Innholdsfortegnelse for 338 i The Week Junior

The report on parties held during lockdown at 10 Downing Street has been published. The report was written by Sue Gray, a civil servant (a person who works for the Government but hasn’t been elected). What did the report investigate? The report looked at whether parties had taken place at 10 Downing Street (the official home of the Prime Minister) during lockdown. Sue Gray investigated 16 events in total. Gray works for the Cabinet Office, a department that helps with the running of Government. This means that the Prime Minister, Boris Johnson, is Gray’s boss. The report had been delayed until the end of a police investigation into lockdown parties, which finished on 19 May. The police issued 126 fines (money people have to pay as a punishment). Johnson and…

SWIMMING DOGS HELPING PEOPLE The owner of three Newfoundland dogs (a breed that is good at swimming) says that swimming with them can help people’s mental health. Pete Lewin has won an award for his work using Newfoundlands to help people with their emotional wellbeing. A LANGUAGE LOVER On 26 May, a blue plaque (a sign to say someone important lived there) for John Hannon was unveiled in Crossmaglen, Northern Ireland, 91 years after he died. During the late 19th century, Hannon helped preserve the Irish language and traditions by recording phrases, prayers and words to songs that had been passed down for generations. At the unveiling ceremony, local singers performed songs that would have been lost if it weren’t for Hannon’s work. YOUNG GARDENERS A garden created with help…

Empathy Day, which is on 9 June, is about understanding the feelings of others. Maisie Chan, who wrote Danny Chung Does Not Do Maths and the Tiger Warrior series, believes empathy “can help children walk in the shoes of other people”. Chan is working with Empathy Lab, which organises Empathy Day activities such as the Superpower Challenge. She will be part of Empathy Lab’s virtual event on 9 June, talking about how she expresses empathy with her books. Danny Chung Does Not Do Maths is on Empathy Lab’s Read for Empathy collection (a list of 60 books chosen for four to 16-year-olds to help people understand others). Chan’s new book, Keep Dancing, Lizzie Chu, which is out on 9 June, is about Lizzie, a British-Chinese girl who lives with her…

This year’s World Environment Day takes place on 5 June – an annual event that focuses on ways that people can help the planet. For 2022, the theme is Only One Earth, featuring events showing how the world’s natural resources are limited and how people can use them in sustainable ways. This theme is echoed by an international campaign called Save Soil, which encourages everyone to take better care of this overlooked but vital resource. Soil is a thin layer of material that covers most of Earth’s land surface, mixing ground-down rocks with material from once-living things. Healthy soil provides a place for plants to grow and supplies them with vital nutrients; it absorbs and retains water, which is vital to all life; and it’s also home to a huge…

If you’re up early in the countryside in winter, you may see thousands of noisy black birds suddenly taking flight to form a black cloud in the sky. These are jackdaws, the smallest members of the crow family. Now, a new study has revealed that these smart birds make group decisions in much the same way as humans – by using noises to reach an agreement. As highly social birds, jackdaws gather at popular resting places or roosts in winter. Around sunrise, they will take off at almost exactly the same moment. Researchers from the University of Exeter noticed that the birds tended to make lots of noise just before this take-off, so the team recorded sound and video at six roosts in Cornwall, England, to find out more. They…

The Tonga eruption sent waves of compressed air around the world several times. The strongest of these were powerful enough to be heard as booming sounds in Alaska, which is more than 6,000 miles away. A study showed that the waves of air were more powerful than those recorded in the huge 1980 eruption of Mount St Helens in the US. In Tonga, large sea waves called tsunamis developed as rocks and ash fell back into the waters around the volcano. These seriously damaged Tonga but fortunately lost much of their strength as they travelled across the Pacific Ocean.…

Keely Hodgkinson The British runner won the 800 metres race at a Diamond League event that was held in Eugene, US. Wigan Warriors In an exciting game at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in London, Wigan Warriors beat Huddersfield Giants 16-14 in the rugby league Challenge Cup final. Nottingham Forest They won the Championship play-off final 1-0 against Huddersfield Town. It means Forest will play football in the Premier League next season. Lorena Wiebes Wiebes won all three stages of the RideLondon Classique event. The Dutch cyclist also won the competition when it was last held in 2019.…

Food is one of the most important things in people’s daily lives. As our planet changes, the food we eat is at risk because of the effects of climate change (when there are long-term changes in world weather patterns, including rising temperatures). Kew Gardens in London is highlighting how important food and plants are with a new exhibition called Food Forever. The show lasts for the summer and takes visitors through four big artworks dotted throughout the gardens that you can walk into and explore. The team at Kew asked international artists to provide works to show the issues that affect different parts of the world. One of them is Thomas Dambo, a recycled-art activist based in Denmark who makes troll sculptures out of scrap materials, twigs and used wood.…

The Soup Movement by Ben Davis Oxford University Press) Jordan thinks it’s bad enough being the new boy at school without his mum sending him in with homemade soup every day. Then Jordan meets a homeless man called Harry and gives him the soup instead, sparking a new friendship. Soon the two of them are giving out soup to other homeless people – and so the #SOUPMOVEMENT begins. Mohinder’s War by Bali Rai (Bloomsbury Children’s) In the midst of the Second World War, British-Indian pilot Mohinder Singh crashes his plane in occupied France. There, he is discovered by 13-year-old Joelle. Can she and her family hide him from the Nazis and help to get him back home? This adventure is both thrilling and thoughtful. Being Me by Liz Brownlee, Matt…

If you want to try riding a motorbike and combining it with a fun sport, then have a go at trials biking. It involves riding a very light motorbike with a small engine over a series of obstacles on different terrains (types of ground). The skill in trials is to balance and control the bike around the course without having to put your foot on the ground. Trials is not about your speed on a motorbike and racing to the finish line. This makes it one of the safest types of motorbike sport – as well as one of the cheapest. Riders as young as four can get involved and have a go at a trials club. You will get coaching and instructions on how to ride the bike safely…

A man in Florence, Italy, called the police because he was shocked at the price of a coffee in a café. When the customer was charged £1.70 for a decaffeinated (no caffeine) espresso, he was so astonished that he wanted to check the price, but it wasn’t listed on the menu behind the counter. He called the police because there is a law in Italy that says a café must tell a customer the cost of a product before serving it to them. The coffee bar, Ditta Artigianale, which has won coffee-making competitions, was fined €1,000 (£846).…

Capture the wonders of the weather as part of the Young Weather Photographer of the Year competition, which is being run by the Royal Meteorological Society (RMetS) and The Week Junior Science+Nature. This international competition is open to anyone under the age of 18 from anywhere in the world. Get outside, take a brilliant picture of a cloud, thunderstorm or golden sunset, and enter before the 28 June deadline at tinyurl.com/SN-youngphoto 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 you should always finish your meals… “My mum gives us portions according to our nutritional needs and activity levels. I’m nine and have two older sisters.” “Yes, always.” “No, sometimes you might be full or not like it but in my house if I don’t finish it my dad does. Also you shouldn’t put too much food on your plate.” “YES. Definitely.” Tell us what you think of this week’s issue and we’ll print some of the best comments here.…

The 1922 Committee is a group of “backbench” Conservative MPs. Backbench MPs are not important ministers and they sit on the back benches in the House of Commons. The 1922 Committee gives these MPs a chance to say what they think of the Conservative Party’s leadership. The group plays a big role in triggering a vote of no confidence in a Conservative leader. The 1922 Committee was formed after backbench MPs withdrew support for Prime Minister David Lloyd George in 1922, which led to his being forced out of office. Today the 1922 Committee is led by the MP Sir Graham Brady.…

Minneapolis, US George Floyd honoured On 25 May, a crossroads in Minneapolis was renamed George Perry Floyd Square to honour George Floyd, who was killed by a police officer two years ago. Hundreds of people were at the ceremony, including Floyd’s family. The mayor of Minneapolis, Jacob Frey, said, “We have remembered George Floyd’s life and legacy.” Mont-Saint-Michel, France High-wire record broken Nathan Paulin has broken his own record for the longest walk along a slackline (a kind of tightrope). The walk was about 1.4 miles long and ended in the beautiful town of Mont-Saint-Michel. The slackline, which was two centimetres wide, was strung between a crane and the town’s famous abbey (a kind of church). Dakar, Senegal African art exhibition returns After being delayed since 2020 because of the…

Next time you’re out in nature, watch out for clumps of bubbly froth on the stems of green plants. This froth, called cuckoo spit, gets its name because it appears at about the same time that cuckoos return to the UK for summer. In reality, however, it has nothing to do with birds – it’s a protective coating around the tiny larvae of froghopper insects. These small bugs grow to about six millimetres long and get their name from an ability to make huge jumps if threatened. The “spit” hides offspring from predators as they suck sap from tender green plants, and stops them from drying out. What’s more, it comes from the opposite end of their bodies – the insects make it by forcing bubbles or air through a…

In the week of the Platinum Jubilee, what better animal to celebrate than the corgi? Queen Elizabeth II is thought to have owned at least 30 in the course of her reign but the breed has humble origins – they were originally used to herd cows in Wales. 12-15years Originallyfarmanimalsinsouth-west Wales, the breed is now a popular pet. About30centimetrestalland 60 centimetres long. Meatfatandvegetables. Thecorgis distinctive short-legged appearance is reflected in its name, which comes from the Welsh words cor (dwarf) and ci (dog).…

PINK LADY FOOD PHOTOGRAPHER OF THE YEAR 2022…

Summer is the perfect time to get outdoors and experience the joys of nature. This is not only good for your body, it can also help your mental health – and most importantly it is a lot of fun. As explorer and adventurer Ed Stafford told The Week Junior, “To spend time outdoors is to return to a more natural way of life, one where all your senses are reinvigorated, and that is where good things start to happen.” What is going wild? Going wild is spending time outdoors and immersing yourself in nature. This could be going for a walk in the countryside or a park, going to a nature reserve or camping out overnight. It can also involve learning about the wilderness around you – such as the…

(Macmillan Children’s Books) When 12-year-old Marcus kicks his football over the school fence, he knows it’s gone forever. The next morning, when Marcus is at Breakfast Club, he is invited to join a secret society known as the Breakfast Club Investigators. Along with new friends Stacey, Lise and Asim, he has an exciting mystery to solve because there’s something strange lurking beyond the fence… Star footballer and campaigner Marcus Rashford’s non-fiction book You Are a Champion recently won Book of the Year at the British Book Awards. This is his first fiction book and takes inspiration from his own childhood to create a super-fun story about friendship, community and having exciting adventures. WIN! We’re giving away six copies of The Breakfast Club Adventures For a chance to win a copy,…

How can I get involved? There are lots of trials clubs around the UK. The Auto Cycle Union (ACU) helps organise motorcycle sport in Britain. With the help of an adult, go to acu.org.uk and click on the “find a club near you” button to search the directory. Most have beginner sessions where you can hire a bike and safety equipment. What about other motorbike activities Motocross is an off-road motorbike event. It takes place on a track, involves jumps and cornering and is much faster than trials. Grass track is racing on a longer, oval circuit. Speedway is similar but is done on a dirt or loose gravel track.…

After weeks of planning (or years, for some people) it’s finally here: the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee! It’s a world record of a reign, and on p12 we have a look at the long life of Elizabeth II and how, when she was born, she was never expected to be Queen. Here at The Week Junior we’ve been talking about the Jubilee for so long, you’d think we’d be bored of it. Not a bit! I am so excited to join in the parties and I will definitely be trying out Mary Berry’s delicious scones on p25. The Jubilee feels like the start of a summer of events. In three weeks, we’re launching our Summer of Reading campaign. We’re also asking you to save the date of 16 July for a…

“This week I enjoyed potting plants in my garden for my patio. I really enjoyed it and definitely recommend spending time gardening outdoors.”Jessica “I like to read in my garden where I can relax in my hammock. I love reading all the interesting articles – especially this one about Ukraine winning Eurovision.”Joss “I made this piece of art using Olaf’s instructions in a previous issue. Here I am holding my tingatinga dung beetle artwork in my garden.”Lachlann…

The use of electric scooters (e-scooters) in the UK has shot up in recent years. You can spot them zipping around roads and pavements across the country. They have got even more popular since the pandemic because some people prefer them to public transport. However, at the moment it is against the law to use them in public in the UK. The Government is planning to introduce new rules so they can be used legally and safely. In February, the Government announced trials for renting e-scooters in 31 areas of England, saying that they are an environmentally friendly form of transport that reduces pressure on public transport. However, many people feel that e-scooters are dangerous and cause accidents. What do you think? Should e-scooters remain banned? Yes – they’re a…

Healthy soils contain a vast range of microscopic life. Known as the soil microbiome, tiny animals, fungi and a huge variety of bacteria (the smallest living things of all) help break down organic matter (waste from living things), then enrich the soil with chemicals as they die in turn. Fungi and bacteria growing around plant roots then help extract these from the soil and turn them into nutrients that plants can use to grow. Many scientists say the best way to boost damaged soils is first to feed the microbes to ensure the microbiome recovers.…

It has to be the Southern cassowary. These magnificent birds have striking glossy black plumage and a bright blue neck, with two wattles of red skin hanging from their throat. Cassowaries can grow up to 1.7 metres tall and have powerful legs and long, three-toed feet. We have a male and a female at Edinburgh Zoo. Their beautiful colour and height make them truly special. Do you have a question about an animal you would like answered? We’d love to include it in the magazine. Send your question in an email to hello@theweekjunior.co.uk…

Asurvey of a volcano in the Pacific Ocean shows that it mostly survived a powerful eruption. Many experts thought the blast would have torn apart the underwater mountain, known as Hunga Tonga-Hunga Ha’apai. The volcano is part of the island country of Tonga. It erupted in January 2022, The explosion was the biggest ever recorded by modern instruments. Some people have suggested it was as powerful as the famous Krakatoa blast of 1883. It sent enormous waves called tsunamis across the Pacific Ocean and even affected clouds over the UK, about 10,000 miles away (see panel). Tonga itself was covered in a thick layer of volcanic ash and suffered severe damage around its coasts as the tsunamis washed ashore. A team from New Zealand’s National Institute for Water and Atmospheric…

Harry Kane and Ellen White are both successful footballers who have scored lots of goals for England over many years. Jamie Clarke is another great striker just like them, and proud of his achievements on the pitch. Clarke captains the England men’s deaf football team. He has played for his country since he was 17 and it was always his dream to be involved with the sport. “Growing up, all I wanted to be was a professional footballer,” he tells The Week Junior. “A lot of professional clubs scouted me but I didn’t get in because I was deaf. Then England found me and I was like, ‘Whoa, this is incredible!’ They had deaf players the same as me and it was amazing.” Clarke has scored more than 60 international…

Record-breaking explorer Ed Stafford says you do not need to spend lots of money on kit to get started outdoors. “Some trainers and a waterproof is all you need.” Stafford says people should try sleeping outside for a night. This could be at a campsite with an adult or in a garden. He says, “Grab your duvet and sleep in the garden one night over the summer. Check the weather forecast and just do it. Looking at the stars is magical and if it rains or you get too cold you can come back indoors. Nothing lost!”…

Moving house is something that happens in the real world but it’s rarely a subject for games. There aren’t any removal vans in Fortnite, for example, and you’ll notice that none of the tasks in Among Us involve rummaging through cardboard boxes to find the toaster. However, Unpacking is a game based around one of the main processes of moving house: unpacking all those cardboard boxes. Yes, including the toaster. It’s a relaxing puzzler, in which you play a character about whom you know nothing at the start of the game. Each level is based on her moving to a new home, and your job is to unpack her possessions neatly – learning about her story as you go along. Unpacking came out for Switch, Xbox One and PC in…

What’s your favourite thing about reading? Escaping, getting lost in a story, feeling a sense of freedom. Learning and strengthening my mind. Do you have a favourite breakfast cereal? Weetabix or Cornflakes. What’s your favourite part of the book? When we start to see the growth of Marcus’s character. He’s quite closed off at the beginning, he sticks to what he knows, but by the end he opens himself up to new experiences and new environments, and I hope the young people reading the book can take something away from that. Did you ever investigate anything as a kid? Honestly, we made something out of nothing in my community. We had to use our imagination but our hub was the community centre where we could come together three times a…

If you’re going to a Platinum Jubilee street party, scones are a great treat to take along to share. This recipe is by star baker Mary Berry, former Great British Bake Off judge. It appeared in the 25 May issue of Country Life magazine. You can find more at countrylife.co.uk “Roll them out quite thickly to start with; they never rise as much as you think they will,” says Berry. “As the dough is quite deep, dip the cutter in flour before cutting out each scone to prevent the dough from sticking to it.” What you need Makes 10 75g chilledandcut into cubes, plus extra for greasing 350g self-raising plusextrafor dusting 1½ tsp baking powder 30g caster sugar 75g sultanas 150ml 2large beaten Baking sheet Mixing bowl Round-bladed knife Wire…

Name: Amora “On 17 April, I played and won the British Junior Golf Tour at Cambridge Country Club, which was also hosting a qualifier for the World Junior Championship. With this win – and scoring 85 – I qualified to play for the world championship in San Diego in July. When you play 18 holes, you add up your score and you must not only win but the score needs to be less than 90 to qualify, which is a very difficult benchmark. It was an incredibly good golf course with lush, green fairways and tall trees. I’m proud to represent my country at such a young age and I hope to inspire other girls to take up sport and really excel in it.” What have you been up to…

Teacher’s name: Mr Evans School: Balfour Primary School, Brighton “Mr Evans has inspired a whole generation of girls to love and play football, through PE with the school and by creating a football academy called Brighton Galaxy Girls. Through the teams and players he has raised money for charities (local food banks and Children in Need). I want to thank him for all he has done for me and the girls that play for the school and Galaxy.”Lois 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…

1 Zimbabwe is hoping to get permission to sell which rare product? 2 What kind of art was celebrated with a contest in Bristol, England? 3 Which former prime minister marched to protest against the government in Pakistan? 4 How many e-scooters are believed to be in use across the UK? ■ a) 75 ■ b) 750,000 ■ c) 750,000,000 5 True or false? Jonathan Kennedy Sowah travels around Ghana teaching people how to build kettles. ■ True ■ False 6 What were corgis first bred to do? 7 Who was the Queen’s father? ■ a) King George VI ■ b) King Charles I ■ c) Oliver Cromwell 8 How many Prime Ministers have there been during Queen Elizabeth II’s reign? 9 True or false? The eruption of an underwater…