Innholdsfortegnelse for 285 i The Week Junior

On 25 May, people around the world marked the first anniversary of George Floyd’s death. Who was George Floyd? George Floyd was an African-American man who was arrested in Minneapolis, US, and killed by Derek Chauvin, a white police officer, in 2020. Police had arrested Floyd on suspicion of using fake money. Chauvin knelt on Floyd’s neck for more than nine minutes, which caused his death. On 20 April this year, Chauvin was convicted of murder and faces up to 75 years in prison. The murder provoked outrage in the US and around the world. What was the reaction? George Floyd’s death sparked one of the biggest civil rights protests in US history. Civil rights are protected by law. They give all people the same opportunities and freedoms, regardless of…

A mystery artist in the Lake District, in northwest England, has been building large sculptures out of local slate. The artist’s identity remains unknown and some of the works are located in places that aren’t easy for walkers to reach. One of the creations, a slate circle, has received lots of attention on social media. Shawn Williamson, a sculptor based in the town of Windermere (who is not the mystery artist), told the BBC that, as well as exhibiting “traditional crafts”, the work is very much “woven into the natural landscape, so it’s incredibly mysterious ”…

When environmental campaigner Greta Thunberg needed to take a boat from Europe across the Atlantic Ocean to attend a conference in the US in 2019, it was sailor Boris Herrmann she trusted to get her there safely. Herrmann is used to epic trips. Earlier this year, after 80 days at sea, Herrmann completed one of the world’s toughest sailing races – La Vendée Globe. Competitors have to sail around the world alone and without stopping. Herrmann had an eventful race. He took part in the successful rescue of another competitor, whose boat sank after being hit by a large wave. “It felt like searching for a needle in a haystack, with the big rolling waves and the dark skies,” Herrmann told The Week Junior Science+Nature magazine. “It was a moment…

Labyrinth When goblins from her favourite book, The Labyrinth, kidnap her younger brother, Sarah has to journey into the world of the book to save him. Released in 1986, Labyrinth was directed by Jim Henson, the creator of The Muppets, and stars the singer David Bowie. Strange Magic Inspired by the William Shakespeare play A Midsummer’s Night Dream, this animated movie musical is based on a story idea from George Lucas himself. In Strange Magic, elves, goblins, fairies and other creatures battle over a mysterious potion. Willow Starring actor Warwick Davis (who has been in several Star Wars films), this is about a farmer who finds a baby girl, who people say will end the rule of an evil queen. Willow was directed by Ron Howard, who would later go…

Researchers in France have found that sniffer dogs are able to detect the Covid-19 virus in humans more accurately than widely used lateral flow tests (LFTs). The results mean dogs could be employed in airports and other crowded places to check for travellers carrying the disease. Nine dogs took part in the trial, which was conducted in March and April by France’s national veterinary school and a Paris hospital. Scientists took samples of sweat on a cotton pad from people who visited a Covid-19 testing centre. They sealed the pads in jars before giving them to at least two of the nine dogs to be sniffed. The dogs detected 97% of samples from people with Covid-19 accurately, along with 91% of negative samples from people who did not have the…

Cindy Sember often competes against Tiffany Porter, who is her sister. Porter is seven years older than 26-year-old Sember. Porter finished fourth at the Diamond League event in Gateshead behind her victorious sister. The pair were born in Michigan, in the US, but they have a British mother and chose to represent Great Britain. They hope to qualify for this summer’s Olympics in Tokyo, Japan. At the 2016 Olympics, Sember came fourth and Porter seventh in the 100 metres hurdles final.…

Kitty has been attending Big Lunches since 2014. She says, “there are always lots of nice cakes at The Big Lunch, which people bring to share. I love to see what other people bake as everyone makes something different. Last year was hard because of lockdown, but me and my friends took part in a virtual Big Lunch. The cakes we made were so yummy. This year I’m going to bake another cake. I think everyone should join in, bake a cake and make friends with their neighbours.”…

What makes you smile? I like when two animals of different species are friends. Like a cat and a dog. Or a panda and a shark. Actually, I’m not sure they’d be friends. That’s a terrible example. Favourite place in Ireland? My Granny lived on an island l d in the Atlantic Ocean called Achill where you find huge nine-metre basking sharks and there used to be a famous pirate queen. I’ve set this book there. What’s your favourite piece of technology? Can I say the bicycle? Yeah, I know it’s not a recent invention like wireless headphones or VR headsets, but you can’t ride down a hill with the wind behind and your friend clinging to you on either of them. What makes you bored? Showers are boring –…

The online writing club ScribblerZone recently announced the winners of its Young Journalist prize. Here’s how the winners reacted to the news: “It was amazing to receive the email telling me that I had won. I was really proud and excited! It has inspired me to keep writing and hopefully become ” a famous author when I am older. Joshua You can read Joshua’s entry at tinyurl.com/TWJ-joshuaM “I feel absolutely ecstatic, I’m practically bouncing off the walls of my house. For me to win something is a huge achievement, because I rarely win things. I am glad I won because my whole family has been cheering me on through these tough times. Once again, I am deeply grateful for my victory ” and thank you everyone! Jack Read Jack’s entry…

The Black Lives Matter political and social movement began in the US in 2013, following the death of 17-year-old Trayvon Martin, an African American man. In 2012 Martin was shot and killed by George Zimmerman, a neighbourhood watch volunteer, but in 2013 Zimmerman was found not guilty of Martin’s murder. This led three activists – Patrisse Cullors, Alicia Garza and Opal Tometi – to post the hashtag #BlackLivesMatter on social media. It is now used for the wider movement that calls for an end to police brutality against black people and to tackle racism. The movement has spread around the world.…

A PIECE OF HISTORY A letter written in 1946 by the scientist Albert Einstein has sold in Boston, US, for more than £850,000. The letter shows the scientist’s well-known equation for energy, E=mc2 . There are only three other known examples of the formula in Einstein’s handwriting. A BABY LEMUR Zookeepers are celebrating the arrival of a red-bellied lemur at Chester Zoo, in England. Experts are overjoyed because lemurs are the most endangered group of mammals, and are at risk of becoming extinct. It’s not yet known if the animal, which was born weighing around the same as a banana, is male or female. A REAL-LIFE SECRET GARDEN The new owners of a country house in Dorset, England, were intrigued when they came across a padlocked gate which led them…

Sisters Sara, aged nine, and Aneeqa, aged 11, told The Week Junior they love cycling because it is a great way to stay fit and active. Sara says it is also a great way to spend quality time with family. One of Aneeqa’s favourite things is cycling up steep hills. They love discovering new places when cycling and exploring the history of the local area. They will be taking part in Bike Week 2021 and encourage other people to give it a go. “We cycle for fun and sometimes take a picnic with us,” they said.…

The idea of giving everyone free money was first discussed by the philosopher Sir Thomas More in his 1516 book Utopia. Since then UBI has remained in the public’s imagination, with numerous trials around the world. However, it hasn’t always been popular. In 2016, Switzerland held a vote on introducing UBI and nearly 77% of people voted against it. During the pandemic some people have become more open to the idea. In lockdown, the UK Government helped pay the salaries of some of those who weren’t able to work. A 2020 poll found that 51% of adults in the UK support UBI. It was recently announced that there are plans to trial it in Wales. Some say UBI is the future, while others think it’s wasteful. What do you think?…

When he was 22 years old, Steven Bartlett set up his own media company, Social Chain. Now, six years on, Bartlett is a multimillionaire and has become the youngest Dragon on the BBC series Dragon’s Den. The Dragons are wealthy entrepreneurs (people who set up their own businesses). In the show, they hear ideas from aspiring entrepreneurs and decide whether to support the idea. “I’d sit at home as a 12-year-old pretending I was a Dragon,” Bartlett said to the Daily Telegraph. Bartlett told the BBC that he wants to “show other 12-year-old Steves that they too can be business people.”…

If you want to help monitor and protect wildlife around the UK, there’s no better way than taking part in the annual Living with Mammals survey. Using information provided by ordinary people, the People’s Trust for Endangered Species (PTES) can help to protect the country’s mammals (animals that give birth to live young) and safeguard their future. The survey has been running every year for 18 years, and asks people to record mammals they see in their garden or local green spaces – anything from a fox to a hedgehog to a deer or a badger. People can also note signs left behind by mammals, such as footprints or droppings. Last year, 2,000 people took part. The top five sightings were grey squirrels, hedgehogs, foxes, mice and bats, while rabbit…

Very few animals are purple, but the Indian purple frog is one of them! This bizarre pointy-snouted, burrowing frog has a round, purple body and is found in southern India. Another purple animal is the violet sea snail, whose shell is a lavender colour. These snails create bubble rafts by frothing up mucus, and use it to float at the surface of tropical oceans. 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…

October Sky Apple TV, Chili, Google Play, Prime Video, Rakuten TV, Sky Store, YouTube This is a lovely family film about a young boy, the son of a coal miner, who is captivated by the launch of a Russian rocket into space in October 1957. He’s expected to follow the path of his father and become a miner too, but the boy – Homer Hickam – is inspired to become an engineer for the US space agency NASA instead. This, inevitably, is a plan with quite a few bumps, and it’s fair to say that not everybody approves. This charming movie, based on a true story, explores Homer’s path, and tells us how things ended up in real life too. If you like the sounds of this, maybe plan…

Earth’s Incredible Oceans by Jess French. Illustrated by Claire McElfatrick (Dorling Kindersley) Delve deep into the ocean with this new book written by wildlife expert Jess French. Incorporating illustrations and photographs, it includes plenty of information about ocean plants and animals including jellyfish, narwhals and coral – as well as what we can do to help protect our oceans for the future. Interview with a Shark by Andy Seed and Nick East (Welbeck Publishing) If you could talk to a shark, what questions would you ask? Ten different ocean giants share their amazing stories in this entertaining question-and-answer style book – including habits, behaviour, likes and dislikes and favourite foods. Alongside the great white shark, you’ll meet the blue whale, giant squid, octopus, manta ray and more. 100 Things to…

On 25 May 2021 it was one year since the terrible and tragic death of George Floyd in the US. You can read on page 2 about how he has been remembered and changes that have begun to happen in the US and UK, to tackle racism. Racism is when people are treated badly or unfairly because of their skin colour, culture or nationality. Anniversaries can be useful to think back to how we felt at a particular time and how we feel now. Last summer, it was inspiring to see people across the UK, from cities to towns and villages, gather and stand up to say that racism is not acceptable. It showed that so many of us share the values of fairness, and treating people the way we…

The Children’s Air Ambulance charity has unveiled its new mascots Blade and Peggy, and now they’re on the hunt for a brilliant adventure story for their new recruits. If you’re between six and 16-years-old, get creative and write a story about Blade and Peggy. Remember to include the Children’s Air Ambulance in your story, which can be up to 500 words long. There are some great prizes to be won, including a tour of the Children’s Air Ambulance helicopter, £50 in book tokens and having your story read on Facebook by a special guest. All entries must be submitted by the 18 June deadline. You can download a competition pack at tinyurl.com/TWJ-creativewritingcompetition…

Teacher’s name: Mrs Reed School: Our Lady Queen of Heaven RC Primary School, London “I am nominating Mrs Reed because she has helped all of my classmates and myself, especially throughout the pandemic. As this is my last year in primary school, she tries her best for us to have lots of fun and a bright future ahead of us. “ Gae If we pick your teacher as Teacher of the Week, we’ll send yourschoolthreefreeissuesof The Week Junior.Sendyour nominations, along with a picture of your teacher and your school’s full name and address, to hello@theweekjunior.co.uk…

1 How many Americans protested against racism last year? □ a) 30 million □ b) 2 million □ c) 20 million 2 True or false? One in three people in the UK owns a bicycle. □ True □ False 3 Which country won the Eurovision Song Contest? 4 Which country in the UK is about to trial universal basic income? □ a) England □ b) Scotland □ c) Wales 5 True or false? La Vendée Globe is a bicycle race around the world. □ True □ False 6 What is the most common bird in the world? 7 When was the first Star Wars film released? □ a) 1977 □ b) 1978 □ c) 1979 8 True or false? Labradors have the best sense of smell of all dogs. □…

There are growing calls to cancel this year’s Summer Olympic and Paralympic Games in Tokyo, Japan because of the coronavirus pandemic. A recent poll found that more than 80% of people in Japan want the Games to be either postponed or cancelled. Tokyo is one of 10 areas in Japan that are under a state of emergency, meaning lots of businesses are closed. The state of emergency is due to be lifted on 31 May, but it could be extended. The Olympics are scheduled to start on 23 July. The Games were meant to take place last year, but were pushed back by the pandemic. More than 12,000 people have died in Japan from Covid-19. Only 2% of its population has been fully vaccinated. No international fans will be allowed…

From 30 May to 5 June, families and young people are being encouraged to take part in a national celebration of cycling called Bike Week. For each day of the event there is a different challenge, including setting a record for the World’s Biggest Bike Ride. What is Bike Week? Bike Week is an annual event that encourages people to get on their bikes and enjoy riding. It was first held in 1923. The theme for this year’s Bike Week is health and wellbeing. On each day of Bike Week there will be different challenges for riders to undertake as well as lots of new activities and skills to try. Why should I go cycling? Rob Kingston, from Cycling UK, the charity behind Bike Week, told The Week Junior there…

• Universal basic income (UBI) is an idea where the government gives all adults a set amount of money to cover basic living costs, such as housing and food. • Different forms of UBI have been trialled in parts of Canada, Finland, India, Kenya, Spain and the US. Many politicians and public figures around the world support the idea. • Mark Drakeford, the First Minister of Wales, has said that the country will soon trial a UBI scheme of its own. • A survey in April 2020 found that 51% of adults in the UK now support UBI. 24% of adults were against it.…

St Johnstone They won the Scottish Cup for only the second time, beating Hibernian 1-0 in the final. St Johnstone had already lifted the League Cup in February. Phil Mickelson The 50-year-old won the US PGA Championship to become the oldest ever winner of a major golf tournament. Adam Peaty The British swimmer won four gold medals at the European Championships. Peaty also won four times at the competition in 2018, 2016 and 2014. Great Britain women’s hockey team They beat the US 5-1 and 5-0 in two Pro League games played at Lee Valley in east London.…

The Big Lunch is a community get-together that takes place every year in June. People cook and share food and enjoy getting to know one another as they eat together. The event is organised by the charity Eden Project Communities. The aim is to improve the happiness and wellbeing of people across the UK by bringing communities together and inspiring them to make positive changes where they live. This year’s Big Lunch takes place from 5 June. You can find out more, including how to organise your own Big Lunch, at edenprojectcommunities. com/the-big-lunch…

Alice Day at the Story Museum To celebrate the 150th anniversary of Through the Looking-Glass, the Story Museum will parade a huge Alice puppet through Oxford, England, on 3 July. Find out more at tinyurl.com/TWJ-alicesday The original film The British Film Institute (BFI) has restored damaged footage from the first ever film adaptation of Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland, which was released in 1903. Watch it here: tinyurl.com/TWJ-alicefilm Curiouser and Curiouser! This free exhibition at the Potteries Museum and Art Gallery in Stoke-on-Trent, England, tells the story of Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland using items from the museum’s collection. There is also the option to visit online, with games to play and hidden objects to be discovered in each chapter. To find out more, head to tinyurl.com/TWJ-alicestoke…

The Masked Dancer 7pm on 29 May, ITV The first in a series of seven episodes, in which 12 celebrities dance in costumes that disguise their true identity. The panel has to work out who is behind the mask. The first episode sees Zip against Knickerbocker Glory, Beetroot vs Llama and Viper taking on Scarecrow. 2021 European Para Swimming Championships 8.25am on 30 May, Channel 4 These are the highlights from the swimming championships for competitors with disabilities, taking place this year in Madeira, Portugal. Many of those competing are also hoping to compete in the Paralympic Games in Tokyo, Japan, this summer. Launchpad From 28 May on Disney+ Launchpad is a series of six short films, all created by filmmakers and writers from under-represented backgrounds in the film industry.…

The Summer I Robbed a Bank by David O’Doherty. Illustrated by Chris Judge (Puffin Books) How did one of the quietest kids in his class, and the scardiest scaredy-cat, become one of the most wanted criminals in the country? It all begins when Rex is sent to spend the holiday on a remote island off the coast of Ireland with his Uncle Derm. Rex soon discovers that his uncle plans to rob the island’s travelling bank. But Uncle Derm is no ordinary bank robber: instead, inspired by the local legend of pirate queen Grace O’Malley, he plans to give away the money to those who need it. Soon, Rex finds himself mixed up in his uncle’s plan. Told from Rex’s point of view, this is a…

What else can I do? If you can’t sleep out for some reason or you want to take on another task there is also a Boycott your Bed drawing challenge. Entries are now open and will close on 25 June. It is open to anyone aged 12 or under, and all you have to do is sketch the spot you would most like to sleep out in. Find out more at boycottyourbed.co.uk/drawing How can I get involved? Go to boycottyourbed.co.uk for all the information and how to register, including full details of the drawing challenge. You can get involved now and receive updates on the special guests taking part and ideas on where to stage your sleep out.…

School in a Bag Millions of children are deprived of the basic equipment they need to go to school. This is where School in a Bag steps in, by sending rucksacks filled with life-changing resources to children in 49 countries. Each bag contains items like pencils, exercise books, and a lunch box. In areas where clean drinking water is not available, the bags also contain a drinking device that removes harmful bacteria, so that children can drink safe, clean water. To find out more, visit schoolinabag.org…

We’d love to see your snaps. Send them to us at hello@theweekjunior.co.uk Don’t forget to tell us why you took them. “Recently we have been going to our allotment. So far we have planted peas, cucumbers and potatoes. I really enjoy going as it is so much fun spending time there!” Aamna “I did this Eid Mubarak painting, as we were celebrating the end of Ramadan. I got the idea because I love painting and watching the beautiful colours of the sky.” Safa “I started with an apple pip and I’ve now got this tree. It’s encouraged me to do some more gardening.” Arran…

Follow The Week Junior on PopJam@TheWeekJunior. You can download the PopJam app from the App Store or Google Play. Last week, we asked whether ancient monuments should be altered. “I think ancient monuments should only be altered if they are unsafe.” “No, because we should keep them how our ancestors left them.” “Ancient monuments should be preserved just as they are.” “They should be kept looking the same, such as by replacing bricks with similar ones.” Tell us what you think of this week’s issue and we’ll print some of the best comments here.…