Innholdsfortegnelse for 323 i The Week Junior

On 9 February, world leaders, scientists and environmental campaigners gathered in Brest, France, for a three-day conference called the One Ocean Summit. What is the One Ocean Summit? The summit, hosted by French president Emmanuel Macron, is the first of its kind. Its aim is to raise awareness about the threats facing the ocean, and to find ways to solve them. It is different to the annual COP summits (for example COP26, which was held in Scotland last year) because it only focuses on the ocean, whereas COP is about climate change as a whole. (Climate change refers to long-term changes in weather patterns around the world.) The main aim of the One Ocean Summit was for countries to agree to take action to improve the ocean’s health, including in…

RECORD-BREAKING TRAINERS Two hundred pairs of Louis Vuitton and Nike Air Force 1 shoes have been sold at auction for around £18.5 million. The shoes were created by American designer Virgil Abloh, who died last year. The most expensive pair sold for more than £250,000. The money will be used in the US to support designers of black, African-American, or African descent. A BABY AARDVARK Staff at Chester Zoo are celebrating the first aardvark to be born at the zoo. The baby aardvark has been named Dobby because keepers think it looks like the Harry Potter character Dobby the elf. DIP-HOP RAPPERS Sean Forbes and Warren “WaWa” Snipe made history when they became the first deaf rappers to perform at the Super Bowl on 13 February. The Super Bowl is…

Brains are fascinating, Dr Ranj Singh tells The Week Junior Science+Nature magazine. They are responsible for who we are and what we do, he says, and now he wants to show young people how they can exercise their brains and make them better. “We’re already awesome,” he says, “But how can we be even more awesome?” Dr Ranj is an NHS doctor, an author and the co-creator and presenter of the award-winning CBeebies series Get Well Soon. Dr Ranj’s new book is called Brain Power – A Toolkit to Understand and Train Your Unique Brain, which is available now. The book explores the science of the brain and has practical advice and tips on how to look after your brain, as well as games and exercises. “We may all have…

More than 1,000 schools across the UK have signed up to Let’s Go Zero, a campaign with the aim of helping schools become carbon neutral by 2030. Carbon neutral means cutting down carbon emissions to zero or balancing them out in other ways. Carbon emissions are gases such a carbon dioxide (CO2) that are released into the atmosphere, where they make climate change (long-term changes in world weather patterns) worse. Emissions are caused by all sorts of human activities, such as burning fossil fuels (coal, oil and gas) to make energy, cutting down forests and some types of farming. Becoming carbon neutral involves cutting the amount of carbon emissions a school produces as well as balancing those that are left by taking some carbon out of the atmosphere. The Let’s…

Millions of mangroves are to be planted in Mozambique, a country in south-east Africa, to restore a valuable wildlife habitat and help the environment. The plan is a joint project between Mozambique’s Ministry of Sea, Inland Waters and Fisheries, and a company called Blue Forest. Mangroves are trees and shrubs that grow in water on the coast. Their roots can filter out salt from the sea water that they draw in, allowing them to thrive in conditions that would kill most other plants. They provide important habitats for many species of birds, fish, lizards and snakes. They also help the environment because they absorb carbon dioxide (CO2), a “greenhouse“ gas (a gas that traps heat in the atmosphere and causes long-term changes to the world’s weather patterns). Mozambique’s mangroves have…

Although the US and Russia have led the way in space exploration, Europe’s own space agency has also made important contributions. The creation of the European Launcher Development Organisation 60 years ago, in 1962, led to the setting up of the European Space Agency (ESA) in 1975. The space race In the late 1950s and early 1960s, Europe wanted to keep up with scientific discoveries and launch its own satellites. A satellite is an object in space that orbits (flies around) a bigger object. Man-made satellites are used for all sorts of things, including collecting weather data and beaming TV shows all over the world. So 60 years ago, in March 1962, six countries including the UK created the European Launcher Development Organisation (ELDO). The formation of the ESA The…

An 88-year-old woman who was blind in her left eye can now see with it again – thanks to a microchip placed under her retina. The retina is a light-sensitive area at the back of the eye. The chip picks up video signals from a camera fitted on a special pair of glasses. The signals are then sent to the brain, which understands them as if they were produced by natural vision. The patient, who is the first in the UK to receive the implant, said, “I’m excited at the prospect of enjoying my hobbies again and I truly hope that many others will benefit from this too.”…

Chelsea Football Club They won the Club World Cup for the first time after beating Brazilian team Palmeiras 2-1 in extra time. Kai Havertz scored the winning goal. Caroline Weir Weir netted an impressive late goal as Manchester City beat Manchester United 1-0 in the Women’s Super League. The Los Angeles Rams In the National Football League (NFL) Super Bowl game in the US, the Los Angeles Rams defeated the Cincinnati Bengals 23-20. Kaillie Humphries At the Winter Olympics, the US athlete won the first-ever gold in women’s monobob, which is a sport where athletes speed down an ice track in a sled.…

One of the best ways we can take care of our wellbeing is to talk about our feelings and what helps us. The Mental Health Foundation says that being listened to can help you feel supported and less alone, as well as helping you to stay healthy. By telling your friends and family what a self-care kit is and why you’ve made your own (you don’t have to tell people exactly what’s in it if you don’t want to), you might even inspire them to make a kit for themselves.…

Nintendo has sold more than 103 million Switch games consoles since the device came out in 2017. Five years into its life, there is still a steady flow of new games. This month, the company showed off some of them during its latest Nintendo Direct event, which was streamed online for gamers around the world. One of the biggest was Nintendo Switch Sports, which is a modern version of the controller-swinging Sports game that was a big hit for the company’s Wii console back in 2006. The new game comes out at the end of April and will use the Switch’s motion-tracking controllers to play badminton, bowling, chanbara (stick fighting), football tennis and volleyball against friends and family. Another sporty game coming in June is Mario Strikers: Battle League Football,…

If you could have one wish what would you ask for? Are there no rules to the wishes?! In my book there are rules to Archie’s wishes, which makes it tougher but also easier in some ways. Wishing for absolutely anything is so hard. Is it cheating if I say a hundred more wishes? Who was your favourite teacher at school? I had a maths teacher called Mr Bavelja who was amazing. I hated maths so much, it made me anxious. He tried so hard to help me. Which do you prefer: jam or marmalade? Jam of course – raspberry if possible. Marmalade is weird, especially those stringy bits. Do you share anything in common with the main character in this book? Yes, I think there is always some of…

What size is the table? A typical table is 2.7 metres long by 1.5 metres wide, with a net 15.25 centimetres high. Some players like to stand close to the table; others prefer to step back. If you have a ball and bats at home, you could use an empty dining table or desk as a quick practice table. Get permission first and make sure there is enough space. Any other tips? The bat usually has one side of smooth rubber, to help spin the ball, and a textured rubber side to increase the ball speed. Get used to using both sides when you play to get an advantage. The rules let you see your opponent’s bat before the game so you can see what it is like.…

A very powerful fruit battery A team of British scientists have set a new Guinness World Record for the highest voltage from a fruit battery. The Royal Society of Chemistry, along with Professor Saiful Islam from the University of Bath, used 2,923 lemons. By cutting them in half and attaching strips of zinc and copper, they were able to generate a total of 2,307.8 volts. The battery was used to start start a go-kart race. A spectacular bird’s-eye view A family in New Zealand got a surprise when a bird flew off with their camera. The Verheul family were on a long hike and as they rested, they set up a camera to film birds around them. Shortly afterwards, a naughty kea bird grabbed it and flew off, filming as…

Voices 2022 The charity Coram Voice is running its yearly writing competition for children in and leaving care. The theme of this year’s competition is“This is Me”and entries can be in any written form, including poems, short stories, raps or newspaper articles. The only rule is that there’s a 500-word limit. There are four age categories, ranging from as young as five years old right up to 25. Entries will be judged by an expert panel of authors and poets, and this year’s awards ceremony will be held in person, bringing together the finalists, judges and supporters to celebrate the achievements of all the children and young people who take part. Head to coramvoice.org.uk/voices to enter. The competition is open until 28 February. GET INVOLVED Email your news, views 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 if you think urban foxes are pests. You said… “I think foxes should be able to live in the city. If not, they may starve and go extinct. The city is the best place for them.” “Yes, because they eat small animals and pets, such as hamsters and guinea pigs. Also, they would have a better life in the wild.” “Urban foxes are not pests! They only want food.” “Go foxes!” Tell us what you think of this week’s issue and we’ll print some of the best comments here.…

The number of trees cut down in the Amazon rainforest, in South America, reached a record high last month. Around 166 square miles were deforested (stripped of trees). That’s five times larger than the area deforested a year earlier and the highest January total on record. Trees are being cut down to make space for farming and to provide wood to sell, but many people are worried. The Amazon is the largest rainforest in the world. It’s an important “carbon sink” that absorbs harmful gases – such as carbon dioxide – that cause global warming. The fewer trees there are, the less of these harmful gases the forest can soak up.…

Cressida Dick, the head of the Metropolitan Police (London’s police force), is giving up the job. Dick, who was the first woman to lead the UK’s largest police force, said she had lost the support of the Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan. Dick and the Metropolitan Police have been criticised for badly handling several investigations, among other things. The new police chief will be chosen by the Government’s Home Secretary, Priti Patel, and the Mayor of London.…

The Pyrenees, Spain New dinosaur species discovered The remains of a new species of dinosaur have been found in the Spanish Pyrenees mountains. The titanosaur lived around 70 million years ago in the Cretaceous period. It is thought to have been around 20 metres long and weighed 14 tonnes. Bernat Vila, who led the research, said, “We were astonished by the large dimensions of this specimen.” Perdasdefogu, Italy The town with 10 centenarians The town of Perdasdefogu, on the Italian island of Sardinia, has set a new record – 10 of its residents are now over the age of 100. Vittorio Lai and Piuccia Lai both turned 100 recently, making them the ninth and 10th centenarians in the town. Perdasdefogu has a population of just 1,765. The oldest resident is…

“I can’t believe I’m 100 years old, but I am,” Beryl Carr told the BBC. Carr is the oldest volunteer in the NHS and helps out at the Friends’ Cafe in Ealing Hospital, in London. She joined the café in 2003 after her husband died because she said she enjoyed the friendship. People at the hospital said Carr was an inspiration and was always friendly and happy. Carr celebrated her 100th birthday last month with a big party and said she plans to carry on helping others. “I’ve got a lot more volunteering to do,” she said.…

“There’s no such thing as bad weather, just the wrong clothes.” This is advice from the Natural History Museum, London, which wants people to get outdoors and take a magical mystery tour of nature. Being in nature can lift your mood by making you feel calmer and happier. You can experience nature anywhere, whether in the countryside, a garden or a local park. The museum suggests starting your tour by stopping, listening and letting your senses enjoy what is around you. Then head to the nearest tree and really look at it. What does the bark look like, how does it feel, what does it smell like? Then see what animals and plants are nearby. Another thing you can do is go on a treasure hunt. Challenge yourself to spot…

Tim Peake, UK Peake was picked as the first ever British ESA astronaut. He spent 186 days on the ISS in 2015 and 2016. When he was there, Peake ran the 26-mile distance of the London Marathon on a treadmill while the real race was happening way down below. Samantha Cristoforetti, Italy Italian astronaut Cristoforetti was launched into space in 2014 and spent 199 days in orbit around Earth. That’s a record for the longest uninterrupted spaceflight by a European astronaut. She’ll be going back to the ISS this year. Matthias Maurer, Germany ESA’s current astronaut in space is Germany’s Matthias Maurer. He arrived on his first trip to the ISS on 12 November 2021 for a six-month mission called Cosmic Kiss, in which he will conduct scientific experiments. He…

INTERNATIONAL GARDEN PHOTOGRAPHER OF THE YEAR…

At the Winter Olympics in China, held from 4 to 20 February, there were many family connections in Great Britain’s team. Sisters Izzy and Zoe Atkin were selected for freestyle skiing, although Izzy couldn’t compete because of injury. Leonie and Makayla Gerken Schofield are skiing sisters who also took part. Brothers Farrell and Niall Treacy were in action in short-track speed skating. Sadly, none of the athletes won a medal.…

Ever wondered what your pet cat or dog is really thinking? Why do cats suddenly start chasing fresh air and dogs bark at absolutely nothing? Want to know if you can jump as high as a cat or speed through an agility course as fast as a dog? Head to the Cats and Dogs exhibition at the Horniman Museum in London to find out. Jo Hatton, the principal curator (someone who manages a collection) of natural sciences at the Horniman, says that the exhibition takes us on a journey into the wonderful world of cats and dogs, from the time they were first domesticated (tamed to live with humans) to today, when their widely differing sizes, shapes, colours and abilities make them seem like separate species. Hatton says, “It reveals…

Bunny Vs. Monkey and the League of Doom by Jamie Smart (David Fickling Books) Ever since Monkey crash-landed on Earth, he’s caused mayhem. Can Bunny and the gang stop his plans to take over the world? With a giant robot whale and a disastrous camping trip somehow in the mix, this is full of craziness and hilarious happenings. Comic Classics: Sherlock Holmes and the Hound of the Baskervilles by Jack Noel (Farshore) Solve a spooky mystery with super-sleuth Sherlock Holmes and his best buddy John Watson in this new book from the hilarious Comic Classics series. Packed with sketches and cartoons, it’s a brilliant version of a classic story. Frankie’s World by Aoife Dooley (Scholastic) Frankie is small for her age, loves punk rock – and knows she isn’t quite…

Name: Megan October, October by Katya Balen “Wild, imaginative, change. It has a lot of emotions, such as sorrow and hope. An amazing book about challenges and fear.” 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.* *If you are the competition winner, we will only use the details you provide to contact you and arrange delivery of your competition prize. Further details about how we manage the data you provide can be found at www.dennis.co.uk/privacy-policy…

Olaf Falafel is a children’s author, illustrator, dad of two daughters and a comedian. During the first lockdown he created an online Art Club (tinyurl.com/TWJ-olafart). Each episode was filled with jokes, useful drawing tips, funny animations and stupid jokes like this one:“Why did the baker have brown fingers? They kneaded a poo!” Over to you, Olaf… On a sort of baker/food theme, this issue features an Italian artist with “dough” in his name: Giuseppe Arcimboldo. Arcimboldo was a 16th century portrait artist who painted funny and quite clever pictures of faces made of books, trees, fish and other objects. He was portrait artist of the Roman Emperor Rudolf II and instead of making a traditional picture of him, Arcimboldo gave him a fruit-and-vegetable face. face. Luckily, the emperor had emperor…

After the COP26 conference last year, it’s exciting to see that charities, governments and scientists are meeting again, this time to talk about protecting the oceans (see page 2). The experts will discuss ways to reduce pollution, noise and overfishing and return the seas to health. It’s a huge challenge – but the oceans and everything that lives in them urgently need our help. I often wonder what animals would tell us if we could understand them. Anyone who heard The Week Junior Show podcast on 4 February (you can still listen to that episode) will already know that I’d like to ask cats and dogs why they do what they do. It was a joke, but it turns out it’s possible! Or at least, it’s possible to understand how…

“Here I am reading The Week Junior at Sick Kids Hospital in Edinburgh. I have just finished cancer treatment for leukaemia after two and a half years.” Harry “I have written a book with my mum called Brian the Brain because I think everyone should know about the science of emotions. I wanted it to be funny so other children would like it.” Samuel “I read about the upside-down house in Colombia in “Around the World”. Did you know that there is also an upside-down house in Brighton? This is me and my sister outside it.” Nicholas…

1 Which animal that looks like a character from Harry Potter has been born at Chester Zoo? ◻ a) A tawny owl◻ b) An aardvark◻ c) An adder 2 True or false? Paintings by a dog have sold at auction for nearly £500. ◻ True ◻ False 3 In Australia, koalas have recently been listed as what? 4 How much is the Astolat Dollhouse Castle, the most expensive toy in the world, worth? ◻ a) £620,000◻ b) £6.2 million◻ c) £62 million 5 True or false? Dr Ranj has written a book about human brains. ◻ True ◻ False 6 In which African country are millions of mangroves being planted? 7 In which year was the European Space Agency formed? ◻ a) 1973◻ b) 1975◻ c) 1977 8 True or…

Protests against Covid-19 restrictions are spreading around the world, inspired by a group of lorry drivers in Canada. The drivers have been protesting against Covid-19 rules that affect them when they cross the border between Canada and the US. As part of their protests, some drivers blocked Ambassador Bridge, which connects Windsor, in Canada with Detroit in the US. Around 25% of trade between the two countries goes across Ambassador Bridge. The bridge was blocked for six days before police removed the protesters and reopened it on 13 February. Around 4,000 protesters have also gathered in Canada’s capital city, Ottawa. Similar protests have taken place in Belgium, France, Israel, the Netherlands and New Zealand. A total of 54 people were arrested in Paris, France, when drivers tried to block off…

The Week Junior is working with the Stephen Lawrence Day Foundation (SLDF) to find Ambassador Schools for Stephen Lawrence Day on 22 April. An ambassador school is a primary or secondary school that takes part in Stephen Lawrence Day, with activities such as workshops and assemblies. Who was Stephen Lawrence? Stephen Lawrence was a black teenager living in London who had dreams of becoming an architect (someone who designs buildings). On 22 April 1993, when he was 18 years old, Stephen was killed by a group of white men. At first, nobody was caught for the crime. In 1997, an inquiry began into his death and the way the police had investigated it. This led to the Macpherson Report in 1999, which criticised the police investigation into Stephen’s murder. Two…

Play is an important part of childhood. It helps young people learn skills and stay active – and most importantly, it’s fun. Whether it’s creating imaginary worlds out of Lego or getting fit by riding a bike, everyone has a favourite way of playing. However, people’s tastes change – and then what happens to the toys that are no longer enjoyed, or the bike that becomes too small as the person grows? Usually they get stored somewhere and forgotten. Some people think that to avoid this happening, it should be possible to rent toys. That way, they can be sent back and someone else can use them. However, there are also people who like to own their toys and keep them forever. What do you think? Should young people rent…

Bees and other animals known as pollinators are essential to both farming and plants. A pollinator is any animal that carries pollen from the male parts of one flower to the female parts of another, allowing it to form seeds and reproduce. In the UK, pollinators include honey bees and solitary bees such as bumblebees, along with butterflies, moths and wasps, and some types of beetle and fly. In other parts of the world, plants also use birds and bats as pollinators.…

With new discoveries being made all the time, and threats to wild animals increasing, we don’t really know the total number of animal species in the world. Some recent studies estimate that there could be as few as 6,578 mammal species and 8,395 amphibian species, so it’s very important that we protect them and their natural habitats. 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…

Nine paralysed people have managed to walk with the help of a high-tech electronic implant (a device put inside the body) invented by scientists in Switzerland. In the most recent operation, a man who couldn’t move his legs or upper body after a bad motorbike crash has been able to walk again. Michel Roccati’s spinal cord was completely cut in the accident five years ago. The spinal cord is a bundle of nerve cells in your back that connects the brain to muscles throughout the body. When the spinal cord is completely cut, as it was in Roccati’s injury, the legs can’t receive signals from the brain. This means that Roccati can’t work his legs. The new implant picks up the signals that the brain is sending, makes them a…

Until recently, basketball stars Jordan and Patrick Whelan had never faced each other in a professional match. The brothers from Warrington, in north-west England, have loved the sport since they were boys; their mum played basketball and their dad was a coach. This season they are both competing in the British Basketball League (BBL). Jordan, who is 28, is appearing with Manchester Giants and Patrick, who is 25, is playing for the Leicester Riders. At the end of January, the Riders beat the Giants by 83 points to 69 in the BBL Cup final. On 11 February, Patrick enjoyed another win over his older brother as the Riders defeated the Giants 86-69, this time in a league game. The Whelan brothers both play as shooting guards. This means they try…

When you’re having a wobble it can be hard to know what to do at that moment. Having a collection of goodies that bring you comfort, relax you and lift your mood means you will have the tools to help yourself feel better. What is self-care? Self-care is looking after your mind and body. It’s taking care of your mental and emotional health, as well as your physical health. You are practising self-care even if you don’t realise it. Brushing your teeth is self-care. Going to bed because you’re tired and reminding yourself that you’re doing your best are also examples of self-care. Taking care of yourself is important because it builds your self-confidence too. Teacher and youth mentor Bec Coldicutt, who helps young people look after their wellbeing, says…

Gromit The popular pooch from the successful Wallace and Gromit TV shows and films is more than 30 years old. Gromit is the loyal pet beagle of Wallace, the eccentric inventor. Keep an eye out for a new Wallace and Gromit film coming in 2024. Garfield Garfield began life as a US newspaper comic strip back in 1978. The lazy, lasagne-loving cat who hates Mondays has since has his own books, TV series, multiple films and lots of merchandise. Snoopy Snoopy was created by Charles M. Schulz in the Peanuts comic strip back in 1950. The imaginative pet of Charlie Brown has appeared in books, TV shows and The Peanuts Movie in 2015. Snoopy was inspired by Schulz’s childhood pet dog, Spike.…

by Helen Rutter (Scholastic) Archie Crumb feels like he’s a pretty useless person. He always comes bottom of the class; gets picked on by the horrible B-B gang; and feels squeezed out of his dad’s new “perfect” family. He also has a big secret about how bad things are at home, where his mum is so depressed she stays in bed all day, leaving Archie to take care of them both. An accident on his bike sends Archie’s life in a wild new direction – his favourite footballer, Lucas Bailey, suddenly appears and grants Archie nine wishes. With the help of his best friend Mouse, can Archie wish his way to happiness? Full of twists and turns, this funny, heartfelt story is about friendship, family and believing in yourself. WIN!…

Table tennis is a sport where if you blink you may miss the action. At the top level it is very fast, with speedy shots across the table and quick reflexes needed to return the ball. Away from competitions, table tennis is also a fun activity to enjoy with friends as you try to master serving and choosing the best shots to beat your opponent. Matches can be played with single players, doubles or in team events. events. Each point starts with a player making an important shot called a serve. The serving player tosses the ball in the air, waits for it to drop and then hits it over the net and across the table. A player makes two serves and then the other player makes two. Your opponent…

Word fill in All these words fit in the grid. Can you work out where each word goes to complete it? 3 letters Ant Fox Owl 4 letters Newt Toad Worm 5 letters Robin Shrew 6 letters Hornet Mayfly 8 letters Hedgehog Ladybird 9 letters Butterfly Centipede 10 letters Fieldmouse Woodpecker Word jumble Rearrange the scrambled letters to form four words connected with chilly days. Wordsearch Can you find all of the words listed here? They are hidden horizontally, vertically or diagonally and may read forwards or backwards. AMBER BANANA BUTTER CANARY CATKIN CHEESE CHICK CORN COWSLIP DAFFODIL HONEY JASMINE LEMON OMELETTE PINEAPPLE SAND STRAW SUN TOPAZ TURMERIC Number tower Place a number in every circle to complete the tower. The value in each circle is the sum of the…

Name: Betsy “I am eight years old and just love swimming. I am challenging myself to swim five kilometres in February to raise money for Refugee Support Devon. I have been inspired by an amazing book I am reading called The Boy at the Back of the Class by Onjali Q. Raúf. The book is really eye-opening but also sad. It’s about a boy whose family is missing but he has some incredible friends. I have learned so much and I decided to take action to raise £300. I have already swum three kilometres in my first two week and raised over £600. I am determined to swim just as far as I can. as I know I can beat my target and I hope to raise £1,000 to make…

Teacher’s name: Mrs Power School: Great Barton Primary Academy, Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk, England “I would like to nominate Mrs Power as she likes to make learning fun. Our favourite part of her teaching is when she does fun things like art and computing. She always makes a joke about the learning, which makes it a real pleasure to have her as our teacher.” Laila, Hattie and Brooke 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…