Innholdsfortegnelse for 276 i The Week Junior

29 March 1974 The Terracotta Army is uncovered Forty-seven years ago, one of the world’s most important archaeological finds was made in Xian, China. Farmers came across a piece of terracotta (a type of clay) while drilling a well. It led to the discovery of a vast underground chamber containing 8,000 life-sized statues of soldiers, as well as horses and chariots. They were arranged to guard the tomb of China’s first emperor, Qin Shi Huang, who died almost 2,100 years before his burial site was found.…

Architects (people who design buildings) Anne Lacaton and Jean-Philippe Vassal from France have a motto for their work:“Never demolish, never remove – always add, transform and reuse.” Rather than pulling down buildings, the pair improve what’s already there – and sometimes they do nothing at all. When asked to redesign a public square in Bordeaux, France, they advised that the money should be spent elsewhere. Demolishing “is a waste of energy, of material and of history”, said Lacaton. “It’s a question of kindness,” added Vassal. For each project, they try to design in a way that is kind to history, the planet and the people who live there. This year, they were awarded the most important prize in architecture, the Pritzker Prize. Lacaton and Vassal met in France. Vassal later…

The National Forest Shaun the Sheep will plant the nine millionth tree in the National Forest in a special short film from the makers of Wallace and Gromit. The National Forest stretches across 200 square miles of England. Over 30 years, the amount of the land covered by trees has risen from 6% to 21%. The Regent honeyeater One of Australia’s most beautiful songbirds is at risk of forgetting its song. Regent honeyeaters teach their tunes to the younger generation but there are now so few left that the youngsters don’t hear the song much and get confused by other birds’ calls. This makes it hard to find a mate.…

Improve your recall skills by building a memory palace: • Close your eyes and imagine a familiar place, like your home. • Picture what you want to remember in different places. So to remember a list of books, imagine the first book snoozing on your sofa and the second book tap-dancing on the table. The crazier the image, the easier it is to remember. Carry on until all the books are placed around your home. • When it’s time to remember your list, imagine walking around your home and finding the books where you left them. Keep practising to build up your memory.…

Were you inspired to write this book because of an experience you had? My granny’s wild stories about the storm-swept island of Foula convinced me that weather is magical. When I was small, I experimented with calling different weathers – I once managed to get the fog to settle around the airport, to keep us in Shetland for an extra week. Magic! What is your favourite sort of weather? Bright, cool and blustery. Favourite snack? Hot toast with Marmite and melty butter. Any advice for aspiring storytellers? Read everything you can get your hands on, and write as often as you can. Also, if a story doesn’t come out quite the way you want it but the idea is good, try editing or rewriting it. Even authors don’t get it…

Caudwell Children To mark World Autism Awareness Day, on 2 April, we’re celebrating the work that Caudwell Children does in helping families across the UK by offering autism services and diagnosis. Founded in 2000 by John Caudwell, the charity has supported more than 55,000 disabled children. In 2019, the Caudwell International Children’s Centre was officially opened in Staffordshire. It’s the UK’s first purpose-built independent facility for researching autism. You can learn more here, at caudwellchildren.com…

One of the largest protest movements of recent years has been led by young people. The school strike for climate was started by the Swedish teenager Greta Thunberg, to pressure governments to do more to tackle climate change (long-term changes in world weather patterns, including rising temperatures, that are largely caused by human activities). In 2019, millions of students around the world took part in protests. Protests like this in the UK could be affected by the new laws.…

DESIGNING A MASCOT Emma Lou, aged 10, from Bolton, has won a competition to design a mascot for the Commonwealth Games, which will take place in Birmingham, England in 2022. Perry the patchwork bull was inspired by a sculpture from Birmingham’s Bullring shopping centre. AN INCREDIBLE ACHIEVEMENT A man has completed a 4,600-mile solo row across the Atlantic that took him three months. Andrew Baker, from the Isle of Man, wanted to raise awareness of the importance of mental health. He raised £16,000 for charities and said the journey was an “awesome adventure”. He hopes to share his journey with school pupils. RAISING MONEY FOR CHARITY More than £52 million has been raised by this year’s Red Nose Day, which took place on 19 March. Celebrities including Justin Bieber, Alesha…

An army officer, helped by a team of volunteers, has restored a walled garden at Chicksands Priory in Bedfordshire, England. The former monks’ house was used by the military in the Second World War (1939–1945). During the war, staff at Chicksands Priory intercepted coded messages sent by the Nazis. The garden later became overgrown, until Captain Vicki Gosling began restoring it in 2019. She has been awarded two conservation prizes for her work.…

Football player Wilfried Zaha has called for all young people to be given access to musical instruments and free lessons, so that they can express their feelings. Zaha, who plays for Premier League team Crystal Palace, said playing music could help people cope with the pandemic. He told The Times newspaper that he listens to hip-hop and the band Fleetwood Mac to keep his mood upbeat before games. “Now more than ever we need to support children. They’ve had it tougher than most over the last year,” Zaha said. “Music can bring so much joy to so many.”…

From 7 to 11 April, DolphinFest takes place online and across Scotland. The five-day festival, hosted by the conservation charity RSPB Scotland, is a chance not only to learn about dolphins but also to celebrate Scotland’s Year of Coasts and Waters. Bottlenose dolphins are common along Scotland’s north-east coast, and since 2013 the charity has been helping people spot them between April and August. Group and school activities this year have been cancelled because of the pandemic but DolphinFest has plenty of advice on how to see dolphins for yourself. Other activities – such as wildlife walks and a litter-picking challenge – are aimed at improving people’s enjoyment of the nature on their doorstep. To register for DolphinFest, visit tinyurl.com/TWJ-dolphinfest DID YOU KNOW? Aberdeen, in Scotland, is one of the…

Multiple births can take place in two distinct ways. Identical twins (below left) are produced when a single newly fertilised egg splits in two. Two babies then develop according to exactly the same genetic code (the chemical instructions that tell our bodies how to grow), resulting in twins that look very like each other. Fraternal twins (below right) are created when two separately fertilised eggs are implanted in the womb (either naturally or through IVF). Each fraternal twin develops according to its own unique mix of genetic code, and so they don’t look any more like each other than other brothers and sisters born at separate times.…

ASpanish company has developed a small wind turbine that works without blades. Wind turbines harness the power of wind to make electricity. They are usually huge, windmill-like structures. The Vortex Bladeless, however, is just three metres tall, and makes electricity as it moves back and forth with the wind direction. The turbine’s small size means it could be put up in towns, generating power close to where people use it. Inventor David Yáñez says it could be used outside houses, a bit like solar panels. Enjoy these stories? Find more in this month’s The Week Junior Science+Naturemagazinesciencenature.theweekjunior.co.uk…

Nozomi Okuhara & Lee Zii Jia They won the women’s and men’s singles titles at the All England Open Badminton Championships. Okuhara is from Japan and Lee is from Malaysia. Gemma Grainger Grainger is the new manager of the Wales women’s football team. Her first game in charge will be against Canada on 9 April. Rachael Blackmore Blackmore was the first woman to be crowned as the top jockey at the famous Cheltenham Festival horse racing event. She won six races in four days. London Lions The club won the finals of both the Women’s British Basketball League (WBBL) and men’s British Basketball League (BBL) on 21 March.…

Wayne’s World PlayStation Store, Prime Video, Sky Store, Rakuten TV, Virgin Media, YouTube Nobody was expecting the film Wayne’s World (based on a section of a weekly TV show) to be a big success, but it made more money at cinemas than many expensive films at the time. It follows Wayne and Garth, who broadcast a TV show from their basement that suddenly becomes so popular that a major company tries to take over. The film is a popular comedy, most famous for a sequence where Wayne and Garth listen to the Queen song Bohemian Rhapsody in their car – a scene that sent the song itself right back up the music charts. Wayne’s World became one of the most famous films of the 1990s and a sequel was released…

Challenge Everything by Blue Sandford (Pavilion Books) Activist Blue Sandford invites young readers to ask questions and take action in this powerful handbook from Extinction Rebellion Youth. The stories and illustrations explain peaceful protests; how to avoid businesses that pollute the planet; and the changes we can all make to help our world. Climate Action by Georgina Stevens and Katie Rewse (Stripes Publishing) This beautiful book explores the causes and effects of climate change (long-term changes in world weather patterns, including rising temperatures). You’ll find out about the most creative ideas to tackle the climate crisis and meet young people from around the globe who are driving change. How You Can Save the Planet by Hendrikus van Hensbergen (Puffin Books) Whether it’s building a green wall, making recycled bird feeders…

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Teacher’s name: Mrs Ofori School: Whitley Abbey Primary School, Coventry “Mrs Ofori is kind-hearted and fun-loving. She is a smile spreader and always comes up with fun games in order to make our work more interesting. She encourages us to do better. During online learning, she introduced a new concept called “Virtual Balloon” – when we do some good work she blows a balloon. During lockdown when I was a bit sad, she called me to support and cheer me up. She is a great teacher and I like being in her class.” Aarya 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…

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 was “Is mathematics beautiful?”. You said... “It depends what sort of maths you are doing.” “Yes! Even in art we use maths! Shapes are art!” “It’s amazing but not beautiful. A picture or sunset could be beautiful, but not maths.” “No, I find maths quite boring, but when it’s all laid out neatly on the page you feel quite proud.” Tell us what you think of this week’s issue and we’ll print some of the best comments here.…

1 How old was an ancient basket that was found in caves near Jerusalem? a) 6,500 years old b) 9,000 years old c) 10,500 years old a □ b □ c □ 2 True or false? UK soldiers were given underwear that didn’t need to be changed for three months. 3 Which African country has just appointed its first female leader? 4 In the world of digital art, what does NFT stand for? a) Non-fungible token b) Non-fixable token c) Non-flammable token a □ b □ c □ 5 Which top award has been won by the architects Lacaton and Vassal? 6 What is a pinniped? 7 What type of animal is a regent honeyeater? a) Bear b) Bird c) Lion a □ b □ c □ 8 True or…

A peregrine falcon nest in the city of Nottingham, England, is marking its 20th anniversary this year. It has been a huge hit with online viewers. Since the start of lockdown last year, more than half a million people have tuned in to watch a live stream of the peregrines. There has been a surge in watching peregrine falcons in the last year in general; online streams from Wakefield Cathedral and Salisbury Cathedral have also had thousands of views.…

Andrew Laing Senior carnivore keeper at Edinburgh Zoo The main rule of interacting with animals like lions is never to go into the enclosure with them. We feed and clean out their enclosures by moving them to secure areas while we get on with our work. Once we have made their beds nice and clean, we leave food and water then let them back in once we are safely outside. Some enclosures also allow us to deliver food over fences from raised platforms. Do you have a question about an animal you would like answered? We’d love to include it in the magazine. Send your question in an email to hello@theweekjunior.co.uk…

Scientists have found fossil plants from almost a mile beneath the vast Greenland ice sheet. It’s a discovery that challenges previous ideas about the frozen Arctic landmass. Today, 80% of Greenland is covered in thick ice, which was thought to have been there continuously for the past million years. According to this new discovery, the ice must have melted at least once in that time, allowing plants to take root and forests to grow. The plant remains were discovered in a forgotten sample from a US drilling project in the 1960s. It was first returned to a US university, then sent on to the University of Copenhagen in Denmark inside a biscuit jar. There it lay forgotten until its rediscovery in 2018. Scientists from Copenhagen joined up with a team…

Godzilla Based on the original Japanese classic from 1954, this more modern 1998 Hollywood version tells the story of how two scientists work together to stop Godzilla from destroying New York, US. It’s available to watch on Netflix. King Kong The 1976 version of King Kong is an update of the original black-and-white 1933 story in which an expedition to an unexplored island discovers a world filled with mystery and danger. The film is available to rent or buy on Prime Video and Apple TV. The Beast from 20,000 Fathoms When this film was released in 1953, it had some of the most groundbreaking special effects ever seen. The plot is a mix of Godzilla and King Kong – a beast is awoken by a nuclear explosion and goes on…

Goldie’ss Oldies 5.30pm on weekdays, Nickelodeon This new comedy is about 14-year-old Goldie (played by Imogen Faires) who moves in with her grandfather and his three friends, all of whom are in their 70s. How will Goldie manage to balance school, friends and the needs of her new housemates? The Mighty Ducks: Game Changers From 26 March on Disney+ This new series (which is inspired by The Mighty Ducks films) tells the story of 12-year-old Evan Morrow, an ice hockey player for an ultra-competitive and successful youth team. Evan is devastated when he is dropped from the squad, but his mum has a bright idea – Evan should start his own team. Food Unwrapped Gets Chocolatey 7.30pm on 2 April, Channel 4 This special episode looks back on previous chocolate…

The Weather Weaver by Tamsin Mori (UCLan Publishing) Visiting her grandpa on Shetland for the summer holidays, Stella finds his Scottish island home bleak and depressing. Things haven’t been the same since Gran died and now Stella feels trapped and miserable. When she befriends a strange old woman called Tamar, however, life begins to change. Tamar has the power to control the weather – she can spin rainbows and call hurricanes. Before long, Stella begins to learn the craft of weather weaving. She’s thrilled to discover her new powers but a threat appears in the form of a fearsome sea-witch known as The Haken. Stella realises that with magical powers come great responsibilities. This wonderfully atmospheric story is steeped in myths and magic – and will leave you longing for…

What a difference a year makes! It’s hard to believe that this time last year we were all getting used to a new way of life as we entered into the first national lockdown. For our team, The Week Junior offices closed and we were all sent home. We thought we’d be back after a couple of months, but in fact we haven’t seen each other in person since. During this time schools closed, Christmas was cancelled and plans for the future were put on hold. Sadly, many people died from the virus. There have been moments of sadness, fear and anxiety for all. There have also been moments of hope, acts of courage and days of happiness, such as the simple joy of sunshine on a spring morning. Many…

In November 2021, the UK will be hosting the 26th UN Climate Change Conference of the Parties (COP26) in Glasgow, Scotland. The aim is to bring together world leaders to tackle climate change and create a better future for the planet. To tie in with the conference, an art competition is being held for anyone aged 16 or under and based in the UK. The idea is to paint, draw or design a piece of art that shows how you’d like the planet to look in the future. It could be oceans teeming with life, renewable energy sources, lush forests or garden cities. The winner will have their artwork displayed at COP26, and there will be special prizes for the best artwork in each category. The deadline for entries is…