupils feel more relaxed. ● Damian Hinds, the Government’s education minister, has said that “pets can really help” improve students’ health and wellbeing in schools, but added that there are no plans to introduce pets in schools across the country. ● Although there are health benefits to having dogs in schools, it can be harmful for some people if they are scared of them or have allergies.…

Jamie Mitchell, Keeper, ZSL London Zoo Of the 40,000 known species of spiders worldwide, only a handful are dangerous to people. Two of the most toxic are the Brazilian wandering spider and the Sydney funnel-web spider. Black widow spiders are considered dangerous, but the chances of actually dying from a bite are less than 1%. You have as much chance of being hurt by a flying champagne cork. 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…

The partial skeleton of the largest tyrannosaurus rex ever discovered has been assembled at the Royal Saskatchewan Museum in Canada. Nicknamed Scotty, the reptile’s remains were discovered in 1991, but it has taken years to carefully dig them up, clean them and put them back together. Scotty roamed Earth about 68 million years ago and weighed around 8.8 tonnes when it was alive – more than an African elephant. Despite its large size, Scotty had a hard life – the fossil has a broken rib, and broken tail bones – possibly from a fight with another tyrannosaurus rex.…

There are an estimated 8.8 million people living in Greater London, but the city is home to countless other creatures, too. Throughout history, people have lived alongside these animals, sharing their homes, parks and streets. A new exhibition called Beasts of London tells their stories – from the elephants who once performed in circuses to the tiny bacteria (microscopic organisms) that killed tens of thousands of people in the 17th century. Visitors are guided from prehistory to the present day by many different animals, starting with the lion. You learn about their lives through videos, interactive displays, historical objects, specially designed sets and props, and from hearing the creatures talk to each other. There are nine different areas to explore along the way, including the Roman era, the Tower of…

Hugo (2011) DVD, Blu-ray, iTunes, Prime Video Film director Martin Scorsese is known for making films that absolutely aren’t for family viewers (most of his films for good reason, carry 15 or 18 certificates). Yet he absolutely loves cinema, and for his 2011 film Hugo, he made a U-certificate film. What’s more, it’s one that explores the history of cinema, and you can learn a lot about film’s early years from the story. The main plot follows a boy uncovering a mystery in 1930s Paris, and audiences loved it. Critics liked it too; it was nominated for 11 Oscars. AN EXTRA DIMENSION The cinema version was filmed and released in 3D. It’s considered to have some of the best 3D effects ever seen in a film.…

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, created by Year 6 pupils from Bury CE Primary, looks at the topic of unfair school funding. They chose to produce a film about the money that schools in the UK receive. Pupils highlighted the impact this has on schools that receive less. They found that schools outside London receive less money per pupil than schools within London. One person said, “Once we found out about the WorthLess campaign, we knew what we wanted our Pupil Parliament project to be about. We really wanted to help schools get the funding they deserve for our future.” The…

What do I need to take up calligraphy? All you really need is a pen and paper. As you progress, you might want to buy an oblique calligraphy pen. These pens have an extra bit sticking out of the side, and they help beginners learn how to hold the pen and form the letters. What about people who are left-handed? Some of the best calligraphers are left-handed, so don’t worry if you are smudging your letters. There are different ways you can hold your pen, and move the paper, and there are pens made specifically for left-handers, including left-handed oblique pens. Any top tips? You don’t need to have neat handwriting to do calligraphy, and don’t aim for perfection straight away – it takes time to perfect your own style.…

Teacher’s name: Miss Ashton School: Wimbledon High School “I nominated Miss Ashton as teacher of the week because she is very kind and doesn’t get angry if someone gets something wrong. When we do a good piece of work she gives us a smelly sticker. Miss Ashton is very funny and is the best teacher ever!” Alexandra…

Leave the EU on 12 April If MPs cannot reach a deal and May does not ask the EU for another extension, the UK would leave the EU on 12 April without a deal. However, most MPs are strongly against leaving without a deal because it could cause problems, including food prices going up because it will be harder and more expensive to bring goods into the UK from the EU. Leave the EU on 22 May If MPs vote for May’s withdrawal agreement then the UK could leave on 22 May. There would then be a transition period, until 2020, during which time the UK and EU would discuss important agreements such as trade and security. On 28 March, May said that if her deal is passed she will…

BUYING A FAIRY PHOTO Two photographs that once fooled the public into believing that fairies existed are to be sold. The hoax images were taken by 16-year-old Elsie Wright and nine-year old Frances Griffiths in 1917 and they are expected to fetch up to £70,000 at auction on 11 April. BEING A DAREDEVIL Ant Williams from New Zealand has broken the world record for the deepest free-dive (diving without oxygen) under ice. On 28 March, Williams swam down 70 metres below the ice in northern Norway while holding his breath. He later managed to go five metres deeper to beat his own record, which is yet to be verified. SENDING A SNACK INTO SPACE A McDonald’s Big Mac burger landed at Colchester United football team’s training ground, in Essex, after…

Sir David Attenborough says there are lots of ways that you can make a difference for wildlife, starting in your own home or garden. “If you have a window sill or balcony, you can put up bird feeders or plant pots of wildflowers. If you have a garden, it is easy to dig a small pond or make holes in your fence for hedgehogs to wander through,” he says. “It is not too difficult to take up paving slabs to let plants grow to feed our bees.” The Wildlife Trusts also suggest contacting your local MP and asking for stricter environmental laws.…

Plains-wanderer chicks The captive population of the rare plains-wanderer almost doubled this week with the birth of nine chicks at an Australian zoo. The young birds are usually raised by their father, but keepers at the zoo have had to use a feather duster as a fake dad, as the chicks’ real father abandoned them. Koalas in eastern Australia Koala populations on the east coast of Australia have declined so much they should now be considered endangered, conservationists have warned. The main cause of the drop has been habitat loss – when wild or natural environments are cleared for farming or new buildings.…

Vincent van Gogh was born 166 years ago. He is one of the world’s most popular artists and his use of bright colours and short brush strokes to express intense emotions has influenced many other artists. Paintings such as Sunflowers and The Starry Night are considered masterpieces, yet during his lifetime, Van Gogh was not widely known. He only painted for 10 years and he sold just one painting. To celebrate the opening of a major new Van Gogh exhibition at the Tate Britain gallery in London, take a look at some of his most famous artworks and discover the stories behind them. Van Gogh’s early days Van Gogh was born in the Netherlands, on 30 March 1853. He was the eldest of six children and was described as a…

The US space agency NASA’s Exoplanet Archive – a database of all known exoplanets (planets around stars outside our solar system) is now just 74 planets short of 4,000 planets. The Exoplanet Archive is the result of an international effort by astronomers, using space telescopes as well as telescopes on the ground. It has revealed that most stars in the Milky Way (our galaxy) have at least one planet orbiting them. The latest planet to join the Exoplanet Archive was GI 686 b, added on 21 March. This exoplanet is larger than Earth and orbits a star much cooler and dimmer than our Sun. GI 686 b is thought to be a Neptune-like gas giant planet and is 27 light-years from Earth. If you were travelling at the speed of…

Flowery fields A gardener at Alnwick Castle, in Northumberland. Artist in residence An amazing artwork on a building in Bavaria, Germany. Chilling at the beach Surfers covered in ice at Lake Superior, in the US. Cat’s eyes A young leopard cat rescued from smugglers in Indonesia. A photo chute Troops parachute from a plane during military exercises in Russia. Wall to wall Dancers create a human sculpture at an event in Hong Kong.…

The Boat Race 1.20pm on 7 April, BBC One The women’s and men’s crews from Oxford and Cambridge universities race along London’s River Thames in the historic event. Two-time Olympic champion James Cracknell, aged 46, will become the oldest person ever to take part; he is currently studying at Cambridge. The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind Streaming now, Netflix In Malawi, in Africa, William is a student who can no longer afford to go to school. When the fields are flooded and crops are spoiled, his family and friends begin to starve. Can William use his education to help? This true story is rated PG so may not be suitable for younger viewers. You Vs Wild Streaming from 10 April, Netflix Ever fancied telling superstar adventurer Bear Grylls where to…

Calligraphy is the art of writing letters beautifully. These days, a lot of writing is done on computers, tablets and even phones, so calligraphy is a way to celebrate writing artistically on paper. The best thing about calligraphy is having fun experimenting with pen and ink, and not worrying too much about what you create. It’s about making marks on paper, then practising the letter forms over and over. Like anything, the more you do it, the more you’ll improve. You can make the letters fancier as your confidence grows. Try adding swirls, doodles and decoration to your lettering. Eleanor Winters, author of Calligraphy for Kids, says the best way to learn the art is to join a local calligraphy club, and if your school doesn’t run one, ask if…

Potty for pastry or bonkers about bread? If that sounds like you, and you’re between nine and 15 years old, enter to take part in this summer’s Junior Bake Off. For the chance to compete in the famous white tent, you’ll need to submit an application with your parent or guardian, and answer a series of questions on your baking abilities and ambitions. Don’t worry about doing it all at once, though, the online application process allows you to save and resume your application any time before the 6 May deadline at junior.take-part.co.uk…

Follow The Week Junior on PopJam@TheWeekJunior. You can download the PopJam app from the App Store or Google Play. Last week’s Big debate question was “Should we have a second referendum?”. You said... “I think we should because I don’t think people realised what would happen if we leave the EU” “Well in all fairness, we had a vote and it wouldn’t be fair if we had another vote, but I would rather have another vote” A two-year-old orangutan has been rescued at an airport in Indonesia. You said... “Thank goodness he’s safe! Orangutans are under such danger especially because of the palm oil problem” “I’m so glad that it’s safe. What a weird place to find one!” Tell us what you think of this week’s issue and we’ll print…

On 29 March, Britain’s two oldest men celebrated their 111th birthdays. Alf Smith (above, left) from Perthshire, and Bob Weighton (above, right), from Hampshire, were both born in 1908. It is not known who was born first. Weighton said the only advice he could give about living for a long time was to “avoid dying”. Smith said, “porridge is helpful, and having a job you enjoy”. The two men have never met, but they send each other birthday cards each year.…

On 21 March, Sir Anthony Seldon, the vice-chancellor of the University of Buckingham, hosted a conference about wellbeing in education. At the event he suggested that every school should have a pet, saying, “It’s hard to think of an easier, quicker benefit.” Animals are already being used in universities to help students cope with stress. Many people, particularly dog lovers, like the idea and think it is a great solution to the increase in mental health problems among young people in the UK. They say it is an affordable and easy way to tackle the issue. However, Sir Anthony’s comments have also sparked a debate. The suggestion raises lots of concerns for those who don’t like being around dogs. So, do you think a school dog is a good idea?…

Professor Farah Bhatti The heart surgeon who is living her childhood dream. Describe yourself in three words. Loyal, honest, caring. Who do you love? My mum, brother, sisters, nephews and nieces, and, of course, my husband John. As a child, who did you want to be like and why? I used to be inspired by strong characters on TV, like doctors and barristers. When you were 11 what did you dream of doing? Being a doctor. What do you do now? I’m a heart surgeon. I’m also a professor at Swansea University Medical School, and a Council Member of The Royal College of Surgeons of England. How did you get there? I was lucky enough to study Medicine at Somerville College, Oxford, and Jesus College, Cambridge. I then gained experience…

Doctor Octopus, The Hulk, Iron Man, Spider-Man and Thor are among the superheroes (and villains) who’ve been given a blocky makeover for Lego games in recent history. Now some of those games have been combined in one bundle, to help fans who missed them individually to catch up on the adventures. Lego Marvel Collection includes three games for the price of one: 2013’s Lego Marvel Super Heroes; 2016’s Lego Marvel’s Avengers and 2017’s Lego Marvel Super Heroes 2. They all feature big casts of super-powered characters, from the most famous to the more obscure. These games are action adventures where players must explore the world, battle enemies, solve puzzles and switch between the different superheroes to get the job done. Even the earliest game in the series still feels fresh,…

“I started weekly calligraphy classes two months ago. We first learnt how to assemble our pens by attaching a nib and filling it with ink. We were then taught how to carefully draw strokes which, with practice, turned into beautiful letters. We then practised our new handwriting style by copying out famous quotes, which was very enjoyable. I find calligraphy a wonderful way to express my creativity, and it’s a skill I hope to use throughout my life.”…

This week’s issue is packed with inspiring people. Adventurers James Ketchell and Laura Bingham demonstrate that (almost) anything is possible if you are determined to make your dreams come true, and Sir David Attenborough is using his fame to raise awareness of important issues. The Dutch artist Vincent van Gogh created incredible images that make us see the world differently, and scientists like those who are about to embark on a huge hunt for dinosaur remains are helping us all to understand the history of our planet. Meanwhile, 111-year-olds Alf Smith and Bob Weighton remind us how important it is to live life to the full, and Professor Farah Bhatti is a heart surgeon whose work has saved countless lives – including my father’s. You can discover how she became…

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Hero wanted for Marvel job One superhero fan is being offered more than £750 to sit and watch the first 20 films in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. The series, which started in 2008 with Iron Man, is hugely popular and its next instalment, Avengers: Endgame, is expected to be one of the biggest films of all time. A website called CableTV.com wants someone to watch all the films available (not including Captain Marvel, which is still in cinemas) and tweet along as they do. Footballer accidentally crosses Sahara desert When John Farnworth went to Morocco, in north Africa, for a holiday, he didn’t expect to end up crossing a desert juggling a football. Farnworth was on his way to play in a football match when he took a wrong turn…