Innholdsfortegnelse for 344 i The Week Junior

Gotabaya Rajapaksa, the president of Sri Lanka, has left the country on a military plane after protesters broke into the presidential palace on 9 July during demonstrations. Why are people protesting? The protests on 9 July were the latest demonstrations to take place over the last few months. Protests began because the country is suffering from an economic crisis – severe problems related to its trade, goods and money. Inflation (when money becomes worth less) means that basic food items now cost twice as much as they did last year, leading to hunger. There have also been shortages of fuel and so schools have had to close because teachers and students can’t get to class. Many Sri Lankans think the country’s rulers, including Rajapaksa and his powerful family, are to…

A TEENAGE GO-KARTER A field of purple flowers in Cornwall, England, was recently turned into a go-kart track. The farmer who owns the field mowed a temporary race track into the field so that his son, go-karter Daniel, who is aged 16, could practise for an upcoming race. FRUITY PENGUIN CHICKS Newborn penguin chicks in Chester Zoo, England, have been given the names of fruits. The nine newborn penguins include Cherry, Papaya, Plum, Peach, Rhubarb and Satsuma. Chester Zoo’s Sophie Bissaker said there’s nothing like seeing “balls of fluff snuggled up with their parents, moments after hatching.” ALPHABET SOUP A man has broken a world record for the quickest time to sort letters from alphabet soup into alphabetical order. Jacob Chandler from Oregon, US, placed the gloopy letters from A…

Actor, comedian and author Sir Lenny Henry loves libraries. In fact, when he spoke to The Week Junior, he was at Manchester’s Festival of Libraries. “There are so many young people who don’t have access to books,” Henry says. “Libraries are important because they’re free. You sign up, and you have access to any book you want. And I think it’s the most wonderful thing.” Henry was eight years old when his Aunt Pearl signed him up to join the library. “I was encouraged by the library to read and broaden my frame of reference,” he says. Henry, who is famous for films such as The Pirates! In an Adventure with Scientists! and guest appearances on Doctor Who, recently wrote The Boy with Wings, one of the 50 books suggested by…

A hollow halfway up a tree might seem like an odd place to look for a water-loving animal, but the results of a new survey have revealed that common toads in the UK are skilful tree climbers. The surprising discovery was made by researchers from the University of Cambridge, working with Froglife, a charity dedicated to amphibians (animals such as frogs and toads that divide their time between being on land and in water). The team looked at reports from volunteers who were studying special nest boxes as part of the National Dormouse Monitoring Programme and the Bat Tree Habitat Key project. “We couldn’t believe what we found,” said Nida Alfulaij of the People’s Trust for Endangered Species, which supported the work. “We’re used to discovering woodland birds and other…

From 28 July to 8 August, athletes from 72 nations and territories in the Commonwealth of Nations will compete in the 22nd Commonwealth Games in Birmingham, England. The games, which take place every four years, will feature 6,600 athletes competing in 20 sports. England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland will have separate teams, unlike the Olympics where they compete together as Great Britain. The Birmingham 2022 Festival is part of the games and runs until September. It features more than 200 arts and culture events celebrating creativity. What is the Commonwealth Games? The Commonwealth Games is a sporting event held every four years between members of the Commonwealth of Nations – a group of independent countries, most of which used to be part of the British Empire. The Games were…

Scientists at the University of Tokyo, in Japan, have built a robot finger that looks and feels like the real thing, thanks to a pink layer of living skin grown from human skin cells. The researchers say the skin can heal itself and even hold on to moisture, giving it a “slightly sweaty” feel. Shoji Takeuchi, a professor who led the work, described it as “just the first step toward creating robots covered with living skin.” He added that such inventions could build a new relationship between humans and robots. Enjoy these stories? Find more in this month’s The Week Junior Science+Nature magazine sciencenature.theweekjunior.co.uk…

England women’s football At UEFA Euro 2022, England topped their qualifying group after an amazing 8-0 win against Norway. Beth Mead scored a hat-trick (three goals). Great Britain’s rowing team Team GB topped the medal table at the 2022 World Rowing Cup regatta in Switzerland. They won seven golds, a silver and a bronze. Rosberg X Racing The motorsport team won the Extreme E X Prix in Sardinia, Italy, extending its championship lead to 37 points. Extreme E races electric vehicles off-road in remote places, aiming to highlight climate change. Annemiek van Vleuten The Dutch cyclist won the Giro d’Italia Donne, a major cycling event held in Italy.…

The classic British film, The Railway Children, was released in 1970, and has been popular with children and adults ever since. Now, 52 years later, a sequel with new characters, and one familiar face, has been released. The Railway Children Return is set during the Second World War, when three siblings from Manchester, England – Lily, Pattie and Ted – are evacuated (sent away to keep them safe) to Yorkshire. They are taken in by Bobbie, who was a main character in the original film and is now grown up with a daughter and grandson. The children meet a young US soldier in trouble and decide to help him get home. The cast told The Week Junior about their experiences acting in the film in Yorkshire, where the original Railway…

What Can I Do? by Mary Richards (Agnes and Aubrey) This book is crammed full of inspiring and creative activities. There are lots of ideas for things to design, craft or invent. Design your own museum, draw a self-portrait, create a board game or invent a new typeface. All you’ll need is a pencil, paper and your imagination. Solve It: Guess the Word (HarperCollins) With more than 140 different words to guess, this puzzle book is perfect to pop in your pocket or backpack for long journeys. Inspired by the popular online game Wordle, it is great entertainment for anyone who loves word games, whether you’re playing on your own or challenging friends and family to see who can solve the puzzle first. The Looking Book by Lucia Vinti (HarperCollins)…

Name: Freddie “Funny, magical and exciting. It’s a great book that you can’t put down, for those who love a crazy tale with twists and danger.” 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. Tell us what you liked about the book and why you’d recommend it to others, and don’t forget to 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.futureplc.com/privacy-policy…

I hope everyone has been enjoying the sunshine! Parts of the country have been very hot indeed, and we’ve got a report (p5) about how to enjoy the outdoors safely. I am very fair-skinned with lots of freckles, so I am making sure I follow all the steps, although those ice lollies given to animals in zoos to keep them cool look very tempting… Sometimes when it’s hot the only thing to do is flop down in the shade with a good book. Our Summer of Reading campaign has got lots of brilliant suggestions for good reads, and one of the fantastic authors, Lenny Henry, is interviewed on p9. On p19, we explain why reading is such a powerful tool in helping to build empathy. It’s because your brain thinks…

“At my sports day we had more chances to compete than we have had in the past few years and the parents were able to watch for the first time in two years. I signed up for the sprint race. I had lots of fun and I also really enjoyed being able to eat lunch with my parents.”Jessica “I made the Mary Berry scones from the recipe in the Jubilee issue. Everyone in my family agreed they were delicious.”Toby “We took this picture of a moth with an incredible disguise.”Elliot and Reuben…

1 D.S. Senanayake was the first prime minister of which country? ◻ a) Myanmar ◻ b) Sri Lanka ◻ c) Pakistan 2 True or false? The Conservative Party’s new leader will be announced on 5 October. ◻ True ◻ False 3 In which country are young voters being offered free noodles? 4 Which emoji was named Word of the Year in 2015? ◻ a) Crying with laughter ◻ b) Heart eyes ◻ c) Thumbs up 5 True or false? Lenny Henry’s latest book is about a boy who grows wings. ◻ True ◻ False 6 Which UK animal can produce toxic liquid from bumps on its back? 7 Where is the 2022 Commonwealth Games taking place? ◻ a) Bristol ◻ b) Brighton ◻ c) Birmingham 8 True or false? The…

Washington DC, US Gymnast receives highest honour Simone Biles became the youngest person to receive the Presidential Medal of Freedom. The gymnast was presented with the award by President Joe Biden. After giving Biles the medal to add to her 32 Olympic and World Championship medals, Biden joked, “I don’t know how you’re going to find room.” Seville, Spain City to give heatwaves names Seville, in southern Spain, is set to become the first city in the world to name heatwaves (spells of very hot weather) and grade their severity. The idea is to warn people of possible dangers. Heatwaves in Spain have become more frequent in recent years, which has been linked to climate change (long-term changes in world weather patterns). Buenos Aires, Argentina Protesters march over cost of…

Maeeda Khan’s first book, Nura and the Immortal Palace, is Waterstones’ Children’s Book of the Month. It tells the story of Nura, a girl from Pakistan who works digging mica (a mineral used in lots of everyday products) out of the ground for a company that sells it. Lots of children are used in the industry and the work is very hard. Khan says she wanted the story to use magical themes to tackle real problems, and to create a world that shows Muslim culture in a positive way. She believes that readers can connect with Nura. Khan told The Week Junior, “She comes from nothing and is able to make her dreams happen.”…

Children’s Poetry Festival Birmingham children have been invited to write poetry about the Games, around themes of equality, humanity and the power of the human body. They will be displayed in Birmingham Cathedral and Cathedral Square until September. Precious Emily From 15 to 17 September, theatre company Stan’s Café will perform the play Precious Emily at the Midlands Arts Centre. It’s the story of how Precious McKenzie overcame the difficulties in his life to become a Commonwealth weightlifting champion. The play will also be performed by 10 primary schools. Play in Common On show from 7 July to 30 September, this outdoor sculpture was created with the help of children, families and carers. It explores the many ways in which people play.…

Astronauts whose bones are weakened by spaceflight may not recover even after returning to Earth, according to a new study. This raises questions about how humans will cope on long space missions. The weightless conditions in space mean that astronauts’ bodies are not constantly exercising in the same way as they are on Earth. Muscles get weaker but bones are also affected because the body does not replace minerals that are needed. Since 2015, doctors at the University of Calgary in Canada have been studying the problem by comparing scans of astronaut tibias (shinbones) made before flight, directly after return to Earth, and after six and 12 months of recovery time. Their results show that a year after returning to Earth, bones still have up to 2.1% lower mineral density…

BIGPICTURE NATURAL WORLD PHOTOGRAPHY COMPETITION…

Have you read a story and felt tears well up because of a character’s suffering? Empathy is the ability to understand the feelings of other people – and it can be learned by reading fiction. “It’s a superpower; a magic eye that sees into other people’s hearts,” explains author Cressida Cowell. How reading boosts empathy Research shows that human brains react differently to stories and facts. “Many more areas of our brain light up when we’re being told a story,” explains Miranda McKearney from EmpathyLab (empathylab.uk), an organisation that builds empathy through reading. “Your brain thinks you are in the story… this means we experience the characters’ feelings as if they are real.” This helps you understand the emotions of other people. What are the benefits? Empathy helps you to…

Kung Fu Panda: The Dragon Knight Available now on Netflix This 11-episode series follows Po, the panda from the original film series (see Film Club, below) once again voiced by Jack Black. He teams up with an elite English knight (voiced by British pop star Rita Ora) to fight an evil pair of weasels and save the world. Hocus Pocus 2 YouTube The trailer for Hocus Pocus 2 has been released. The film is a sequel to the 1993 original film, which was about the wicked Sanderson sisters from the 17th century, who came back from the dead to make big trouble in Salem, US. In the sequel, it’s up to three high school kids to stop them causing havoc again, 29 years later. The Railway Children 1.50pm on 17…

(Macmillan Children’s Books) After months of isolation in hospital, Charity Brown leads a quiet and lonely life. But when her family unexpectedly inherits a huge old house, everything changes. Her religious parents decide to open their new home to anyone in need, so Charity is soon mixing with lots of new people, from a German survivor of the Second World War to a young Indian student far from his family. There’s also the Austrian family next door, including Rachel, who becomes Charity’s friend in spite of their different backgrounds. Meanwhile, Charity’s older siblings, Faith, Hope and Ted, are exploring the possibilities their future lives might hold. Set in the 1950s, and inspired by the author’s own childhood, this is a lovely story told in Charity’s chatty voice. Perfect for fans…

Starting in the US in the 1930s, roller derby has grown to become a popular sport played all over the world. Two teams of roller skaters race each other on an oval track to score points. With a lot of pushing and contact between players, it may look dangerous but there are strict safety rules and players wear protective equipment. Each roller derby team has five players on the track, from a squad of 14, all wearing four-wheeled skates and moving anticlockwise. Four players are blockers and one is a jammer. The jammer’s job is to get past the other team’s blockers and they earn a point for each blocker they go by. Blockers try to stop the jammer. They are not allowed to use their arms, legs or head…

Name: Anna “I’ve always loved reading and writing stories. This story is about a little boy who doesn’t want to go to bed. I feel the same way a lot of the time! I was singing a poem I made up and my parents urged me to write it down. A publisher liked it and encouraged me to add more verses. I had to do a lot of corrections. We were so glad to find an illustrator who could draw what was in my head, including the hamsters! I’m excited that some money from each book will help refugees from Ukraine. Find out more about Ned, Ned, Bed, Bed, Bed! at elgapress.co.uk” What have you been up to lately? Which books have you enjoyed reading? What have you made? Have…

Tributes have poured in after Shinzo Abe, the former Prime Minister of Japan, died on 8 July. Abe was shot while making a speech on behalf of his political party, the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP), in the city of Nara. Japan’s current prime minister, Fumio Kishida, responded to the news by saying, “We will not be defeated by violence.” Other world leaders, including UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson, said they were shocked by what had happened. Shinzo Abe was Japan’s longest-serving prime minister, serving in office from 2006–2007 and again from 2012–2020. Although the laws around gun ownership are very strict in Japan, the person accused of the murder is said to have had a homemade gun. He said he did it because his mother had given too much money…

Boris Johnson announced on 7 July that he would resign (step down) as Prime Minister of the UK and leader of the Conservative Party. This means that the party will have to pick a new leader, who will become the next Prime Minister (PM). Why did Johnson resign? Johnson stepped down because he had lost the support of his party. On 5 July, two senior Government ministers, Rishi Sunak and Sajid Javid, resigned from their posts. This was followed by more than 50 resignations by other members of the Government, which is made up of Conservative MPs (Members of Parliament). Many of those resigning said they could no longer support Johnson after he made a series of mistakes. These included attending parties during lockdown, when large social gatherings were illegal.…

When emojis were officially made a part of mobile phone keyboards in the early 2010s, they very quickly became a part of languages across the world. By 2018, it was found that six billion emojis were being sent every day, and three quarters of adults used emojis in messages. You can use emojis to express emotions by showing facial expressions, or you can show you care about someone by adding a heart to the end of a message. As more and more emojis are added to the collection, they have developed their own meaning and formed their own language. However, some people don’t like emojis, and believe they should not be a substitute for words. What do you think? Are emojis ruining language, or are they a good way to…

A boy from Norfolk, England, has become a social media sensation after he wore a sequinned dress to his school prom. Korben White, aged 16, turned up to the celebration in a red outfit that combined a tuxedo (a type of smart jacket) and a ballgown, and he was greeted with cheers from friends and teachers. After a photo was tweeted by his mum, Nina, it received millions of views. Korben said, “To be called an inspirational person is everything I could ask for. All the comments have been really lovely – and I’ve loved having the opportunity to show people that you can express yourself.”…

NATURE SPY If you’re near a beach in some parts of the UK this summer, keep a careful look out for harbour seals as mothers come ashore to have their pups. Also known as common seals, they can be seen on sandy shores along England’s south and east coasts, and on rocky coastlines around Scotland and Northern Ireland. The biggest males can grow to 1.85 metres long but females are much shorter. You can tell them apart from the slightly larger grey seal not by colour, but by their shorter, rounder snouts and V-shaped nostrils. Pups can swim when they are just a few hours old, but they still need time to rest on the shore, so don’t disturb them by getting too close – and be sure to keep…

Could a sudden boom in the size and variety of ancient life have been linked to dramatic changes deep inside the Earth? About 550 million years ago, in the Cambrian period of prehistory, so many new animals appeared that the event is referred to as the “Cambrian explosion”. Scientists have long wondered what triggered the change, after billions of years in which life was mostly microscopic (see panel). Now, it seems that the formation of Earth’s inner core – a solid iron ball at the centre of Earth – was crucial. The inner core lies about 3,000 miles below Earth’s surface and is 1,500 miles across. It is surrounded by a liquid-metal outer core and is slowly growing as the liquid metal cools. Heat from the inner core powers swirling…

A new star and a famous player have been crowned Wimbledon singles tennis champions. Elena Rybakina won her first women’s title and Novak Djokovic took the men’s crown for an impressive seventh time. Wimbledon is held in south-west London, and matches are played on grass. It is the most famous tennis tournament in the world. Rybakina, who represents Kazakhstan, is the first person from the country to win a Grand Slam. The tennis Grand Slams are the four most important championships: the Australian Open, French Open, US Open and Wimbledon. The 23-year-old beat Ons Jabeur, from Tunisia, by two sets to one on Wimbledon’s Centre Court. It was also the first time that Jabeur had reached a Grand Slam final. Djokovic’s victory was less of a surprise to tennis fans.…

The new film Thor: Love and Thunder, which was released on 7 July, features a few unexpected young guest stars. Children of the actors Chris Hemsworth (Thor), Natalie Portman (Jane) and Christian Bale – who plays villainous Gorr the God Butcher – appeared in the film. The director, Taika Waititi, also invited his children to be part of the action. In the film, Hemsworth’s son plays a younger version of Thor, and his daughter appears as Love, the daughter of Gorr. “They really wanted to be in it,” Hemsworth says of his children. Bale’s son and daughter, who are in the film, convinced him to play the part of Gorr. Bale told the website Screen Rant, “I said to my family, it’s not going to work. But they said, ‘You’re…

Describe your book in three words. Warm-hearted, funny and honest. Why did you write it? The characters in my book are inspired by my memories, about my family, my home and my friends, as they were years ago. Best childhood memory? An aunt came to stay at Christmas. We passed a shop with a box of beautiful colour crayons in the window which I couldn’t stop looking at. She got them for me and I still have them! Favourite dessert? Raspberry meringue pie, of course! Any advice for young writers? Read as many books as you can and write a little bit every day. Get off your phones and tablets – make friends, learn skills, join clubs, see life! Then you’ll have something to write about. THE WEEK Junior Summer…

What is junior roller derby? It is a roller derby for under-18s. The rules are pretty much the same but there are three levels – level 1 works on basic skating skills; level 2 requires some contact with other players; and level 3 is full contact. Junior roller derby is usually based on these skill levels and not a player’s age or gender. How old do you need to be to play? Junior roller derby has no set age limit but generally from around the age of eight you should be able to take part in training sessions and matches. Being confident on skates is a big part of the sport, so practise skating as much as possible.…

Mr Happy Face, a 17-year-old part-Chinese crested, part-chihuahua mixed-breed dog, is the winner of the World’s Ugliest Dog competition. The annual event, which organisers say “celebrates the imperfections that make all dogs special and unique”, was held in California, US, on 24 June. Dogs are judged on their appearance and how the audience reacts to it, competing to win £1,250. Mr Happy Face’s owner, Janeda Banelly, adopted the rescue dog last year and described him as “the happiest creature that I have ever met”.…

Cancer Research UK’s Race for Life Pretty Muddy Kids events are taking place around England and Wales from now until September. The Pretty Muddy Kids courses will get you climbing over, crawling under and charging through various obstacles – all in aid of raising money for more research and better treatment to help beat cancer. Find out how you can sign up at raceforlife.org/prettymuddykids GET INVOLVED Email your news, views and pictures to hello@theweekjunior.co.uk…

Teacher’s name: Mr Honey School: Hydesville Tower School, Walsall “Mr Honey is simply the BEST headmaster in the world. He always wants to know what we are up to with our activities in and out of school. Mr Honey is not only very supportive, but so encouraging and he is the best role model.” Shaan and Roshan 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 Reporter badge if your contribution makes it onto the page. We will only use the details you provide…

Follow The Week Junior on PopJam @TheWeekJunior. You can download the PopJam app from the App Store or Google Play. We asked you if fast food apps should be banned. You said… “No, because they create jobs for delivery drivers and restaurants.” “No, apps are a huge help. Otherwise you have to go out to get the food yourself.” “It would be good if they only let you order a takeaway once a week.” “No, because they are useful for people who are ill or can’t go out.” Tell us what you think of this week’s issue and we’ll print some of the best comments here.…