Innholdsfortegnelse for 241 i The Week Junior

Scientists working on a coronavirus vaccine at the University of Oxford, in England, have reported some promising results after the first round of human trials. It is one of many possible vaccines being tested on people around the world to try to stop the spread of the virus. What is a vaccine? A vaccine is a medicine that can help to prevent people from catching a certain disease. This is done by injecting a substance into a person’s body. These substances contain weakened or dead versions of the disease. The person’s immune system then produces antibodies (chemicals in the blood that attack foreign and deadly substances in the body) to fight it. This means that if the person then encounters a stronger version of the disease in the future, their…

The world’s biggest butterfly count is under way, and this year may be the best for spotting species in two decades. The Big Butterfly Count launched on 17 July and will run until 9 August. During this time, the organisation Butterfly Conservation is asking people all around the country to record which kinds of butterflies and moths they spot. Not only are butterflies and moths very beautiful, they also help conservationists understand nature. Butterflies react quickly to any changes in their surrounding environment, so if their populations are shrinking, conservationists know that nature could be in trouble. Experts say that counting butterflies is like “taking the pulse” or the heartbeat of nature. Butterflies and moths in the UK are under threat, with numbers of certain species falling. Scientists say that…

● Graffiti is the name for drawings and words that have been spray-painted or written in public places. It is illegal in the UK. People who are caught doing it can be arrested or fined. ● Some local councils in the UK provide “free walls”, where people are allowed to spray graffiti without punishment. Many graffiti museums and exhibitions have opened up around the world. ● One of the world’s most famous graffiti artists is Banksy. Although his work is well known, Banksy’s real identity remains a secret. He recently created a piece of graffiti on the London Underground about face masks.…

If you’re going on holiday to the beach this year, keep the environment and wildlife in mind. The Marine Conservation Society (a charity aiming to protect the UK’s seas and sea life) says that since the easing of the coronavirus lockdown, it has had increasing reports of rubbish left on beaches. They’re asking people to take their litter home so it can’t be washed into the sea. If you are snorkelling or diving and come across animals such as seahorses, watch from a distance and swim away without disturbing them. Keep dogs on leads to protect beach-nesting birds, and stay away from any eggs you find. DID YOU KNOW? Male seahorses carry babies and give birth to them, unlike other animals.…

Join The Week Junior’s Summer of Reading Challenge during the school holidays. Read any three books you like and then rate and review them for the chance to win a book bundle worth more than £200. Visit theweekjunior.co.uk/ summerofreading for more information on how to get involved. Here is a selection of sport-themed books that might interest you… Ghost by Jason Reynolds (Knights Of) A young runner called Castle Cranshaw, known as Ghost, can become the best sprinter in his city if he manages to stay out of trouble. This is the first book in a four-part series about members of an athletics team. Do Goalkeepers Wear Tiaras? byy Helena Pielichaty (Walker Books) Unable to join her school team, nine-year-old, football-mad Megan Fawcett sets up her own all-girl side instead,…

What’s the best thing about being an illustrator? The best thing about being an illustrator is getting to come up with really fun characters. Sometimes I work from a writer’s description of a character, like a talking toy llama or a magic talking mirror. Other times I love drawing random squiggly lines on a blank piece of paper and then seeing what characters I can make. What are your favourite art materials to use? I love drawing with a Pentel pocket brush pen. I can carry it in my pocket and get a thick bold line by using the side of the brush, or a really thin line by using the nib. Have you ever seen a real-life llama? I’ve only seen a couple of llamas in a field far…

How do I get Scratch? With the help of an adult, download the Scratch program from scratch.mit.edu/download using a PC, Mac or a tablet. Scratch projects can also be viewed on a smartphone, but they can’t be created or edited that way. What is Scratch Junior? Known as ScratchJr, it’s a simplified version of Scratch suitable for those who are less confident. Users can program their own interactive stories and games, and create projects and puzzles. There are also ScratchJr coding and activity cards. Can I try another coding system? When you feel confident about using Scratch, you could try creating code with a system called Python. This uses text rather than blocks and will take much longer to learn, but it is much more powerful. The Python website (python.org)…

Based in north-east London, the Literacy Pirates support children aged from nine to 12 years old whose teachers think they would benefit from some extra help with literacy – the ability to read, write, speak and listen in order to make sense of the world. Young Pirates are invited to learn each week for one year. As well as improving reading and writing skills, the Literacy Pirates use different techniques to improve the children’s confidence as classroom learners, and their ability to keep on going when learning is challenging. To discover more about their work, visit hackneypirates.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.…

The first vaccine was made in 1796 by the English doctor Edward Jenner for the disease smallpox. Jenner noticed that milkmaids who often had a less-serious disease called cowpox did not catch smallpox. So Jenner took fluid from a cowpox blister and put it into eight-year-old James Phipps. Jenner then injected Phipps with smallpox. Phipps didn’t get sick, showing that a dose of the milder disease cowpox had worked as a vaccine. The word vaccine comes from the Latin “vacca”, meaning cow.…

RED KITES In 1990, 13 red kite birds from Spain were released in the Chiltern Hills in England. Thirty years later, the UK is now home to almost 10% of the world’s red kite population. Conservationists say it is “the biggest species success story ” in Britain. SOME YOUNG WRITERS The charity Coram Voice has announced the winners of Voices 2020, a creative writing competition for children in care and young care leavers. Former Doctor Who actor Peter Capaldi hosted the awards online, and some of the young writers read out their pieces. You can watch the ceremony at: tinyurl.com/TWJ-coram BILBIES For the first time in over 100 years, bilbies have been born in the wild. Bilbies are a type of marsupial with rabbit-like ears, and their population had been…

On 15 July, the Welsh government voted to ban the use of wild animals in travelling circuses. The ban will begin on 1 December 2020. The Senedd Cymru (Welsh Parliament) asked 6,500 people in Wales whether they supported the ban. Around 97% said they did. Lesley Griffiths, a member of the Senedd, said, “The use of wild animals for entertainment in this way is outdated. They should not (be used) for our entertainment.” England, Scotland and Ireland have already introduced similar bans.…

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 graffiti should be considered art, 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…

Arlo Lippiatt is a 10-year-old from Bristol, England, who has started publishing a monthly guide to life and music called Pint-Sized Punk Zine (a zine is a small magazine). He loves punk music, but when the UK went into lockdown, gigs and festivals were cancelled. So Lippiatt decided to start the zine, interviewing and reviewing the bands he was missing. The zine has been ordered from as far away as the US and Australia. It features interviews, illustrations, comics, puzzles – and a Marmite chart, which records how everyone he interviews feels about the strong-tasting breakfast spread. Speaking to radio presenter Lauren Laverne, Lippiatt said he loves how punk music blends drums, bass and vocals “into one massive punk sandwich”. You can find out more at: tinyurl.com/TWJ-punk…

The skulls of some whale species have become wonkier over time, according to a new study from University College London (UCL) and the Natural History Museum. Whales are part of a group of animals called cetaceans, which also includes dolphins and porpoises. Some cetaceans have teeth while others, such as the humpback and blue whales, do not. Toothed whales have long been known to have wonky skulls, and scientists think this is related to a whale supersense called echolocation, which helps them to hunt in the ocean. Echolocation involves emitting a high-pitched sound that bounces off other objects in the sea. Based on how these sound waves come back, the whales can create a picture in their mind of what’s in front of them. The soft body tissues needed to…

Llama Out Loud by Annabelle Sami. Illustrated by Allen Fatimaharan (Egmont Books) Yasmin Shah lives in Whitechapel in east London with her loud and chaotic family. Her parents never stop talking – and nor do her aunties or her brothers. Yasmin doesn’t talk at all. She keeps herself to herself. Then, on a visit to the market, Yasmin picks up a toy llama in the bargain bucket – and makes an astonishing discovery. The llama can talk and he’s got a lot to say. In fact, Yasmin quickly realises that Levi the llama is a loudmouth: rude, sassy and out to get her into trouble. Soon, he’s whipping up all kinds of mayhem. Is it possible that Levi has a plan to help Yasmin make friends – and…

Into the Woods Disney+, DVD, iTunes, Google Play, Prime Video, Sky Store The arrival of Hamilton on Disney+ (a show that’s intended for viewers aged 12 and over) has led to more interest in musicals. Available on a range of platforms is the screen adaptation of Into The Woods, and it’s a good one to seek out. This film is rated PG, and is based on a hugely successful stage show of the same name. The film features Emily Blunt, Anna Kendrick and Meryl Streep, and takes inspiration from a host of fairy stories. It’s packed with memorable tunes that you’ll be humming to yourself for days after. LONG-AWAITED JunioIt took over 20 years to bring this film to the screen – it was originally going to be made at the…

Hay Day A simple, but fun, game based on farming is Hay Day, which is only available for smartphones and tablets. Its animals are cute, and if your friends are also playing, you can trade with them to help each other out. Stardew Valley This is a fun farming game for consoles and smartphones, with lots of depth. You can complete challenges, reopen your town’s community centre and find out about each character’s life. Farming Simulator 19 If you want to get a much more realistic idea of farming life, this is the game to play. Be warned, though, it’s the most complicated one too, with hundreds of vehicles on offer.…

“Scratch is a cool website where you make games using block-based code, which is little building blocks you click together instead of writing lines of code. It is easy to learn and use, and you can make an account to save your games on, too. If you want, you can search for ideas made by other people and join or make studios and put your work on it. There are so many cool characters and codes to work with. Scratch is free and is so epic.”…

The Olympic and Paralympic Games were due to start in Tokyo, Japan, on 24 July. They have been postponed because of the pandemic. Schools’ sports days have been cancelled, too. However, you can still enjoy some sporting excitement by having your own competition. Hold your sports day in the garden, in the park, or indoors if you have enough space. If you compete against others, the overall winner will be the one who wins in the most events. If you can’t meet in person, try gathering a group of friends to compete via video. If you’d prefer to do the challenges alone, try to beat your own scores. The point is to have fun, get active and challenge yourself. Events Running You will need a stopwatch for this one, and…

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 a book can be judged by its front cover. You said... “No, it may be old and broken but it might be an excellent read.” “You should not judge a book by its cover because the cover isn’t always designed by the author.” “Of course not. The real thing that counts is the story inside.” “Yes because when you’re buying it the cover is what makes you pick it.” Tell us what you think of this week’s issue and we’ll print some of the best comments here.…

1 Which disease did the world’s first vaccine fight against? a) Smallpox b) Cowpox c) Chickenpox a □ b □ c □ 2 True or false? Butterflies are emerging later due to warm, dry spring weather. 3 Which African country has just elected its first female prime minister? 4 Where did Banksy do his latest piece of graffiti? a) Heathrow Airport b) London Underground c) Tower of London a □ b □ c □ 5 True or false? Arlo Lippiatt started his guide to music and life because he missed gigs and festivals. 6 When is International Tiger Day? 7 Who was the first US president to visit Hiroshima after the atom bomb hit the Japanese city? a) Donald Trump b) Barack Obama c) George Bush a □ b □…

A rare comet is passing the Earth during the month of July. The comet, known as C/2020 F3 Neowise, was discovered on 27 March, using the US space agency NASA’s Neowise space telescope. The brightest comet to pass Earth since 1997, it can easily be seen with binoculars and telescopes, and is sometimes visible to the naked eye. A comet is an object made up of ice, dust, and rock that orbits the Sun. As the comet nears the Sun, it heats up and releases dust and gas. This forms a tail behind it that can stretch for millions of miles. NASA says there are currently 3,652 known comets but that there are likely to be billions more in space. The comet Neowise passed closest to the Sun on 3…

On 17 July, Captain Sir Tom Moore received a knighthood from the Queen. A knighthood is one of the UK’s highest honours, and is given to people who have made a great contribution to the country. Moore was given the award in a special ceremony just for him after he raised millions of pounds for charities that support the National Health Service (NHS). In April this year, Moore, who was 99 years old at the time, decided he would walk 100 lengths of his garden before his 100th birthday to raise money. He wanted to raise £1,000 to donate to charities that work with the NHS. These charities needed money due to the extra work and equipment required to fight the coronavirus outbreak. Moore’s story became famous around the world…

The Science Museum is asking for the public’s help in identifying some unusual items. One such object is brass tube with a fan inside, and another appears to be a copper tool. Many of the items were uncovered when the curators moved thousands of items from Blythe House in London to the Science Museum Group’s collections centre in Wiltshire, England. Jessica Bradford, one of the curators, said that all the objects have “incredible stories to tell”. You can find out more here: tinyurl.com/TWJmystery…

On 14 July, graffiti artist Banksy uploaded a video to his Instagram account, showing a new piece of his work on the London Underground. It was called If You Don’t Mask, You Don’t Get, and encouraged people to wear face masks on public transport. However, cleaners working for Transport for London (TfL) immediately removed it because of the company’s anti-graffiti rules. Some people say that the graffiti should have been kept there and protected as a work of art. Others say it was vandalism (deliberate damage to someone else’s property) and that TfL made the right decision in removing it. This has sparked a debate about whether or not graffiti should become a legal form of art. So what do you think? Should graffiti be considered art? Yes – it…

Ten years ago, Kate Wilson started the children’s book publisher Nosy Crow – which publishes the award-winning My Brother is a Superhero by David Solomons, among many other books. A book publishing company takes what an author has written and turns it into a book for the public to enjoy. Wilson came up with the idea for Nosy Crow when she was working at a company that published books for adults. Before that, Wilson had published children’s books, and she realised that this was her true passion. Wilson’s love for children’s literature goes back to her own childhood. “When I was a child I loved reading,” Wilson says. Her favourite books included The Velveteen Rabbit by Margery Williams, which her mother read to her when she was five years old,…

Generation Hope  by Kimberlie Hamilton. Illustrated by Risa Rodil (Scholastic) Meet young activists from all around the world with this inspiring book. Looking at 20 global issues such as plastic pollution, wildlife conservation, mental health and homelessness, it introduces lots of amazing young change makers – and includes practical tips for taking action yourself. Fantastically Great Women Who Saved the Planet  by Kate Pankhurst (Bloomsbury Children’s Books) The latest book in Kate Pankhurst’s popular series focuses on trailblazing women who are working to protect the natural world. You’ll find out about Isatou Ceesay’s efforts to tackle the plastic problem and how Wangari Maathai fought against devastating deforestation. Greta’s Story  by Valentina Camerini. Illustrated by Veronica Carratello (Simon & Schuster) In August 2018, instead of going to school, 15-year-old Greta Thunberg…

Ellen MacArthur Sailor Dame Ellen MacArthur holds the record for the fastest female to sail around the world without stopping. She completed the incredible journey in 2005, which took her 71 days and 14 hours. She sailed through some of the world’s most dangerous seas and could only sleep for 20 minutes at a time because she had to be on near-constant lookout. David Attenborough The TV presenter and naturalist (an expert who studies plants and animals), Sir David Attenborough might be the most well-travelled person in history. The 94-year-old has been working in television for nearly 70 years and has made some of the best and most famous nature documentaries of all time. You can find lots of his programmes to watch here: tinyurl.com/TWJ-Attenborough Nellie Bly In 1890, Nellie…

Down to Earth with Zac Efron Streaming now on Netflix Join actor Zac Efron as he travels around the world to see how people have found healthier and more environmentally friendly ways to live. Efron journeys to countries such as Costa Rica, France and Iceland. There’s also a trip to London, to see how the city is reducing air pollution. Muppets Now Streaming weekly from 31 July on Disney+ The Muppets are making their Disney+ debut. In this show, the character Scooter is trying to make sure that the Muppets’ new programme is uploaded to Disney+ in time. It is being described as the first unscripted Muppets series, which means that the voice actors made up their lines as they went along. Expect the unexpected. Great Continental Railway Journeys 8.00pm…

Computer coding is writing the instructions that a computer has to follow so it can complete a task. All sorts of everyday objects – such as traffic lights, washing machines, microwave ovens, televisions, mobile phones, tablets and calculators – use code in order to work properly and safely. Coding is like a language that has to be learnt by the person writing it. Some coding is very complicated – a long series of letters, words, symbols and numbers arranged in a certain order. Examples of coding systems like this are Java, JavaScript and C++. These can take years to learn and understand. However, there are some simple ways to learn the basics of coding. One of these is a free computer coding system called Scratch, which you may have used…

Tigers, with their distinctive stripes, awesome strength and beautiful eyes, have captured the imagination of humans for centuries. They’ve cropped up in plenty of works of literature, including William Blake’s famous poem The Tyger, Judith Kerr’s charming story The Tiger Who Came to Tea, and Rudyard Kipling’s The Jungle Book – who could forget the fearful Shere Khan. Tigers are pretty incredible. But despite their power and beauty, they’re also in danger, and they need our help more than ever. Tigers used to roam across most of Asia, but now they’re restricted to just 7% of their original range, in forests and grasslands across 13 countries. Luckily, there are plans to try and increase tiger numbers in the wild. The wildlife charity WWF is hoping to help double the number…

Teacher’s name: Mrs Finch School: Hilden Oaks Preparatory School, Tonbridge, Kent “We would love Mrs Finch to be Teacher of the Week. Our gratitude to her cannot be expressed in words. She has given us endless support throughout Year 5, especially during the tricky period of lockdown. She is someone we can look to if we are in need and her infinite kindness is infectious. She makes every member of the class feel valued and she is a fantastic role model.” From all in Form 5 at Hilden Oaks School 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…

Robots support sports A Japanese baseball team has livened up its empty stadium with robotic fans. Baseball matches were allowed to start again in Japan on 19 June. The season was due to begin in March, but was delayed by the coronavirus outbreak. However, fans weren’t allowed back into the stadiums straight away. On 7 July, the Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks brought in 20 robots instead, to cheer the team on against the Rakuten Golden Eagles. The support seemed to prove helpful as the Hawks won the match 4-3. A limited number of human fans were allowed back into Japanese baseball stadiums from 10 July. Biscuits turned right way round Biscuit-maker McVitie’s is to change the way chocolate digestives are packed. Currently, if you open the packet from the end closest…