Innholdsfortegnelse for 320 i The Week Junior

On 25 January, UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson announced that sanctions would be imposed on Russia if it invaded Ukraine, a country in Eastern Europe. Sanctions are financial and political penalties that can be taken against a country and particular people. At the time The Week Junior went to press, people were worried that Russia was planning to invade parts of Ukraine. However, Johnson said talks would continue to try and prevent a war. Where is Ukraine? Ukraine shares a 1,200-mile border with Russia. The two countries have strong cultural and historical ties because Ukraine used to be part of the Soviet Union, which was a group of countries that were once ruled from Moscow, the capital of Russia (see panel). At the end of the 20th century, the Soviet…

RESCUING A DOG Rescuers have managed to save a dog that was stranded on mudflats in Hampshire, England, by attaching a sausage to a drone. At first Millie, a Jack Russell-whippet, defied the efforts of police, firefighters and coastguards. So they decided to try using a drone with a sausage on it to tempt Millie ashore. It worked and Millie was reunited with her owner. A NEW RECORD Three British women have set a new world record for female rowers crossing the Atlantic Ocean. It took them 42 days and they knocked seven days off the previous record. One of the rowers, Kat Cordiner, is the first cancer patient to tackle the challenge. Cancer is the term for diseases caused by cells growing out of control. THE WORLD’S OLDEST LAND…

When he was younger, Billy Jenkins never planned to be an actor. Then one day, a casting director (someone who chooses actors for films and TV shows) visited Jenkins’s school and saw him in fancy dress doing dance moves in the playground. Before long he was in the TV show The Crown. Jenkins told The Week Junior, “Once, I went on set and was filming my first scene, I loved it.” Now Jenkins plays the lead in new CBBC series, Dodger. It takes place before the events of Charles Dickens’s Oliver Twist and Jenkins plays a pickpocket (a thief who steals from peoples’ purses and pockets) known as the Artful Dodger. The show follows Dodger as he and other thieves try to survive in 19th century London. Jenkins knew the…

At this time of year, although it is still cold, you can get ready for spring and summer by sowing seeds for flowers and vegetables. Growing your own can be a cheap and eco-friendly way to produce your own food and plants. It also brightens your surroundings and connects you to nature. Most seeds you sow now will have to be planted indoors – perhaps on a windowsill – or in a greenhouse or plastic grow house, if you have one. You can start growing broccoli, kale, onions and spinach in the next few weeks by placing seeds in some compost in small pots, or even egg boxes. As they grow, transfer them to larger pots with more soil and compost. Then, when the weather is warmer and the plants…

Chinese space scientists have announced new discoveries made by Yutu-2, the first robot rover ever to explore the side of the Moon that permanently faces away from the Earth. Commanding a rover on the Moon’s far side presents big challenges: the Earth is always out of sight, so radio commands and data have to be bounced back and forth using a special relay satellite orbiting in space beyond the Moon. The rover relies on solar power, so it has to shut down most of its operations for two weeks of every month during a long period of lunar night Since rolling onto the Moon from its Chang’e-4 lander in January 2019, Yutu-2 has been operating on the Moon for more than three years, making it the longest ever mission to…

Menna Fitzpatrick The British skier won gold in the visually impaired slalom at the World Para Snow Sports Championship. Fitzpatrick competes with her guide, Katie Guest. Sam Kerr The Australian became her country’s highest scorer ever, in women’s and men’s football, by taking her record to 54 goals in 105 appearances. Loughborough Lightning As the British Wheelchair Basketball Women’s Premier League season started, Lightning beat home team Worcester Wolves 58-41 in the opening game. Dave Ryding Ryding won Great Britain’s first ever alpine skiing World Cup gold medal with victory in the slalom event in Kitzbühel, Austria.…

Step inside the Victoria Art Gallery in Bath, England, and you’ll get a close-up look at some of literature’s biggest, scariest and most beloved monsters. Myths and Monsters is a new exhibition celebrating book illustrations and, in particular, drawings of mythical creatures. It is a continuation of the 2017 exhibition Here Be Dragons, which was one of the most popular events in the gallery’s history. On display are creations from artists and authors such as Axel Scheffler (The Gruffalo), Michael Foreman (The Littlest Dinosaur), Cressida Cowell (How to Train Your Dragon), Victoria Topping (Mythologica) and Chris Mould (The Iron Man). As well as seeing their drawings and designs, visitors will come face-to-face with some larger-than-life 3D exhibits. If you feel inspired by the artwork on display, visitors are invited to create…

A Grand Day Out BBC iPlayer, DVD The news that a new Wallace and Gromit film is arriving at the end of 2024 is surely the perfect excuse to go right back to the start with the much-loved clay mischief makers. A Grand Day Out dates back to 1989 It follows the pair as they head off on a search for more cheese – by taking a trip to the Moon. If you’ve watched lots of Wallace and Gromit films, you might notice the characters look a little different and rougher in this short film: the animation company Aardman was experimenting a lot here. The famous charm and humour is already present – as are some thumbprints on the hand-made characters.…

The Mermaid in the Millpond by Lucy Strange. Illustrated by Pam Smy (Barrington Stoke) Bess has left Victorian London behind her to work at a cotton mill – and she dreams of escape. Meanwhile, rumours spread about a creature that lurks in the depths of the millpond. Bess is sure it’s all nonsense, until she glimpses something in the murky water. The Week at World’s End by Emma Carroll (Faber Children’s Books) When Stevie and best friend Ray discover a runaway girl hiding in the coal shed, they promise to help. It seems, though, that they’ve taken on more than they bargained for, and soon unexpected secrets come to light. Set in the 1960s, against the background of the Cuban Missile Crisis, this is a gripping book and enthralling read.…

Name: Sophia The Glass Children by Kristina Ohlsson Haunting. Chilling. Intriguing. “This book was a real page-turner, with fascinating characters. I would recommend it to those who enjoy a spooky, gripping tale.” YOUR TURN Email your book review to hello@theweekjunior.co.uk. If your review is printed in the magazine you’ll receive a Roving Reporter badge. Sum up the book in three words and write one sentence telling us what you liked about it. Please include your name and address.*…

What you need • A pencil • A4 white paper (or a colour) • Scissors • A ruler • Glue and brush • A4 background card Paper cutting originated in China but can be seen around the world in different styles. Decorations made with intricate patterns are traditional for Chinese New Year. Have a go at making your own cut-out design to celebrate the year of the tiger, which starts on 1 February this year. 1 Draw a simple outline of a tiger body (about 12cm x 20cm) onto paper to fill about half an A4 sheet. Then cut it out. 2 Fold the body in half, then in half again. Cut some thin triangles across the folded edges. Keep the cuts to the middle area of the paper. 3…

Between 1 and 15 February, around two billion people across the globe will celebrate Chinese New Year, or the Spring Festival, as it is known in mainland China. Red decorations (a lucky colour in China) will adorn streets and homes, parties will take place and envelopes stuffed with money will delight friends and families. There are 12 Chinese Zodiac animals, each of which has certain characteristics, and they rotate each year. This year it’s the year of the tiger. Those who are born in this year (1938, 1950, 1962, 1974, 1986, 1998, 2010 and 2022) are said to be born leaders. They are courageous and energetic, love a challenge and are prepared to take risks. Which animal are you? If you want to get into the festive spirit, then have…

Teacher’s name: Mr Lewis School: St Martin’s School, Northwood, Middlesex, England “Mr Lewis is an A-M-A-Z-I-N-G Head of the Juniors and he is sadly leaving us at the end of term. He makes maths enjoyable by telling funny jokes and stories. Mr Lewis made our Celtic Harmony trip so fantastic. He is also kind and listens to what we say; he understands our problems and makes everything better.” Zaim, Yug, Aarnav, Shayan, Tarun and Avi If we pick your teacher as Teacher of the Week, we’ll send your school three free issues of 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 Please include your full name and address so that we can send you a Roving…

The Soviet Union was founded in 1922 and was based on a system called communism. This is the idea that in a society everyone works according to their abilities and the wealth produced is shared equally between people. In practice this did not always happen. The government, based in Moscow, controlled peoples’ lives and no one could oppose the authorities. In 1985, Mikhail Gorbachev became leader of the Soviet Union and tried to make the country more open and free. On 31 December 1991, the Soviet Union split into 15 independent countries, including Russia and Ukraine.…

León, Spain World’s oldest man dies at 112 The world’s oldest man, Saturnino de la Fuente García, has died at the age of 112 years and 341 days. García was recognised by Guinness World Records as the world’s oldest man in September 2021, when he was 112 years and 211 days old. He was due to celebrate his 113th birthday in February. When asked about the secret to a long life, García said, “A quiet life and do not hurt anyone.” Bridgetown, Barbados Prime Minister wins second election Mia Mottley has won a second election as prime minister (PM) of Barbados. During her time as PM, Barbados has removed the Queen as its head of state. Barbados was once ruled by Britain and became independent in 1966. In her victory…

Arctic terns make the longest migration of any animal. Each year they fly back and forth between the Arctic, close to the North Pole, and the Antarctic, in the far south, so they can enjoy summer in both places. The overall trip is about 22,000 miles, but researchers recorded one bird taking a roundabout route of 59,650 miles – more than twice the distance around the Earth. In their lifetime, Arctic terns can fly 1.5 million miles – that’s the equivalent of flying to the Moon and back three times.…

Only about 7% of all snake species can seriously harm or kill a human, and any snake is harmless if left alone. Some large constrictors, such as the reticulated python, have been known to eat people but this is very rare. Some venomous snakes can also be deadly to humans–about one third of all cobras, mambas, sea snakes, coral snakes and vipers are seriously harmful to us. 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…

Scientists believe that the Moon was formed from a collision between Earth and another smaller planet early in its history. The collision threw chunks of rock into orbit around the Earth, which then came together to form the Moon. Scientists from the University of Cambridge recently showed that when the Moon first formed, its surface would have been an ocean of hot liquid magma. As the magma froze over time, it created the lumpy lunar surface – a process the researchers compared to the formation of ice crystals in a slushy machine.…

A robotic exoskeleton is helping elderly Buddhists complete a pilgrimage (journey to a holy place) on the Japanese island of Shikoku. Walk-Mate is a device that attaches to the user’s legs and shoulders and uses motors to give frail people more support as they walk. The device was previously used only in hospitals but it is now being tried outdoors to help people complete the Shikoku pilgrimage. Users said that the device was particularly helpful during a 460-metre climb up a steep hill. Enjoy these stories? Find more in this month’s The Week Junio Science+Nature magazine sciencenature.theweekjunior.co.uk…

What springs to mind when you think of a festival? Bright lights and fairground rides or live music and dancing? Whatever you’re imagining, you’re probably not expecting a wellbeing festival jam-packed with sessions on surfing, art and comedy. Read on to find out about the Now and Beyond mental health festival for schools, taking place across the UK on 9 February. What’s the festival about? “It was the peak of the pandemic, everyone was in lockdown and many students’ mental health was suffering,” explains Louisa Rose, who runs Beyond, a youth mental health charity. To help young people Rose created the UK’s first wellbeing festival for schools. Experts from around the country gave workshop to students, looking at the different ways we can care for our mental health. Now the…

The Gruffalo From the picture book series written by Julia Donaldson and illustrated by Axel Scheffler, the Gruffalo has become one of the world’s most beloved monsters. The story of the Gruffalo is first invented by a mouse to scare off other animals, before he’s revealed to be a real-life creature. Shrek Many people know Shrek from the hit films but this lovable ogre started life in a picture book by William Steig that was first published in 1990. In the book, Shrek leaves his swamp to go out and see the world. The Iron Man Not to be confused with the Marvel superhero, the Iron Man is a metal monster from a book written by Ted Hughes. Although humans fear him at first, the Iron Man is the only…

Big Night of Musicals by the National Lottery 7pm on 29 January, BBC One Theatre comes to your living room in this 90-minute extravaganza hosted by comedian Jason Manford. See performances from musicals such as Disney’s Frozen and The Lion King, as well as Back to the Future and School of Rock. Belle In cinemas from 4 February In this animated film from Japanese filmmaker Mamoru Hosoda, five billion people enter the virtual world of U. In there, high school student Suzu becomes the world-famous singer Belle. After meeting a mysterious creature, Suzu/Belle embarks on a wild adventure. Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power tinyurl.com/TWJ-lotr The most expensive TV series ever made, Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power takes place before the events of J.R.R. Tolkien’s…

Swimming is a fun activity that can be done all year round with friends and family at indoor pools. It’s also an important life skill because swimming teaches you how to be safe in the water and it is a fantastic form of exercise. You might already be confident in the pool, able to swim lengths using different strokes without needing a swimming aid, such as a float. However, if you are a beginner and need lessons, then contact your local swimming centre to ask about beginner sessions. Lessons can be taken in groups or one-on-one with a qualified coach. As a new person to the pool you will start with things like getting used to walking in deeper water blowing bubbles and holding your breath under the water. Beginners…

Word fill in All these words fit in the grid. Can you work out where each word goes to complete it? 3 letters Bug Key Web 4 letters File Scan View Word 5 letters Apple Batch Crash Entry 6 letters Router Search 8 letters Internet Security Terminal 9 letters Bluetooth Interface Word jumble Rearrange the scrambled letters to form four words connected with trees. Wordsearch Can you find all of the words listed here? They are hidden horizontally, vertically or diagonally and may read forwards or backwards. BASKET CATNIP CLAWS CREAM FELINE FLUFFY FURRY GINGER KITTEN MILK NOSE PAWS PEDIGREE PET PLAY PURR SCRATCH TABBY TAIL WHISKERS Number tower Place a number in every circle to complete the tower. The value in each circle is the sum of the numbers…

Name: Mila “Some time ago, I started a petition to ask supermarkets to stop selling plastic. I had 20 signatures. Ten months on, I have more than 1,500! How did that happen? It seems people just started to care about our future. However it happened, I feel that the time has arrived. We need to leave behind bad habits, and start caring. Climate change describes a change in the average conditions – such as temperature and rainfall – in a region over a long period of time. NASA scientists have observed that Earth’s surface is warming and many of the warmest years on record have happened in the past 20 years. Earth’s climate has constantly been changing – even long before humans came into the picture. However, scientists have observed…

Follow The Week Junior on PopJam @TheWeekJunior. You can download the PopJam app from the App Store or Google Play. Last week we asked if all exams should be typed. You said… “Yes, some people have dyslexia. It might be difficult for them to write!” “Yes and no – people who prefer to type can, and those who like to write can write.” “Yes, it is much easier for people who prefer to type like me!” “No, if you’re on a computer it would be incredibly easy to just Google the answer.” Tell us what you think of this week’s issue and we’ll print some of the best comments here.…

Covid-19 restrictions have been lifted across the UK. In England, pupils no longer need to wear face masks in secondary school classrooms. What’s changed in England? On 27 January, England’s “Plan B” coronavirus restrictions were due to end. Some restrictions, such as wearing face masks in secondary school classrooms, were lifted earlier, on 20 January. For other indoor spaces, such as shops and cinemas, the rules on wearing face masks end on 27 January. However, the Government still recommends wearing them in crowded indoor spaces. Although face masks won’t be needed on public transport across England, they must still be worn on all Transport for London services, including the Tube. Covid-19 passes will no longer be needed to go to big events, although organisers can still choose to use them…

In René Magritte’s painting L’empire des lumières, painted in 1961, a warm light in a window and a street lamp shine in the shadow of a large, dark tree. It is dusk and inside the house you might imagine that someone is preparing to go to bed. Yet above the rooftop is a blue sky with white cotton clouds. Magritte was part of the Surrealist movement of artists who created scenes that look real but at the same time are very strange, like a dream. Their paintings are some of the most valuable in the world – and perhaps rightly so. After all, a buyer is purchasing the vision and creative genius as much as the paint and canvas. The price tag that comes with L’empire des lumières could reach…

An Arctic hare on Canada’s northernmost island has surprised researchers by making the longest recorded journey by a lagomorph (the group of mammals that includes hares, rabbits and pikas). According to a recent study by researchers from the University of Québec in Canada, the female hare, codenamed BBYY, travelled more than 240 miles in 49 days – that’s around the same distance as from London to Newcastle in England. The incredible journey has changed scientists’ understanding of Arctic hares, which are the world’s heaviest and most northern-living lagomorphs. Previously, not much was known about how far they travelled, but most lagomorphs do not stray far from their homes, usually travelling no more than 20 miles. To find out how far the Arctic hares were moving, the researchers fitted trackers to…

Anew coral reef – one of the largest in the world – has just been found off the coast of Tahiti, an island in the southern Pacific Ocean. The rare giant coral reef is unusual because it lies much further below the sea’s surface than most other corals and appears to be in perfect condition. The discovery was made during a mission to map the sea bed. The mission was paid for by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). The United Nations is an organisation of 193 countries that work together on the challenges facing humanity. Most corals are found at depths of 25 metres or less. The new reef, which runs along two miles of the sea bed, lies between 30 and 65 metres deep. This…

A team of experts in Russia say they have discovered the world’s oldest drinking straws. The eight tubes, made from gold and silver, are each more than a metre in length. The 5,500-year-old 0-year-old objects were discovered redin1897 inside an ancient burial mound called a kurgan in the city of Maykop in southern Russia. The kurgan contained lots of gold and silver objects. At first, the team thought the tubes were poles or sceptres – or namental staffs carried by rulers on special occasions. However, a new study, led by Viktor Trifonov from the Russian Academy of Sciences, has found clues pointing to a very different use. Based on several pieces of evidence including how the tubes are made, Trifonov and his team believe that they were designed for drinking…

LeBron James, Kevin Durant and Nikola Jokic are some of the best players in the National Basketball Association (NBA) in the US. Now, thousands of young basketball fans in the UK have the chance to play and practise just like these stars, thanks to the Junior NBA. Junior NBA is a scheme that teaches school students around the world about basketball in a fun and exciting way. The skills you need, the rules of the game, the importance of teamwork, fitness and much more are taught by basketball coaches. Young players take part in league games and training events to improve their skills and help them get the most from basketball. Junior NBA in England recently grew from 16 to 21 leagues, giving more than 9,000 boys and girls aged…

Gabriella, aged 14, is on Beyond’s youth board and has a say in what the charity does. “I struggled with anxiety and I know how tough it can be, so I got involved with Beyond to help mental wellbeing for teenagers,” she says. Gabriella took part in the Now and Beyond festival last year, and it “made me feel I wasn’t alone and I learned that no one’s going to judge you for not feeling ok”. She does sport to help take care of her mental health because it provides a great distraction. “I talk to my parents about it a lot, too,” she says.…

The song, We Don’t Talk About Bruno, from the animated musical Encanto has become the first Disney song to top the UK Official Singles Chart. Encanto is a film about Mirabel and her magical family, the Madrigals, who live in Colombia, South America. Each member of the Madrigal family has a magical power, except for Mirabel. In the song We Don’t Talk About Bruno, characters sing about Mirabel’s mysterious uncle. The song was written by Lin-Manuel Miranda (who wrote music for Moana), and it is based on a distinctive Colombian musical style called montuno. The song has been a hit around the world, going viral on TikTok. In the US it became Disney’s most successful song in the US Billboard chart since Colours of the Wind from Pocahontas in 1995.…

What is your favourite type of bird? I love the birds I can see in my garden. I love the fluty song of the blackbird and the bravery of robins, too. What inspired you to write this book? An episode of Springwatch (a nature programme) where a nightingale had been spotted at a motorway service station. I thought it was amazing that such a beautiful thing could be found in such a place. That got me thinking about other beautiful things that can be found this way too, such as friendship. How did you celebrate finishing the book? I finished writing this book on a writing retreat in Devon, England, so there was a lot of cream teas, cakes and walks into the wilderness. What’s the best season? I love…

What clothing or equipment do I need? A proper swimsuit or swimming shorts or trunks, as well as a large towel for drying yourself. It’s useful to wear goggles. These will keep water and chlorine, a chemical that’s added to the water, out of your eyes and help you see under the surface. Many people wear swimming caps too. What about certificates? Some swimming lessons offer learners a range of certificates and badges. These are given out for skills and achievements, such as reaching a certain standard; swimming a set distance; or being able to complete particular tasks in the water.…

Couple asked for potato proof The world’s largest potato is undergoing DNA testing to prove that it’s actually a potato. DNA is chemical instructions inside the cells of all living things. A couple in New Zealand, called Colin and Donna Craig-Brown, grew a 7.8 kilogram potato in their vegetable garden last year. They named the potato Doug and claimed it was the biggest in the world. However, they’re now having to get a DNA sample tested to prove to Guinness World Records that Doug is actually a potato. “We will do everything they ask of us,” Colin says. Artist’s record-breaking drawing An Indian artist has set a new Guinness World Record for the largest drawing by an individual. Ravi Soni created a drawing called Tree of Life, which covers nearly…

The Cardiff University Art Lab is passionate about using art to get people involved in science This month, it is running a fun art+science competition for young people (and grown-ups). There are many different ways you can take part For example, you can draw or craft a superbug, or create a poster, comic strip or video. These should be designed with a message about how important antimicrobials (medicines that fight infections) are to keep us healthy. You can find more information, example artwork and tips for getting involved at tinyurl.com/TWJ-artlab. You’ll need to be quick! The competition is open for entries until 31 January. GET INVOLVED Email your news, views and pictures to hello@theweekjunior.co.uk…

1 In which country did Zara Rutherford start and finish her solo world flight? □ a) The UK □ b) Belgium □ c) Canada 2 True or false? Small gardens are less important than big gardens in supporting bees. □ True □ False 3 Which country is getting a new capital city? 4 How much is the painting L’empire des lumières expected to sell for? □ a) £45 □ b) £45,000 □ c) £45 million 5 True or false? Douglas Wolk has read every single Marvel comic published since 1961. □ True □ False 6 A coral reef has been found off the coast of which island? 7 In which year were the first Winter Olympic Games held? □ a) 1908 □ b) 1924 □ c) 1942 8 True or…