Innholdsfortegnelse for 328 i The Week Junior

Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe has returned to the UK after being held in Iran for nearly six years. She spent more than four years in prison and around a year under house arrest. “House arrest” is when a person is not allowed to leave a particular house. Who is Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe? Zaghari-Ratcliffe is a British-Iranian citizen. Being a citizen of a country or state means that you have rights including being allowed to ask your government for help if you get into trouble abroad. In 2016, Zaghari-Ratcliffe worked for a charity and was arrested while visiting her parents in Iran with her 22-month-old daughter Gabriella. Gabriella stayed with her grandparents for three and a half years before returning to the UK in 2019 to start school. When she was arrested in Iran,…

RAISING MILLIONS ON RED NOSE DAY On 18 March, more than £42 million was raised for Comic Relief’s Red Nose Day. A four-hour TV show was broadcast, with presenters including Sir Lenny Henry. Olympian Tom Daley and YouTuber Nikki Lilly also featured and completed challenges. A NEW HOME FOR CRAYFISH Endangered white-clawed crayfish (the UK’s only crayfish species) have been given a new home in Northumberland, England, as part of a National Trust project. One hundred of the freshwater animals will be moved to the site, which has been created to help the crayfish breed and restore their numbers. A MONUMENT FOR WELSH WOMEN A statue of writer and feminist Elaine Morgan has been unveiled in Mountain Ash, in Wales. Morgan, who died in 2013, is only the second Welsh…

Sales of fake grass have increased a lot in recent years. It is easier to look after than real grass and many people prefer the clean and tidy look of plastic grass, using it to replace a living lawn. However, campaigners say fake lawns destroy wildlife habitats at a time when we should be trying to improve the environment, not damage it further. Together, UK gardens are larger than all the national nature reserves combined, which makes them as important for wildlife such as worms and insects (including bees) as they are for us. However, looking after a garden can be hard work, which not everybody is willing or able to do. Also why shouldn’t people be free to enjoy their outdoor space however they like? What do you think,…

Everybody has dreams. They can be funny, frightening, exciting and weird and can take many forms. To mark the clocks going forward on the night of 26 March, find out more about the world of dreams, why we have them and discover what they could mean. What are dreams? Dreams are stories or a series of events that take place in a person’s mind while they are asleep. Sometimes they are based on everyday experiences and seem very real; sometimes they are weird and confused. Experts think you dream around four to six times a night, even if you can’t remember them in the morning. Scientists don’t really know for sure for why we do it. One theory is that sleep is a chance for the brain to process thoughts…

Have you seen snowdrops and daffodils peeking out of the soil? Have you noticed that the days are getting longer, with more daylight to enjoy? These are signs of spring’s arrival, promising the return of light, colour and warmth. Spring is nature’s reminder that no matter how dark or cold things might be, better days are around the corner. What is hope? “Hope is the knowledge that things can get better,” says the author Bernadette Russell. When she was writing her latest book, How to be Hopeful, Russell spoke to people who had overcome extremely difficult moments, such as firefighters who tackled wildfires in Australia. “The firefighter said, ‘If we don’t fight it, there’s no chance of it stopping,’” explains Russell. However, hope is also about taking action, Russell says.…

It’s just over 24 years since the release of the first Gran Turismo game for Sony’s original PlayStation console. Not many cars last that long but this series of driving games has kept on racing. The latest version is Gran Turismo 7, which came out this month for the PS4 and PS5 consoles. It’s one of the best-looking racing games ever, with a huge collection of cars to collect and drive. You’ll need to put in lots of effort, though, because getting new cars for your collection involves working your way through a series of missions, earning licences and winning prize money that you can spend on buying and improving your vehicles. They are all based on real cars, which is one reason why the Gran Turismo games have been…

Have you ever made a fox friend? Unfortunately, no. I always admire them from a distance and then they zip speedily away before I can get too close. Biscuits or cake? Cake, for sure. Favourite Welsh word? This is a tough one. I’m going to have to say cwtch, which means hug. What inspired you to write this book? The idea for the firefox came from my love for Pokémon and making up my own magical creatures, but I also wanted to write a magical adventure where the main character has two dads. Put the two together, and you get The Last Firefox. Favourite season? I love autumn.…

Number fit All of these numbers fit in the grid. Can you work out where they go? We’ve placed one to start you off. 3 numbers 147 344 476 608 684 4 numbers 3212 3528 5026 7144 8522 9621 5 numbers 21235 56823 58516 90628 6 numbers 738238 924148 925674 7 numbers 2243105 2625645 6115259 8268212 8 numbers 28526634 82586332 98185631 9 numbers 237790989 546260274 654783826 Sudoku Place the numbers from 1 to 6 exactly once in each row, column and 2x3 bold-lined box, to complete the grid. Spot the difference These two pictures appear to be the same, but take a closer look. There are actually five differences. Can you spot them? Wordsearch Can you find all of the words listed here? They are hidden horizontally, vertically or diagonally…

World Wide Fund for Nature WWF is the biggest environmental organisation in the world – active in nearly 100 countries. On 26 March, WWF will mark Earth Hour, its annual “switch off” event when people around the world switch off the lights in their houses for one hour. Earth Hour has been happening for 15 years and is supported by new WWF ambassador Ellie Goulding. It is a reminder that even small actions can make a big difference for the planet. By making changes in our lives, we can inspire others to do the same. Take part at wwf.org.uk/earthhour…

“Our pet fish Daisy was really interested in the swimming elephant and flamingo.”Nora “Here’s a photo of my dog Panda reading The Week Junior with her much-loved stick!”William “After seeing a picture of the Cuban painted snail on the animals and environment page, I decided to do a drawing of one because they are so colourful and pretty.”Isla…

A survey of 500 teachers found that only 12% had been trained how to treat pupils equally when it comes to hairstyles. Many schools have rules about hair that can be difficult for black pupils to follow. In 2010, the Equality Act became law. Its aim is to protect people from being treated unfairly because of race, religion, disability or gender. However, some black pupils have been given detention or even excluded because of their hairstyles.…

More than 3.6 million people have left Ukraine to escape from danger since the country was invaded by Russia on 24 February. On 20 March, the United Nations (UN), an organisation of 193 countries that work together, said that 902 civilians (people who aren’t soldiers) had died so far. Many countries, including the UK, are welcoming refugees (people who have left their home country because of war or the threat of violence). The Welsh youth organisation Urdd Gobaith Cymru is offering accommodation, support and friendship to families arriving in Wales from Ukraine. Lots of people have been looking for ways to help, including readers of The Week Junior. Many have been sharing news and photos of how they’ve been supporting people from Ukraine and raising money for charities that are…

Growing up, TV presenter Ben Shires was fascinated by museums and their displays. “I’ve wanted to take things out of the display cases and touch them and feel the grooves where an ancient craftsperson has made them,” Shires says. However, he realised that museums get quite “uppity” if you try to take stuff out of their cases. “So I decided the best way to do that when I was young was to pick up bits and pieces for my own collection at home.” Shires has always been interested in history and this led him to get into metal detecting. Now, he’s sharing this passion with others in his new TV show Dig Detectives on Sky Kids. In the programme, Shires sets out with junior detectorists to see what objects they…

Doctors could have an unexpected new animal assistant in the fight against disease. A recent report showed that ants are surprisingly good at sniffing out cancer. Cancer is a group of diseases in which body cells misbehave and begin to reproduce uncontrollably in certain parts of the body. Although many types can be treated, finding cancer early is the best way to cure it. Dogs are well known for their ability to sniff out certain cancers as well as other diseases (see box). However, training dogs can take a long time, and medical tests and scans can be uncomfortable and they cost a lot of money. So a team of French scientists wondered if they could find a simpler way. Their research looked at a common species of black ant…

Lucid dreaming This is when a person knows that they are dreaming. These dreams still feel very real and appear lifelike. Some people say they can even control what happens in their lucid dreams. One theory is that these dreams happen when the person is not awake but they aren’t in a deep sleep. Nightmares Scary dreams are common and can often be based on things you might be worried about in everyday life or things in your imagination. If you have a nightmare, remember it is just a dream and cannot harm you. Talk to a grown-up about it and they will be able to help you get back to sleep. Sleepwalking This is when people walk around, sit up in bed or do things while they are still…

It was very important for me, my family, my country.” That’s what Ukrainian athlete Yaroslava Mahuchikh said after her emotional victory in the high jump at the World Athletics Indoor Championships (WAIC) on 19 March. Just a few weeks earlier, Mahuchikh had to leave her home city of Dnipro, in Ukraine, following the invasion by Russia. The 20-year-old left the city to find a safer place in the countryside. Her training for the WAIC became very difficult because of the attacks. It took Mahuchikh three days to drive to the tournament, which was held in Belgrade, the capital of Serbia. Her long journey was worth it, though, as she proudly celebrated her high jump success, which is her first senior world title. She won the gold medal after jumping a…

On 28 June 2009, Stephen Hawking held a party for some unusual guests. He waited patiently for them at the University of Cambridge, England, under a banner that read “Welcome Time Travellers”. Hawking had not told anyone about the party and only sent out invitations after it had finished. This meant that only genuine time travellers could attend the event in the past. Although no one turned up, Hawking said, “Maybe one day someone living in the future will find the information and use a wormhole-time machine to come back to my party, proving that time travel will, one day, be possible.” Hawking was one of the greatest scientists of the 20th century and changed the way people understood the universe. He died in 2018 at the age of 76…

The Case of the Smuggler’s Curse by Mark Dawson. Illustrated by Ben Mantle (Welbeck) The first book in the new After-School Detective Club series introduces us to Lucy, Max, Charlie and Joe, plus their faithful dog Sherlock. When they spot a phantom figure on the beach one winter’s night, the group must try and get to the bottom of some strange events. Agent Zaiba Investigates: The Smuggler’s Secret by Annabelle Sami. Illustrated by Daniela Sosa (Little Tiger) There are more smugglers in store in the latest mystery starring young super-sleuth Agent Zaiba. In this new story, a visit to an old shipwreck goes wrong when a priceless artefact disappears. Can Zaiba and her team find the treasure before it is lost for good? How to Steal the Mona Lisa by…

Name: Esther Ruby Redfort: Look Into My Eyes by Lauren Child “Adventure, mystery, spy. Ruby is a teenage spy who cracks codes, beats bad guys and has fun with her best friend Clancy!” 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. 23 Further details about how we manage the data you provide can be found at https://www.futureplc.com/privacy-policy/…

Passengers comfort crying child When a toddler began to cry on a flight from Dubai to Albania, the passengers sang Baby Shark to calm the boy. Parikshit Balochi, a radio DJ, posted a video of the incident on social media with the caption “Crying baby on a plane? No problem!” The video has been watched eight million times. “[We] began singing Baby Shark, and more and more people joined in,” Balochi told The National website. Their efforts paid off, the child brightened up and smiled for “the entire flight”. Balochi added, “A little kindness can go a long way.” Sleeping lord barred from debate A lord was stopped from making a speech in the House of Lords after apparently nodding off. The House of Lords is part of Parliament where…

Name: Daisy “Wicked eyes glow like the embers from a dying fire. Thick as thieves swallowed with transgression, A harrowing face under cloak of darkness. Perilous and slick. Oozing through the shadows. I have seen them moving as quick as a fox, isolated from everyone.” What have you been up to lately? Which books have you enjoyed reading? What have you made? Have you written a poem or drawn a picture that you’d like to see published on this page? Whatever you have to show or tell us, get in touch at hello@theweekjunior.co.uk JOKE OF THE WEEK “What do you call an orange’s back story? An origin story.” Beatrice…

Teacher’s name: Miss Griffiths School: Fibbersley Park Academy, Willenhall, Walsall “I think Miss Griffiths should be Teacher of the Week because even though she is having a baby and gets tired, she still works so hard and makes school fun for us. We have all been helping her and doing jobs so she can rest but she is always working hard and helping us with our work. We are going to miss her lots and can’t wait until she comes back.” Isabella 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…

If you’ve enjoyed this issue of The Week Junior, why not listen to our podcast, The Week Junior Show. This week, Bex from Fun Kids radio and members of The Week Junior team discuss Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe’s return home and growing food on Mars. Have a listen at tinyurl.com/TWJshow, or wherever you get your podcasts. Please include your full name and address so that we can send you a Roving Reporter badge if your contribution makes it onto the page. We will only use the details you provide to arrange delivery of badges, and we will not share them with anyone else. By submitting your reports and pictures, you give consent to The Week Junior to print them in the magazine and digital editions. We reserve the right to edit contributions…

The Government has been asked to take legal action against P&O Ferries after it sacked 800 of its staff without any warning. P&O Ferries sails passenger ships from the UK to Ireland and Europe. Before the pandemic, P&O Ferries carried about 10 million passengers per year. On 17 March, the workers were told that they would lose their jobs immediately. They have been replaced with new workers who are being paid less money. P&O Ferries said it had to do this for the business to survive. However, people have criticised P&O Ferries for treating the workers so badly, and some are saying the company might have broken the law. When a company is planning to get rid of 100 or more people, it must tell the Government’s Business Secretary at…

On 17 March, Members of Parliament (MPs) started discussing a possible new set of laws to protect people on the internet, called the Online Safety Bill. What is the Online Safety Bill? The Online Safety Bill is designed to protect adults and young people when they’re searching the internet. This is to stop abuse and false information from spreading online, particularly on social media. The Government’s Digital Secretary, Nadine Dorries, has compared the laws to buckling your seatbelt in the car. “Given all the risks online, it’s only sensible we ensure similar basic protections for the digital age,” she says. What will change? Apps or websites that allow people to post their own content – such as social media sites – will have to change. They will have to protect…

Ireland St Patrick’s Day parades return Parades and parties took place in cities, towns and villages in Ireland to mark St Patrick’s Day on 17 March. Over the past two years, large events to celebrate St Patrick – the patron saint of Ireland – have been cancelled because of the pandemic. In Dublin, Ireland’s capital, around 400,000 people lined the streets to watch the parade. Paris, France Cable car project approved A cable car system will soon connect districts in the southeast of Paris. Building work is due to start later this year on the Câble 1 line, which will link up with train systems in the city. It is set to open in 2025. The planned route will make a 2.7 mile journey possible in 17 minutes, less than…

Making compost at home is a great way to help the environment. Compost is organic material such as food and plant waste that has been broken down by natural bacteria in contact with air. It’s a great source of food for growing plants and it cuts the amount of waste that is sent to rubbish dumps. If you have a garden, you could ask an adult about building a composting area, but you can also make compost in a plastic drinks bottle or similar container. Ask an adult to help cut off the top and make some small holes in the base, then put it on a tray next to a sunny window sill. Start by adding a “brown” layer of dry leaves or scrunched-up paper or cardboard. Spray a…

Scientists at the University of Greenwich in London are experimenting with ways to make food on a future mission to Mars. The experiment, called Feeding Mars, uses water, fish and fish poo to try and grow herbs, fruit and vegetables in Martian soil. The team say the solution could be to grow plants and fish together in a system known as “aquaponics”. Keeping astronauts healthy on a journey to Mars and back is a huge challenge. Any mission would take at least 21 months to reach the Red Planet, explore its surface and return to Earth. It would be a big help if the astronauts could grow fresh food on Mars itself. Martian farming, however, will be tough. There’s plenty of water that could be taken from ice just below…

France rugby union team France won the men’s Six Nations title after a 25-13 win over England. The women’s Six Nations tournament begins on 26 March. Charles Leclerc The Ferrari driver won the Bahrain Grand Prix as the new Formula One season started. His teammate Carlos Sainz came second and Lewis Hamilton was third. Georgia Hall The English golfer enjoyed an impressive victory at the Saudi Ladies International event, winning by five shots. Manchester City Their men’s and women’s teams both won their FA Cup quarter-finals. The men’s side beat Southampton 4-1 and the women defeated Everton 4-0.…

by Lee Newbery. Illustrated by Laura Catalán (Puffin Books) Between bullies at school and big changes looming at home, Charlie is finding life a little bit scary. He wants to be brave and stand up for himself, but how? Things begin to change when Charlie encounters a strange boy at the town’s crumbling old castle. Suddenly he finds himself the guardian of a fox cub he names Cadno. Is Cadno an ordinary fox? No, he’s a firefox with the incredible power to burst into flames. Now it’s up to Charlie to protect Cadno from the sinister hunter trying to catch him. Looking after his flammable new friend isn’t going to be easy, especially if he’s going to keep it a secret from his two dads. An exciting, fast-paced and warm-hearted…

Holly King-Mand is the nation’s favourite English teacher; thousands of young people joined her free online lessons during lockdown. She enjoys both reading and watching Shakespeare’s plays and helping young people to discover what makes them so fascinating. If you’ve enjoyed this year’s Shakespeare Week, you’ll love this guide to mirroring his style in your own writing and really show some flair. You can find more tips at hollysclassroom.com 1 Choose your genre Shakespeare wrote three main genres (types) of plays: comedy, historical and tragedy. He used coloured flags outside the Globe theatre to let people know which type of play would be performed that day. If you want to write like Shakespeare, pick your genre. Consider writing a tragedy to send a strong message; a comedy full of twists…

Last week I wrote about endurance and hope, and this week’s cover story surely continues that theme. The news (p2) that Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe and Anoosheh Ashoori have been released from prison in Iran and are back with their families shows how endurance has seen them through. There are other people in Iran still waiting to be released and we all hope that the UK and Iranian governments will work together quickly to find a solution. Before Covid, one of the best things about working for The Week Junior was meeting readers in person. We were always asked which was our favourite page in the magazine. That’s usually too difficult but this week it’s easy: p16-17 Pictures of the Week. It features just some of your posters for peace in Ukraine.…

Race Against Hunger On 2 April, supporters of the Trussell Trust, a charity that provides food for people who most need it, will be holding their 5K Race Against Hunger. In the process, they’ll be raising money to help end the need for food banks in the UK. The race involves running or walking a distance of five kilometres. You can make your challenge and race suit you by starting at any time you like and planning your own route. Find out more at tinyurl.com/TWJ-RaceforHunger GET INVOLVED Email your news, views and pictures 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 we asked if school ties should be scrapped… “They should because some kids pull the ties and that can be dangerous.” “Yes! They are annoying. They take too much time to get right every morning.” “No because my school has them and I think they make us look smart.” “Yes! Ties aren’t very comfortable. Also, most adults don’t wear ties any more.” Tell us what you think of this week’s issue and we’ll print some of the best comments here.…

1 What is the name of the architecture prize won by Francis Kéré? □ a) Parker Prize □ b) Pritzker Prize □ c) Pritt Stick Prize 2 True or false? Seagulls have favourite fish and chip shops. □ True □ False 3 Which country has been named the world’s happiest for the fifth year in a row? 4 How many different species of grass are there in the grass family? □ a) 8,000 □ b) 9,000 □ c) 10,000 5 True or false? Ben Shires’ new TV show is called Dog Detectives. □ True □ False 6 Which type of pet is famous for its ability to sniff out certain diseases? 7 On average, people dream for how long each night? □ a) One hour □ b) Two hours □…