Innholdsfortegnelse for 220 i The Week Junior

Schools and universities in Iran, Italy and South Korea have closed to try and prevent the outbreak of the coronavirus known as Covid-19 from spreading. As The Week Junior went to press, other countries around the world had also reported cases of the virus. What is Covid-19? Covid-19 is a new type of coronavirus, a group of infectious diseases that include the common cold. A virus is a tiny particle that causes illness. People who catch Covid-19 get a temperature, a cough and can have breathing difficulties. As The Week Junior went to press, there were more than 80,000 known cases worldwide and more than 2,760 people had died. Most of those who died were already in poor health before they caught Covid-19. Patients usually fully recover from the virus.…

SPOTTING A SNOW LEOPARD A very rare snow leopard was caught on film in the Himalayan state of Himachal Pradesh, in India. Although it’s unclear when the footage was shot, the recent posting of it on social media has prompted widespread hope for the endangered big cat. A SPECIAL MEETING Climate activist Greta Thunberg met the human rights campaigner Malala Yousafzai on 25 February. They met at Oxford University, where Yousafzai is studying. Thunberg said she’d met her role model, while Yousafzai said Thunberg was “the only friend I’d skip school for”. Thunberg was due to attend a climate strike in Bristol on 28 February. A FOOTBALL FAN Daragh Curley, a 10-year-old Manchester United fan, sent a letter to Liverpool boss Jürgen Klopp asking if Liverpool could lose a game…

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 great apes should have similar rights as humans, 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 esu.org…

Many people are aware that we need to take action to tackle climate change (a long-term change in the world’s weather patterns, caused mostly by human activity) but some people are confused by the details. This lack of knowledge might mean that they don’t take the issue seriously, or accidentally harm the environment without realising what they’re doing. It’s important to understand what climate change really is, what causes it and what can be done to tackle it. There are plenty of resources online to learn more about climate change. One of the best sites is run by the US space agency NASA. You can take a look at its Climate Kids website by visiting tinyurl.com/TWJ-climate. Test your friends on their knowledge, and share information with each other so you’re…

A team of fossil scientists has unearthed the remains of a giant turtle that grew to the size of a car. The remains include the largest turtle shell ever discovered – an amazing 2.86 metres long. The turtle, called Stupendemys geographicus , lived in northern South America around 12 million years ago. Fragmented fossils of Stupendemys, which means “stupendous turtle”, were found in Venezuela’s Urumaco region in 1972, but apart from their vast size and the fact that they must have spent most of their lives in water, the species remained a mystery. The new fossils, discovered in Venezuela and across the border in Colombia’s Tatacoa Desert, help to shed light on how these colossal creatures lived, and reveal that males of the species had one very surprising feature –…

Where did you get the idea for this book? I used to be a teaching assistant at a school for pupils with special educational needs. One of the characters was inspired by pupils I used to teach. Another big source of inspiration was Scotland – it’s beautiful. Which character has the same personality as you? I sometimes have a short temper, like Agatha. I used to be unsure of my place in the world, like Jamie. I’m quite confident in my own abilities, like Cray, and I want to invade and enslave a nation for my own benefit like Konge Grímr. Actually, ignore that last one... When you were younger, what did you want to be when you grew up? For a long time I really wanted to be a…

Filming is set to begin on the fifth Indiana Jones film within the next few months, it has been revealed. Actor Harrison Ford, who plays the whip-cracking hero in the films, appeared on a TV show in the US and said filming on the new adventure would start this summer. Ford, who is now 77 years old, first played Indiana Jones in the 1981 film Raiders of the Lost Ark. Since then, he has appeared in three more films in the series – most recently Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull, which came out in 2008. The star, who also played Han Solo in the Star Wars films, said he enjoyed bringing old characters back to the screen. He added, “When we have an opportunity to make…

Tennis4TheWorld Tennis4TheWorld is a charity that collects used and unwanted tennis equipment and sends it to schools and colleges around the world. The hope is that it will get young people playing and enjoying tennis, and have a positive impact on their lives. The charity was nominated by TWJ readers, Aarav and Amaya, who set up Tennis4TheWorld with their tennis coach. So far, the charity has sent out shipments of clothes, trainers and racquets, but still need more. To learn more about its fantastic work, visit tennis4theworld.org…

Email your news, views and pictures to hello@theweekjunior.co.uk Please include your full name and address so that we can send you a Roving Reporter badge if your contribution makes it onto the page. We will only use the details you provide to arrange delivery of badges, and we will not share them with anyone else. By submitting your reports and pictures, you give consent to The Week Junior to print them in the magazine and digital editions. We reserve the right to edit contributions for length, accuracy and suitability. Ensure you have your parent/guardian’s permission before sending anything to us.…

Follow The Week Junior on PopJam@TheWeekJunior. You can download the PopJam app from the App Store or Google Play. Last week, we asked you if athletes should be allowed to use performance-enhancing tech. You said... “No it is unfair to other people and it wouldn’t be their own talent.” “I think this sort of technology is the future! Why not let athletes take advantage of technology.” “No because it is not fair to people who can’t afford equipment like this. Sport should be about taking part, instead of what people can afford.” Tell us what you think of this week’s issue and we’ll print some of the best comments here.…

A miniature horse has travelled first class on a US airline while dressed as a superhero. Fred is a support animal, meaning he helps his owner handle difficult situations that she finds stressful or upsetting. He provided reassurance to Ronia Froese throughout the flight, which took off from the US state of Michigan and landed in the state of Texas, and was praised for his good behaviour. Froese said the horse received some strange looks, but added that staff on board had been very respectful and friendly towards him.…

Joke reviews about a hole in a wall in Derbyshire, England, have been banned from TripAdvisor, a website that allows people to leave comments about hotels, restaurants and tourist attractions. Online pranksters submitted glowing reviews for a hole in a wall outside the NatWest bank in Ilkeston, which led to it being rated as the fourth best attraction in the town. The reviews started in 2018, but lots more appeared after the hole was featured in the news.…

Great apes are humans’ closest living relatives. Sometime around eight and six million years ago, modern humans and chimpanzees shared a common ancestor from which they are both descended. This is why humans and chimpanzees have 99% of the same DNA. Great apes also share some of our emotions, such as love, fear and jealousy. Yet around the world, these creatures are endangered. Their habitats are being cut down and they are being hunted. As a result, some people think they should be given more protection and some of the legal rights humans have, such as the right to life and to be treated well. There would be punishments for those who abused these rights. Others say apes can be looked after without giving them extra protection. What do you…

Like many parents, Matt Haig’s first memories of World Book Day come from preparing story-themed costumes for his children. He’s helped them dress as figures from the wizarding world of Harry Potter, and even as one of his own characters from The Girl Who Saved Christmas. However, this year the author has become more involved in the celebrations, releasing a special £1 sequel to his hit book, Evie and the Animals. Evie in the Jungle, illustrated by Emily Gravett, is one of 12 books published as part of this year’s event, and Haig loved being able to tell a shorter story than usual. He told The Week Junior, “It was the perfect length for this story. It can be read by anyone even if they’ve not read Evie and the…

Researchers have discovered that beavers have a positive effect on the environment. According to a new study, their activity helps to reduce flooding and pollution, and can boost populations of fish and other wildlife. A team of scientists led by Professor Richard Brazier from the University of Exeter studied wild Eurasian beavers living on the River Otter, in Devon, for five years. Beavers build dams in rivers out of branches. These dams create pools of calm water where they can build their homes, which are called lodges. They burrow into river banks or use existing holes, with entrances hidden just underwater where they are safe from predators. The researchers found that dams clean the river water because soil and pollution such as manure and fertiliser running off land nearby gets…

Kate Sanders, head of predators, ZSL London Zoo Play is an important part of meerkat development. Meerkat pups start to play the moment they emerge from the burrow, often by wrestling and chasing. It is believed that play allows young meerkats to bond with each other, forming stronger family units. It also teaches them aggression and defensive skills that are useful for warding off predators. 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…

At more than two metres long and weighing around 900 kilograms, leatherback sea turtles are the largest turtles alive today. These marine giants spend their life swimming in the seas, propelling themselves with front flippers that can be up to 2.7 metres long, while their rear flippers help them steer. Leatherbacks can dive to 1,280 metres – deeper than any other turtle – and can stay underwater for up to 85 minutes. Their relatives have been around for more than 100 million years and once swam in every ocean except the Arctic and Antarctic. Now, their numbers are declining, and they are in need of greater protection than ever before.…

Scientists have created a rubber pavement in order to stop stumbling pedestrians from getting injured. Professor Cesare Sangiorgi is part of a team from the University of Bologna, in Italy, that has developed the surfaces using recycled car tyres. He says that people will be less likely to suffer serious injuries if they fall onto the surface. He hopes it will encourage more elderly people, such as his mother, to go outside and stay active for longer. This summer, around 300 metres of rubber pavement will be tested in the cities of Lund and Helsingborg, in Sweden. Enjoy these stories? Find more in this month’s The Week Junior Science+Nature magazinesciencenature.theweekjunior.co.uk…

The Hello Atlas by Ben Handicott. Illustrated by Kenard Pak (Wide Eyed Editions) Explore more than 100 different languages from all over the world with this illustrated atlas. Showing children in their home countries doing ordinary things, it will teach you all about communication as well as how to say “hello” in many languages. There’s also a free app that allows you to hear the phrases. Dictionary of Difficult Words by Jane Solomon. Illustrated by Louise Lockhart (Frances Lincoln Publishers) Have you ever heard of a bumbershoot? How about a moonbow? What does it mean when someone absquatulates? This intriguing dictionary with a difference has all the answers. Holding more than 400 weird and wonderful words, it’s a book to befuddle and bamboozle wordsmiths of all ages. Oxford Roald Dahl…

Thunderbirds Are Go 6pm on weekdays, CITV Whether or not you’re familiar with the heroes from International Rescue, now’s the chance to catch up on all three series of this hit show. A different episode is broadcast every weekday evening, so get ready for action and adventure. Doctor Who 7.10pm on 1 March, BBC One It has all led up to this. The final episode of Jodie Whittaker’s second series as The Doctor promises to be as emotional as it is epic. Cybermen are destroying civilisations, and the final humans – including Graham, Ryan and Yaz – are battling to survive.…

Where can I play quidditch? You could ask your PE teacher if they will let you play quidditch in your games lessons. They can get lots of extra information here, at enricheducationuk.com/quidditch How many players are on a quidditch team? Each team is made up of seven players. One seeker, one keeper, two beaters and three chasers. What equipment do you need to play? You need a hockey stick each, six hoops, one slightly deflated volleyball (as the quaffle), three slightly deflated dodgeballs (as the bludgers), one tennis ball or velcro tag (as the golden snitch). Balls of similar sizes can be used.…

“It was really fun going to see the flooding in my town, but my mum made sure it was safe before we went.” Anya “I spent four months making my Cyberman costume out of cardboard and recycled objects. This weekend I won first prize in a science fiction convention.” Lucas “I won a place on a Pink Lady photography workshop – it gave me lots of new ideas!” Isabelle…

A ring that was lost in the US in 1973 has been found 3,750 miles away – but no one knows how it got there. The ring was given to Debra McKenna by her husband in Maine, US, 47 years ago, but she lost it. Amazingly, it was recently unearthed in Finland. The metal detectorist who found the ring spotted the words “Morse High School” engraved on it. He contacted the school, and McKenna’s husband, Shawn, was identified as the owner because the ring had his initials on it.…

1 What was Katherine Johnson famous for? a) In the 1950s, she became the first woman to go into space b) She is a famous author who wrote 1,000 children’s books in her lifetime c) She worked for the US space agency NASA, and was key in working out the calculations for landing on the Moon a ■ b ■ c ■ 2 True or false? A moose ran across a crowded ice rink in Sweden. 3 What sort of Ice Age bird has been found in Siberia, Russia? 4 What is one of the main differences between monkeys and apes? a) Monkeys have thumbs but apes don’t b) Most monkeys have tails but apes don’t c) There is no difference a ■ b ■ c ■ 5 True or…

29 February 1940 Hattie McDaniel wins an Oscar On 29 February 1940, Hattie McDaniel became the first African American to win an Academy Award (also known as an Oscar). She won Best Supporting Actress for her role in Gone with the Wind. McDaniel, who was born in Kansas, US, was not allowed to sit with her white co-stars during the ceremony. At the time, many places in the US did not let black and white people mix together. Accepting her award, McDaniel said, “I shall always hold it as a beacon for anything I may be able to do in the future.”…

● Great apes are a group of large primates that include bonobos, chimpanzees, gorillas and orangutans. Humans are also primates. ● Humans and great apes share much of the same DNA (deoxyribonucleic acid), which is a chemical that carries all the information about your body’s characteristics. ● In 1999, New Zealand gave special rights to great apes, as did Spain in 2008. This gave the animals the right to life, to freedom and to not be tortured. ● Some people think all apes should have similar rights to the ones humans have. These rights are protected by law.…

Beavers have thick fur, webbed feet and flat, scaly tails. They use their strong jaws and tough teeth to cut down trees, which they drag into place to build dams and lodges. Beavers mostly eat leaves, roots and bark from these felled trees, as well as plants that grow naturally in the water. They are good swimmers and can stay underwater for up to 15 minutes. The front teeth of beavers never stop growing through their lifetime – but they are constantly worn down by chewing, which prevents them from getting too long.…

A lifesaving labrador Stumpy the labrador, who donated enough blood to save the lives of up to 120 other dogs, has retired. Pet Blood Bank UK, which collects blood from pets to help animals in need, said Stumpy’s 30 donations were a record breaker. Now aged nine, he is too old to give any more blood. Insects in Europe Two studies of bugs splattered on windscreens suggest a sharp drop in insect numbers. In Denmark, a team found 80% fewer splats from 1997 to 2017. Numbers of swallows and martins (insect-eating birds) also fell. A survey in Kent, England, showed a 50% drop between 2004 and 2019.…

A musician called Dagmar Turner has become the first person to play the violin while having brain surgery. Turner was being operated on by surgeons at King’s College Hospital in London. They needed to remove a tumour (a mass of diseased cells that can cause illnesses) from her brain’s right frontal lobe, which is close to the part of the brain that controls the left hand. To make sure her ability to play the violin wasn’t affected by the operation, Turner devised a plan with one of the surgeons, Dr Keyoumars Ashkan. Ashkan is also a musician and said he knew how important it was “to preserve this highly skilled movement”. Halfway through surgery, Turner was woken by the anaesthetist (an expert in putting patients to sleep and giving pain-killing…

On 22 February, the 2020 Netball Superleague season began with all 10 teams involved in exciting games at Arena Birmingham, England. It’s the biggest netball competition in Britain, and includes teams from England, Scotland and Wales. They each play 19 games between February and June with the hope of reaching the Grand Final on 4 July and lifting the Superleague trophy. Manchester Thunder are the current champions, and they beat Wasps, from Coventry, England, by 62-55. In another all-English match, Team Bath won against Loughborough Lightning 72-58, and London Pulse just managed to beat Scottish team Strathclyde Sirens 53-51. In another thrilling match, Celtic Dragons, from Cardiff, were victorious over England’s Surrey Storm by a single goal (44-43). Saracens Mavericks, from Hertfordshire, England, comfortably beat Severn Stars from Worcester, England,…

The Good Hawk by Joseph Elliott (Walker Books) Agatha is proud to be a Hawk, charged with patrolling the sea walls of her island home. She’s fierce and brave, in spite of those in her clan who say she is stupid and useless because of the condition she was born with. Meanwhile, anxious Jaime is a reluctant Angler who is frightened of the sea and believes he is weak. When disaster strikes and their home is attacked by brutal raiders, Agatha and Jaime must draw on their very different strengths and set out on a journey to a strange land to save their people. Older readers will love this wild, thrilling and sometimes dark fantasy adventure story from Joseph Elliott, which is set on the Scottish island of Skye. Woven…

The oldest kind of performance Puppet shows may have been around for longer than plays featuring human actors. Stringed puppets have been found in ancient Egyptian tombs that date back to 2000BC. The first written record of puppets comes from 422BC, when they were being used in Greece. Puppets replace plays Between 1642 and 1660, stage plays were forbidden in England because the Government thought they encouraged bad behaviour. However, puppet shows were still allowed. Most would have featured glove puppets but some used shadow puppets too. One big step This historic performance style is constantly being developed in new ways. In January, Scotland was introduced to its biggest ever puppet – a 10-metre sea goddess called Storm. She was made entirely from recycled objects over the course of two…

This week’s issue feels particularly exciting and has a real celebratory feel about it. We have lots of fab features connected to World Book Day, including an interview with author Matt Haig on page 9, and a brilliant How To featuring Amelia Fang. We’re also marking World Wildlife Day with our free Amazon rainforest poster. This year’s theme is biodiversity, and it’s a chance to reflect on how all the planet’s animals, plants and ecosystems work together, providing us with food and medicine, among other things. We’re hoping to launch a few more of these throughout the year on a range of different themes, so do look out for them. That’s not all! Our All About this week focuses on British Science Week – six incredible UK scientists who have…

SatelLife 2020 The UK Space Agency is holding its annual SatelLife competition for young innovators. The agency is looking for fresh ideas about how data collected from space could be used to help us in our daily lives. If you can come up with a winning way to use satellite data to tackle climate change, grow new businesses or improve health services, you could get to work with space experts to develop your idea. Last year’s winning ideas included fighting crime with drones and designing a mobile app to locate public toilets. Enter your idea at tinyurl. com/TWJ-SatelLife, but be quick because the competition closes on 3 March.…

Teacher’s name: Mrs Kennedy School: Springfield Primary School, Linlithgow, West Lothian, Scotland I chose to nominate my teacher Mrs Kennedy as she is patient and very kind. She is always smiling. She teaches us lots of interesting things about topics like Hawaii and animals that can survive in the snow. I love being in her class and she makes it really fun!” Imogen 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…