Innholdsfortegnelse for 203 i The Week Junior

The leader of Islamic State (IS), an extremist terror group, has died during a US military operation in north-western Syria. Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi’s death was announced by the US president, Donald Trump, the following day, on 27 October. What is IS? IS is an organisation that is responsible for a number of deadly terror attacks around the world. Many people have died in these attacks. Followers of IS have extreme religious beliefs and they use violence against people who disagree with them. They claim to follow the religion of Islam, but most people agree that IS has little to do with what Muslims believe. What does IS want? IS, which is sometimes called Isis, Isil or Daesh, wants to create a new state across Iraq, Syria and beyond. At the…

3 November 1957 Russians launch dog into space On 3 November 1957, the Soviet Union (a group of countries once ruled from Moscow, the Russian capital) launched a dog into space. Laika was the first living creature ever to go into orbit. Scientists wanted to see what effect space travel would have on humans. Animal charities and scientists criticised the decision and said it was cruel. The Soviet Union said she died after a week in orbit, but evidence suggests Laika may have died during take-off. Yuri Gagarin became the first human in space in 1961.…

● Members of Parliament (MPs) have voted in favour of Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s plan to hold a general election on 12 December. ● A general election is when the public votes for a new Government. This is done by electing MPs to the House of Commons, where they make laws. ● The House of Commons has 650 MPs. Each MP represents a part of the UK called a constituency or seat. Whichever party wins 326 or more seats gets to form the Government. ● UK elections usually take place every five years, but an election can be held at any time if MPs vote in favour of one.…

Crabs have surprisingly good memories and can recall the best route through tricky mazes, according to a new study by scientists in Wales. The researchers found that common shore crabs could remember the correct route through a maze even when they hadn’t seen it for weeks. A team led by Dr Ed Pope, a marine biologist who studies sea creatures at Swansea University, trained 12 crabs to find their way around a complex maze. In order to reach food at the end of the maze, the crabs had to change directions five times and avoid three dead ends. The researchers put each crab into the maze for one hour a week and found that over four weeks, they steadily got better at finding their way; they got lost less often;…

London taxis The first 100% electric-powered black cab has been launched in London. The taxi, called the Dynamo, is converted from an electric van made by car company Nissan. Electric cars are better for the environment as they don’t release harmful carbon emissions into the atmosphere. Mullion Island seagulls A small island off the coast of Cornwall has been bombarded by elastic bands, brought to the island by seagulls. Experts think the gulls mistook the bands, used for collecting flowers in fields on the mainland, for worms, and flew with them in their stomachs before being sick.…

In 1939, a family film was released that would change the future of cinema. With its brightly coloured sets, unforgettable characters and catchy songs, The Wizard of Oz is often considered to be one of the best films ever made. Eighty years after its original release, it is as popular as it has ever been, with spin-offs often appearing on stage and screen. Read on to mark a very special anniversary in the world of film. Welcome to Oz The land of Oz first appeared in a book called The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, published in 1900. Its author, L. Frank Baum, would write 13 more books set in this magical world, but it was his first that was most popular. He got the name for Oz from a file…

Apiece of stone found on a Dutch beach suggests that our extinct human relatives, known as Neanderthals, were smarter than previously thought. The Neanderthals lived alongside our own ancestors in Europe for tens of thousands of years, before dying out about 40,000 years ago. They were much stronger than modern humans, but it’s long been assumed that our ancestors were cleverer than the Neanderthals. However, the newly found stone tool, made by Neanderthals who lived in a cold place called Doggerland (an area now covered by the North Sea) suggests otherwise. The stone has a sharp edge, probably for scraping hair off animal skins, but the blunt end is covered in a glue made from the sticky tar of birch-tree bark. Dutch researcher Dr Marcel Niekus told the BBC that…

BOOK OF THE WEEK Prisoners of Geography by Tim Marshall. Illustrated by Grace Easton and Jessica Smith (Simon & Schuster) Discover how geography has shaped our world with this fascinating new book by Tim Marshall, a journalist who has reported from countries all over the world. This new, illustrated edition of the top bestseller Prisoners of Geography has been specially designed to appeal to readers of all ages. It brings together 12 important maps of the world and tackles questions such as “How did the US become a superpower?” and “Why do people go to war?”. The book also shows how the choices made by world leaders can be affected by mountains, rivers and seas. With lots of vivid artwork from illustrators Grace Easton and Jessica Smith, this is a…

Stan & Ollie with the BBFC Stan & Ollie is about the much-loved comedy double act, Stan Laurel and Oliver Hardy, as they tour the UK in the 1950s. A screening in Nottingham on 8 November will include a talk by a speaker from the British Board of Film Classification (BBFC), which is the organisation that decides which age rating a film should get. Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald with 3D expert Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald is the second instalment in the Fantastic Beasts series, which is a prequel to the Harry Potter stories. The film is followed by a talk from Chris Parks, an expert in 3D, at a showing in Stevenage on 6 November. The Biggest Little Farm with Greenpeace The Biggest Little Farm is…

Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker final trailer tinyurl.com/TWJ-rise-skywalker The last trailer for this winter’s most exciting film has finally been released, revealing a few more clues about what could be in store for the characters. Rey and Kylo Ren take centre stage, but a creepy voiceover from the supposedly dead Emperor Palpatine raises questions. Beautiful Baking with Juliet Sear 9.30am on 3 November, ITV Bakers assemble! Juliet Sears, a baker who set up her own business and has made birthday cakes for royalty, is ready to provide new ideas and inspiration for anyone who enjoys baking at home. Each week she’ll give viewers her top tips for some yummy recipes from her studio kitchen. The One Show’s Rickshaw Challenge 7pm on 7 November, BBC One For this year’s Children…

Hit video game Minecraft has been making a comeback in 2019; some of the popular YouTubers who’d deserted the game for Fortnite have returned to it in recent months. Now there’s a new way to play the game, and it doesn’t involve a screen at all. Minecraft has been turned into an official board game called Minecraft: Builders & Biomes, by German company Ravensburger. Players will still be building: the game comes with 64 resource blocks, including wood, sand, stone, obsidian and emerald. The game involves moving around the board building structures, while also fighting mobs (monsters) drawn from a deck of cards. The game is won by earning more experience points than other players, and is designed for families to play together. It’ll go on sale in mid-November. The…

Imagine finding out that the painting hanging in your kitchen is a medieval masterpiece dating back to the 13th century, and is worth an eye-watering £20 million. That’s exactly what happened to an elderly woman in France, who was getting rid of the contents of her home as she prepared to move out – find the story on page 3. The picture now ranks alongside works by famous artists such as Leonardo da Vinci and Rembrandt as one of the top 10 most expensive paintings ever. It’s not the only brilliant discovery of recent times; last year, an intricate 18th-century Chinese vase found by chance in an attic in France fetched £14.2 million at auction. If your mind hasn’t been well and truly boggled by this tale, then keep your…

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Follow The Week Junior on PopJam@TheWeekJunior. You can download the PopJam app from the App Store or Google Play. Sainsbury’s has stopped selling fireworks. We asked you if fireworks should be banned... “No way. I love fireworks.” “Yes, other shops should do the same.” Last week, we asked you if scary films should be banned. You said... “You shouldn’t ditch scary films. I am not a fan personally, but some people love them.” “No way. If you don’t like scary films, don’t watch them. Simple.” Tell us what you think of this week’s issue and we’ll print some of the best comments here.…

Questions have been raised over a dramatic image that, it was claimed, showed President Trump watching the raid as it happened. The photo, which includes Trump, his vice-president Mike Pence and important US military leaders, was taken at 5.05pm, according to camera data. However, the raid happened at around 3.30pm, suggesting the image was actually staged (set up) after the mission had been carried out. It is also thought the photographer would have been blocking the screen that Trump was watching if they’d been standing there during the course of the operation.…

SIR DAVID ATTENBOROUGH Sir David Attenborough has been awarded a green Blue Peter badge. The broadcaster already has a rare gold badge, which is given to role models who inspire the nation’s children. The green badge is in recognition of his mission to protect the planet. GRETA THUNBERG A new species of beetle has been named after the climate activist Greta Thunberg. Dr Michael Darby, from London’s Natural History Museum, discovered the nameless beetle in the museum’s collection and said, “I chose this name as I am immensely impressed with the work of this young campaigner.” LENDING A HELPING HAND When Shannon Downey came across an unfinished craft project to make a huge quilt of the US, she knew she had to finish it. The quilt hadn’t been completed because…

All the lights in the Welsh village of Star were turned off for two hours on 23 October to help residents stargaze with British astronaut Tim Peake. Switching off the lights made it easier to see the stars, and Peake told locals about his time in space. Teacher Catrin Davies, who brought some of her pupils to the event, said, “We have amazing night skies here, but I don’t think we do look up and appreciate it enough. This makes you think.”…

Working for the royal family usually requires a high level of secrecy, but not so for Angela Kelly. Most people who work in Buckingham Palace have to sign the Official Secrets Act (a legal document that prevents individuals from sharing important information), but the Queen has allowed Kelly to write a book about their friendship and working relationship. Kelly, now 61, started working for the Queen in 1994 and is now Her Majesty’s personal adviser and curator. She is widely considered to have one of the closest friendships with the Queen out of all the royal servants and staff. In her new book, The Other Side of the Coin: The Queen, the Dresser and the Wardrobe, Kelly reveals secrets from her time with the Queen. She writes about one of…

If you want to have fun on 5 November without harming the environment, then there are a few things to think about. If you’re building your own bonfire, check for animals before lighting it. Hedgehogs and other creatures like hiding in piles of logs and leaves, so avoid putting up your bonfire earlier than you have to. Also, keep an eye on the weather. If there’s no wind, then pollution and smoke can hang around for longer. A light breeze is best, but beware of strong winds carrying smoke to unwanted areas. Only burn natural materials such as wood – using some other types of waste is illegal, and can release dangerous gases. Or instead of making your own bonfire, why not reduce the emissions going into the air by…

Do you want to help shape the future of everything from entertainment and transport to sport and the environment? Then you might want to think about the intriguing world of engineering. Tomorrow’s Engineers Week is running 4–8 November and is the perfect time to get an idea of what engineering is all about. Engineers are the people who use scientific knowledge, ranging from long-established scientific laws to cutting-edge discoveries, to solve problems and improve life for all of us. Everything we use, including the shoes you’re wearing and the computer game you might play later, involves engineering in some way or another. Tomorrow’s Engineers Week aims to get young people interested in this exciting career. It also wants to change the way we think about engineers. Ask most people to…

England and South Africa Rugby Union teams In the semi-finals of the 2019 Rugby World Cup, in the city of Yokohama, Japan, England beat New Zealand 19-7 and South Africa defeated Wales 19-16. England’s win was one of the team’s best ever performances at a World Cup tournament. South Africa edged past Wales thanks to a late penalty kick. ● The final will be played in Yokohama at 9am on 2 November and fans will be able to watch the match on ITV and the ITV Hub streaming service. ● South Africa have won the World Cup twice, England won it in 2003. The teams met in the 2007 final, which South Africa won. ● Wales have now lost three World Cup semi-finals.…

What is your favourite part of the book? All of it – but if I have to choose, it’s the beautiful drawing of the Victoria Falls. The waterfall is on the border between Zambia and Zimbabwe, and in the local Kololo language is known as Mosi-oa-Tunya (the smoke that thunders) because the columns of spray can sometimes be seen from miles away. How many countries have you been to? Sixty-seven in total – I’ve had to travel a lot for my job – but there are 193 countries out there so I’d definitely like to see a few more. Of the 12 maps, which is your favourite? Africa. There’s so much diversity and colour on the map. I particularly like the smaller version, which shows the real size of the…

A teenager called Adrenaline has become the first female character to have a starring role in the long-running Asterix book series. Whereas previous instalments have featured female characters, Adrenaline is the first to be at the very centre of the action. In Asterix and the Chieftain’s Daughter she is on the run from the Romans, who want to capture her because her father is a king. Asterix and his friend Obelix are given the job of protecting her, but they struggle to cope with her rebellious spirit. The first Asterix book was published in 1959. Each comic in the series follows Asterix and his fellow villagers, who have survived a Roman invasion thanks to an invincibility potion brewed by their local druid, Getafix. The last three books have been written…

How old do you have to be? Children as young as three can join a karate class and begin to learn basic moves and what the sport involves. There are lots of types of classes and instructions available, but they all encourage young people to have fun, as well as respecting the ancient activity. What is the famous black belt in karate? Having a black belt tied around your karate suit shows that you’ve reached the highest level of karate grading. Beginners wear a white belt and gradually work their way through a grading and judging system to earn different coloured belts, including yellow, orange, green, blue, red and brown belts. Is karate an Olympic sport? Karate will be part of the Olympics for the first time at the 2020…

Name: Monty “This film follows a Brooklyn teenager called Miles Morales, whose life suddenly comes to an abrupt halt when he is bitten by a radioactive spider. Then six dimensions collide, creating six unique and all very different Spider-Men, leading to a whole load of funny chaos. It is a unique and well thought-out animated film including all races, genders, nationalities and beliefs. In this film we saw our first ever female and African-American Spider-Men/Women. Furthermore, the film was animated in a way that people who read comics would LOVE! Into the Spider-Verse 100% deserves the best animated feature Oscar that it won. This film is all about inclusivity and not leaving anyone out or being mean. I think this was an amazing film that is very different from any…

“This is me, celebrating almost three years of reading The Week Junior.” Talia “Every day instead of driving to school, my mum and I walk two miles (even in the rain!) or we ride our bikes. Sometimes if it’s very cold, we take the bus.” Lucian “My class and I are enjoying receiving The Week Junior every week. We were very excited to read an article about Lincoln (where we live). Here are some photographs of us enjoying reading the magazines.” The zebra class…

Ribble Valley, in Lancashire, has been named the happiest place in the UK. It came top of a Government survey conducted by the Office for National Statistics (ONS), which asked residents to score how happy they felt on a scale of 0-10. People in Ribble Valley had an average score of 8.3, which put them above the national average of 7.56. Nearby South Ribble had an average score of 7.02, placing it in the bottom five for the country.…

In 2016, a referendum (public vote) was held on whether the UK should leave the European Union (EU). Around 52% of those who took part voted to leave – a decision that has become known as Brexit. Boris Johnson took over as Prime Minister in July this year, after winning a Conservative Party leadership contest. He promised that the UK would leave the EU on 31 October. However, MPs have passed a law forcing him to ask the EU for an extension to this deadline, because they want more time to debate his Brexit plans. Johnson doesn’t want to delay Brexit, which is why he called for a general election to try and win more support in the House of Commons. Some people think an election is the only way…

“You get out of life what you put into it.” Describe yourself in three words Persistent. Curious. Committed. Who do you love? My husband, Kieran, and two sons who are five and two (Sammy and Rafe), and my extended family. As a child, who did you want to be like and why? My mum has a picture I drew when I was at primary school, where I said I wanted to be a mum when I grew up. When you were 11, what did you dream of doing? I loved playing music, reading, languages, science, maths – and I didn’t think of much more at the time. What do you do now? I’m a professor of healthcare engineering at University College London. My research involves using maths and engineering in…

A peculiar type of mould that can learn despite having no brain has gone on display at the Paris Zoological Park in France. Moulds are simple organisms made of one cell instead of many, but they can still be enormous. This particular one is called a slime mould, and has been nicknamed The Blob. Slime moulds start as microscopic cells, but once they find a food source, usually fungi, yeast or bacteria, they grow rapidly, putting out slime-coated tendrils in search of more. They have no mouth or eyes but can still detect their food and can remember things, even with no brain. If an area contains a toxic substance, for example, slime moulds remember it and avoid the area. They can even share the information with other slime moulds.…

Jamie Mitchell Keeper, ZSL London Zoo With more than 40,000 species worldwide, spiders’ lifespans vary greatly. Some, like the golden orb weaver, live for less than a year, whereas some types of bird-eating spider (a type of tarantula), live to just over three decades. Generally, spiders in captivity live longer than those in the wild because their environment is more stable and far less dangerous. Enjoy unlimited visits to ZSL London and Whipsnade Zoos, plus a host of other benefits with ZSL Membership. Find out more at zsl.org/membership/zsl-membership…

This phone case is made of a rubbery material that mimics human skin. Bizarrely, it responds to different types of touch that are linked to commands. For example, if you pinch it, it will type an angry face emoji, whereas a gentle tickle could trigger a laughing emoji. The same material might one day be used to make touch-sensitive skin for robots. Not everyone likes the idea though. Even project leader Marc Teyssier admitted, “I do think it’s creepy.” Enjoy these stories? Find more in this month’s The Week Junior Science+Nature magazinesciencenature.theweekjunior.co.uk…

Guardians of the Planet: How to Be an Eco-Hero by Clive Gifford and Jonathan Woodward (Michael O’Mara Books) Learn how to become a guardian of the planet with this practical guide. It has advice on composting food, giving wildlife a helping hand and being a friend to our forests. The book is full of activities, tips and ideas that will help you to look after our planet. Earth Heroes by Lily Dyu (Nosy Crow) Be inspired by the stories of 20 heroes who are fighting for the future of our Earth. Featuring admirable people such as Greta Thunberg, David Attenborough, Yin Yuzhen and Isatou Ceesay, this beautiful illustrated book shows that we all have the potential to make a difference. Plastic Sucks! You Can Make a Difference by Dougie Poynter…

Spider-Man 2 DVD, Blu-ray, Amazon Prime, iTunes, Google Play, YouTube Last year’s Spider-Man: Into The SpiderVerse has a strong case for being the best Spidey film so far, but Spider-Man 2 was fantastic as well. Superhero films weren’t quite as popular when this came out in 2004, but after the success of the first film, work began on a follow-up straight away. The release was a huge hit and is still regarded as one of the best superhero films. It was made in a rush – the script wasn’t finished when filming began – but this is one of those rare cases where being in a hurry worked out just fine. WOW! Doc Ock, a villain in Spider-Man 2, had tentacles that were controlled by puppeteers.…

“I go to the MPSK karate club in Peterborough. I’ve been going for a couple of months and I already know two forms and lots of offensive and defensive moves. The instructors are really encouraging. Also, karate is brilliant for discipline and respect. I’ve only been there for a little while, so I haven’t been graded to a belt yet, but I’m excited to be when I improve.” DID YOU KNOW? The word karate combines two Japanese symbols. Kara means empty and te is hand – together they mean empty hand.…

What you need ● Two large beef tomatoes ● A packet of mozzarella or other soft cheese ● 12 basil leaves ● Olive oil ● Four slices of ciabatta ● Baking tray ● Greaseproof paper Instructions These make a great starter or even a light meal. First, turn the oven to 200° C. Slice the tomatoes in half, placing them skin-side down on a baking tray covered in greaseproof paper. Thinly slice the mozzarella and carefully place one slice of cheese on top of each of the tomatoes. Put a couple of basil leaves on top and then another layer of cheese on top of them, before drizzling olive oil over all the tomatoes. Carefully slide the tray into the oven and leave for eight minutes or so. The cheese…

On 15 October, the Wildlife Photographer of the Year 2019 winners were unveiled. Fourteen-year-old Cruz Erdmann won first prize with this beautiful image of a squid he captured on a night dive in Indonesia. If you are a young photographer with a passion for nature, you should enter the 2020 competition, which is accepting entries now. You can enter your pictures right up until the 12 December 2019 deadline. Find out more at tinyurl.com/ TWJ-WildlifePhotographer…

Teacher’s name: Mr Gutkowski School: St John’s CE Primary, Bradford “Mr Gutkowski makes lessons easy, as if they do not exist at all! He is so good and I only have one thing to say about him: he is the best teacher ever!” Elsie If we pick your teacher as Teacher of the Week, we’ll sendyourschoolthreefreeissuesof 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…

1 What’s the most expensive painting ever sold? a) The Mona Lisa b) Salvator Mundi c) The Mocking of Christ 2 True or false? A centaur is a mythical being that is half human and half horse. 3 Where does the winning entry of this year's World Cheese Awards come from? 4 In which year did a UK election last take place in December? a) 2017 b) 1920 c) 1923 5 True or false? The Queen has acted alongside Daniel Craig. 6 What is the nickname of the mould that has gone on display in Paris? 7 Which of these is not a character in The Wizard of Oz? a) The Scarecrow b) The Cowardly Tiger c) Glinda 8 True or false? There’s a new phone case that mimics human…