Innholdsfortegnelse for 225 i The Week Junior

On 26 March, millions of people across the UK applauded all the doctors, nurses and other healthcare workers who are tackling the Covid-19 outbreak. Covid-19 is the disease caused by a type of newly discovered coronavirus called SARS-CoV-2. It can cause fever (a high temperature), coughing and breathing difficulties. Around the world, similar events have been held as people show their appreciation to everyone working to keep us all safe. What happened in the UK? In the UK, at 8pm on 26 March, millions of people banged pots, cheered and applauded from their balconies, doorsteps, gardens and open windows. The event, called Clap for Our Carers, was started by Annemarie Plas. She was inspired after she saw people in other parts of the world doing the same thing. Landmarks across…

ONLINE BIRDWATCHERS More than 90,000 people watched the first peregrine falcon egg of 2020 being laid on top of Salisbury Cathedral, in England, via a webcam. It happened on 22 March, with further eggs laid on 25 and 27 March. The birds of prey typically nest on cliff ledges, so the tall cathedral is perfect for them. A FISH AND CHIP MYSTERY A mystery person has bought fish and chips for everyone in their village, to bring a bit of cheer during the lockdown. Stephen Davidson, owner of The Fox Inn at Denchworth, Oxfordshire, England, said an anonymous person had recruited him to deliver fish and chips to 171 residents every Friday for at least 12 weeks. A SPECIAL BIRTHDAY PARTY Around 20 neighbours sang Happy Birthday to eight-year-old Theo…

Labour Party members have been voting for the person they want to replace Corbyn as leader. The candidates are Keir Starmer, Lisa Nandy and Rebecca Long-Bailey. Both Starmer and Long-Bailey worked as lawyers before becoming MPs. Starmer is the MP for Holborn and St Pancras in London, and Long-Bailey is the MP for Salford and Eccles. Nandy used to work for charities and is the MP for Wigan. If Nandy or Long-Bailey win they will be Labour’s first female leader. The winner will be announced on 4 April.…

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 you should have to study comic books, 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…

Rüppell’s fox lives in the deserts of Iran, where temperatures of up to 70° C have been recorded. The fox hunts at night, when it is cooler, and is good at conserving water, which it gets from the prey it eats. At the other extreme, wood frogs in Alaska, US, can survive temperatures down to around -16° C. The frog’s body freezes at cold temperatures, but when it gets warmer it thaws out undamaged. Pupfish in the Americas and the Caribbean can live in both salty and fresh water and don’t seem to mind whether it is hot or cold.…

Scientists have discovered the earliest known example of a modern bird – a fossil that’s been nicknamed “the Wonderchicken”. The fossil was found inside a small piece of rock from 66.7 million years ago, which means that the bird would have lived during the age of the dinosaurs. The rock was in a limestone quarry on the border between Belgium and The Netherlands. Until now, scientists had believed that the first modern birds came from what is now Antarctica, where the previous oldest known fossils had been found. The fossil was spotted thanks to small, broken limb bones that were poking out of a rock. Dr Daniel Field, from the University of Cambridge, led a team of researchers to find out more. When they examined the rock with a CT…

The Week Junior spoke to Louise Gibson, a British rider with InternationElles. “We want to close the gender gap in cycling and make girls realise they should have the same opportunities as boys. The InternationElles are amateur riders with full-time jobs, so we want to prove that anything is possible. I’m cycling between 150 and 200 miles a week at the moment on my turbo trainer at home, which is roughly 10 to 12 hours. I’ll increase that to around 16 hours a week over the summer to get to peak fitness.”…

The Infinite by Patience Agbabi (Canongate Books) Leaplings are children born during a leap year, on 29 February. Even more unusual, though, are Leaplings with The Gift – an amazing ability to leap through time. Elle Bibi-Imbele Ifie is a girl who possesses this remarkable power, and on her 12th birthday she uses it for the first time, when she and her best friend Big Ben travel to the year 2048 to visit the Time Squad Centre. Elle has received a warning for the future – other Leaplings are disappearing in time and it’s up to her to help. Soon, Elle and Big Ben are mixed up in an extraordinary adventure. Can they save the world as they know it – before it ceases to exist? Written by the poet…

The J. Paul Getty Museum, US Built on a hilltop near Los Angeles, this is one of the best museums in the US, covering more than 6,000 years of art. There’s much to enjoy, including prehistoric clay figures and paintings by famous artists. When you’ve finished looking at the exhibits at tinyurl.com/TWJ-Getty you can explore the museum’s outside areas at tinyurl.com/TWJ-Getty2 The Museu de Arte de São Paulo, Brazil Inside Brazil’s first modern art museum you can find more than 8,000 objects, including costumes, paintings, photographs and sculptures. Paintings are displayed standing on glass easels. In addition to a virtual tour, you can examine more than 1,000 items from the collection, some of which date back thousands of years. Visit tinyurl.com/TWJ-MASP National Palace Museum, Taiwan This historic museum is located…

Four Kids and It Available now on Sky Cinema This is a brand new, magical adaptation of Jacqueline Wilson’s popular novel, which was itself based on the 1902 novel Five Children and It. Set in Cornwall, England, it follows four children – two sets of two siblings – who are brought together when their single parents fall in love. After they meet a magical creature on the beach, everything changes for ever. Lady and the Tramp Streaming now on Disney+ The latest live-action Disney remake is finally available for UK audiences after the launch of Disney+. Based on the 1955 animation of the same name, the film tells the story of two dogs from very different backgrounds who are thrown together for the adventure of a lifetime. Malory Towers Streaming…

Games Games like Fortnite and Roblox are often just good places to hang out and chat with friends, however seriously you take the gaming part. Some games let you keep in touch even when you’re not playing at the same time. Animal Crossing: New Horizons on the Switch, for example, lets you send letters and presents – items you’ve crafted in the game – to friends. You can also visit one another’s in-game islands and chat using an on-screen keyboard, or even voice chat if you have the Switch Online app on your smartphone. Meanwhile, mobile games such as Words With Friends and Draw Something offer fun ways to be social through your word and drawing skills. Taking turns means you don’t have to be online at the same time.…

This recipe comes from Kristen Frederickson, a member of the Guild of Food Writers. “I decided to make this recipe with my small cooking club in London. I knew they would enjoy this cake, but would not want to wait 45 minutes for itt to bake. So I took along cupcake tins instead. As cupcakes they cooked very quickly. I used clementines with my club, but you can use any citrus fruits you have around the house. If you only use lemons, you should add an extra 100 grams of sugar.” What you need ● 750g approx of unpeeled citrus fruits, stems removed ● 6 eggs ● 225g caster sugar ● 250g total of any one, or a mix of all three: plain flour, semolina, or ground almonds ● 1tsp…

A dog has been reunited with her owner two years after she went missing, having travelled 136 miles. Indie the husky was one of three dogs to escape from owner Graham Lee during a storm in New South Wales, in Australia. Whereas the two other huskies were found and returned home, nobody knew where Indie had gone. She was finally spotted two years later in Bermagui, more than 100 miles away, with two puppies. It is still unclear how or why she travelled so far.…

Even if you’ve never read a comic book, it’s hard to avoid their impact. Superhero films have become some of the most successful films of all time at the global box office. This has created a whole new generation of fans for these classic characters. None of this would have been possible without the comic books on which they’re based. One of the first modern comic books was Action Comics #1 in June 1938 – which introduced the world to Superman – and many of the characters we see in the Marvel films today came from the mind of the comic-book writer Stan Lee. Although there are millions of comic-book fans around the world, there are also plenty of people who have never read one. Given how influential they are,…

In 2000, author Anthony Horowitz introduced the world to teenage superspy Alex Rider in the bestselling book Stormbreaker. After 12 books and 20 years, Alex Rider is still going strong, and now he’s back with another adventure in Nightshade. Speaking to The Week Junior, Horowitz says that the more he writes about Alex Rider, the more he understands him. He thinks the secret of Rider’s success is that he’s a reluctant spy. He says, “Before I wrote Alex, all of my heroes wanted to be heroes – but he doesn’t.” When he’s writing an Alex Rider book, Horowitz says that he just tries to “enjoy the ride” and come up with new ideas for action sequences and gadgets. Often he’ll look to the real world for inspiration. When Horowitz’s children…

Colette Gibbings , Aquarist at ZSL London Zoo Jellyfish are miraculous creatures that thrive without a brain, heart, blood, lungs, eyes, ears or a skeleton. They absorb oxygen through their skin from the water around them. Their bodies consist mostly of water, but despite this they have been in existence for more than 500 million years – which makes them older than the dinosaurs. 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…

A newly discovered fossil of a worm-like creature is thought to be an ancestor to nearly all living animals. Living on the sea floor about 555 million years ago, the critter, named Ikaria wariootia, was about the size of a grain of rice. Scott Evans and Mary Droser from the University of California, Riverside, in the US, found its remains inside pieces of rock from Australia. It is the earliest known example of an animal with a body divided into two mirror-image sides – the structure shared by nearly all later animals.…

When did you start writing the book? I set aside January to March 2018 to write the first draft but spent the whole of January keeping an “ideas diary” and planning the plot on a storyboard. I didn’t start writing the novel till the beginning of February. Which character in the book is most like you? Elle, the heroine. She’s a British-born Nigerian, she loves sprinting, long jump, the Olympics, numbers, language and literature. And so do I. Who or what inspired you to write this book? I know several autistic people who are super-creative, so wanted to celebrate them. Also, I was inspired by Bob Beamon, who smashed the long-jump record at the 1968 Olympics. It was like he leapt through time. Did you enjoy reading and writing at…

With schools closed and restrictions on public gatherings because of the coronavirus outbreak, it can be a difficult time for young people and grown-ups alike, who suddenly can’t spend time with their friends and extended family in person. However, the current situation has already led to some creative ways of using technology to keep in touch with those people, from video calls and group chats to online multiplayer games. Experts say that young people in particular might find the social restrictions on seeing their friends in real life stressful, which is why digital alternatives can be helpful. “Keeping and nurturing relationships is vital for mental health and wellbeing,” says Dr Amanda Gummer, founder of the website Dr Gummer’s Good Play Guide. She adds that this is more important the older…

Whatever tech you’re using to stay connected with your friends and extended family now, the same rules apply as in pre-coronavirus life. Talk to an adult about what you want to use and why, and let them research it to make sure it’s safe and that they’re happy for you to use it. Many of these digital services weren’t made for young people originally, and they may need you to sign up with an email address. Again, check with an adult – they may prefer to register using their own details rather than yours.…

What you need ● Paper ● Pen ● A book you’ve read Instructions Book reviews help people who haven’t read a book to understand what it’s about and whether or not they might want to read it. If you’ve recently read a book that you particularly liked, or particularly didn’t like, then why not try sharing your thoughts about it. To write a review you’ll need the book you read and a pen and paper. Start off by writing a short description of what the book is about. Don’t go into too much detail –you don’t want to give away the whole story. Then, write down what you particularly liked about the book, and why. After that, describe any parts of the book that you didn’t like, or parts that…

Take advantage of our Activity Hub Being at home instead of school might sound fun but some of you might be feeling a bit fed up, and many will be missing friends. The good news is that The Week Junior is here to help you beat boredom and use the extra time you may have to do something different. We’ve collected a range of fantastic activities taken from the How To page. With everything from instructions on how to make story dice or draw a patronus, to a recipe for delicious soda bread, there are loads of projects to keep you busy. Get inspired at theweekjunior.co.uk/activity-hub and don’t forget to let us know how you get on.…

Teacher’s name: Miss Stern School: Independent Jewish Day School “Miss Stern is my favourite teacher because she always helps me with my work and plans really, really, really fun and exciting lessons. She is also really kind and thoughtful. I’m so lucky to have her as my teacher.” Natan 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 How old is the world’s oldest man? a) 107 b) 112 c) 117 a □ b □ c □ 2 True or false? PMQs stands for Prime Minister’s Questions. 3 In which country can the best restaurant in Asia be found? 4 In which comic book did Superman make his first appearance? a) Superman #1 b) Action Comics #1 c) Detective Comics #1 a □ b □ c □ 5 True or false? Albert Uderzo wrote all the original Asterix stories. 6 What type of animal is a humphead wrasse? 7 Which of these is a famous 18th century British poet? a) William Windsor b) William Wordsworth c) William Shatner a □ b □ c □ 8 True or false? There are thought to be around 18,000 different species…

4 April 1975 Microsoft is founded On 4 April 1975, Bill Gates and Paul Allen founded Microsoft, a computer software company. At that time, most people were still using typewriters. Gates and Allen, who were childhood friends from Seattle, US, decided to make their own computer software. In 1985, they launched Windows, and by 1993 nearly 90% of the world’s personal computers were using it. Today Microsoft is one of the world’s biggest companies and its success has made Gates and Allen billionaires.…

● Comics are magazines or books that contain a series of pictures that tell a story. These stories often focus on superheroes and villains. ● From 2013 to 2019, the number of comic-book shops in the UK rose. This has been linked to the success of superhero films starring characters such as Black Panther, Captain Marvel and Spider-Man. ● In 2019, the film Avengers: Endgame, which was based on comics, became the most successful film of all time at the global box office. ● Some universities in the UK have started to offer courses on comic books.…

Spending time at home means you’re more likely to use electricity as part of your daily activities: whether it’s for watching TV or using a computer for homework, charging devices or cooking yourself some dinner. It’s important to remember that electricity shouldn’t be wasted, as doing so can harm the environment. This is because most of our electricity is made using methods that can cause pollution and other problems. Power plants that generate electricity by burning fossil fuels release harmful gases into the air. By switching off your TV and computer instead of leaving them on standby, and unplugging chargers and devices that you don’t need, you can help to save electricity – and money. ENERGY SAVER Devices left in standby mode can account for more than 12% of the…

Mexican gray wolves One of the world’s rarest wolf species has recovered from near extinction. At least 163 Mexican gray wolves were living in the US states of Arizona and New Mexico in 2019, according to a recently released survey – an increase of 24% in a year. The wolves almost died out in the 1970s. Humphead wrasse Giant humphead wrasses, which can grow up to two metres long, are declining in the wild. The fish are hunted for food in many parts of the Pacific Ocean, and reports suggest their populations are dropping more rapidly than those of other, better known creatures, such as elephants.…

On 7 April, the 250th anniversary of the birth of William Wordsworth, one of the UK’s most influential poets, will be marked. In the late 18th century, Wordsworth became famous for his poems about nature. He was one of the founders of a movement called Romanticism, which celebrated the wonders of the natural world. Poetry is powerful. Its energy and rhythm can capture a reader, transport them to another world and make them see things differently. Through carefully selected words and phrases, poems can be dramatic, funny, beautiful, moving and inspiring. No one knows for sure when poetry began but it has been around for thousands of years, even before people could write. It was a way to tell stories and pass down history. It is closely related to song…

The Tour de France is the most famous cycling race in the world. Each year, more than 170 riders race for 21 stages, covering a total distance of more than 2,000 miles. No women take part, though, and the Tour organisers only allow a one-day race for women during the event, called La Course. Many female cyclists are unhappy about being barred from the full race, which at the time The Week Junior went to press was still scheduled to start on 27 June. A campaign called Donnons des Elles au Velo Jour-1 – which roughly means “Give the girls a bike, day one” – aims to highlight this. The plan is that every day before each Tour de France stage, female teams will complete the same route. One of…

The Book of Brilliant Bugs by Jess French. Illustrated by Claire McElfatrick (DK Children’s) Find out more about bugs of all kinds as you explore the colourful pages of this fun, easy-to-read book. You’ll learn about dancing bees, cartwheeling spiders, slimy slugs and many more creepy-crawly creatures – and you’ll discover the important role that bugs play in helping to look after our planet. There Are Bugs Everywhere by Britta Teckentrup (Big Picture Press) Did you know that you can find bugs in the jungle, under the water – and even in your house? With lots of amazing artwork from a top illustrator, this book is packed with weird and wonderful facts about the millions of species of bugs that can be found in different environments all over the world.…

People have been asked to stay at home during the Covid-19 outbreak but that doesn’t mean you can’t still treat yourself to a trip to the museum. In fact, now is the perfect time to explore exhibits from around the world. Lots of museums, both in the UK and internationally, have uploaded virtual tours, allowing you to wander around displays as if you were there in person. Some of the UK’s most popular museums, including the British Museum in London and the National Museum of Scotland in Edinburgh, are available to explore on Google’s arts and culture database. The site allows you to take a virtual tour of the museum and then look at exhibits. Excitingly, many of these artefacts and artworks aren’t usually on display. Other museums have come…

The Princess Bride (1987) Google Play, iTunes, YouTube This is a much-loved fantasy adventure film, and one that begins with a bedtime story. A grandfather starts reading the tale to his unwell grandson, and the film then cuts to see it playing out for real. What fun it is, too! It’s about a young couple – Buttercup and Westley – who fall in love, only for events to get in their way. The film itself is very funny (the script has lots of clever wordplay), with some terrific characters. It took nearly 15 years to get the film made – but it was worth the effort. STORYTIME The author of The Princess Bride novel came up with the title because one of his daughters wanted a story about a princess…

Another idea for group chats or video calls is to create your own book club with your friends or family. “Why not pick a book that you and your friends would all enjoy and then come together to discuss the book?” says Chezzy Kennedy. “What was the best bit? What did you not enjoy? Which character was the best?” You could choose a book that you all own, or even an audiobook – online service Audible has made a selection of audiobooks for young people free to listen to this month at stories.audible.com/discovery…

One of the things you may miss most about being in school is playing sports and doing PE. It can be harder to keep moving when you don’t have the chance to run around with your friends or much space to move around in. You can still be active at home, though, and you can exercise whenever you want. To help you keep fit, here’s the first of a new series of fun workouts you can do at home, created by Chris from Mint Coaching (mintcoaching.fit), who is an expert in getting young people moving. Warm up: single-leg clock squats 1 Stand on your right leg and stretch the left leg out to the side. Bend your right leg and tap the floor with your outstretched left foot. 2 Bring…

All around the world, life has changed dramatically because of coronavirus. One thing that all the affected countries have in common are the helpers and workers who are making lives easier and keeping things going, while the rest of us stay safely at home. Among these heroic individuals are those who care for the sick, keep hospitals clean and ensure there is plenty of food and essential supplies in the shops. They are the people who deliver our post, keep our streets safe and teach all the children who still need to go to school – and there are many more besides. If there is someone who is helping to make your life easier at the moment, we’d love to hear all about them. Don’t worry if they don’t do…

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’s Big Debate question was:“Are April Fool’s pranks funny?”. You said... “It depends what sort of prank it is.” “I think they are funny as long as they are not harmful to anyone or anything.” “Yes because it’s the one day of the year where you can pull pranks and not get in trouble.” “Yes and no because they can cheer people up but they can also upset people.” Tell us what you think of this week’s issue and we’ll print some of the best comments here.…